Rain on the way

Bunbury has recorded its equal lowest March rainfall since records began with no rain recorded by yesterday.

The dry month is the second consecutive dry March, the first time there has been consecutive months with zero rainfall over two years and only the seventh time since records began when no rain was recorded.

The dry month was, as expected, well below the long-term average of 21mm with just 18.2mm recorded so far this year compared with the 43.6mm average for this time of year.

Bureau of Meteorology climate and weather information officer John Relf said the region could expect a couple of wet days starting this Sunday as a cold front crossed the coast.

‘‘We’re off to a bit of a slow start to the year as far as rainfall goes,’’ he said.

He said the rainfall over the next couple of days would set Bunbury off to a good start towards the April average of 44mm.

Mr Relf said this March was the second warmest on record with an average maximum of 29.1C behind last year’s scorching March.

The month was an anomaly according to Mr Relf with average temperatures during the day warmer on average, but cooler during the nights.

He attributed the unusual temperatures to warm sunny days and cool still nights experienced in the region during March.

Bunbury averaged just 13.2C for daily minimum temperatures recording three cool nights below 10C, including 7.6C on March 22 — the coolest night recorded since November last year.

The month’s coolest day was March 26 when we reached 23.9C while the warmest was 37.8C on March 11, the hottest March day for nearly five years.

The outlook for the last few days of March is fine with sunny conditions between today and Saturday before showers roll in on Sunday evening ending a dry spell which has lasted since February 3.