WEATHER in Western Australia

As you would expect with such a huge area, WA has several distinctly different climatic zones.  Perth and the south west are temperate with a Mediterranean climate of warm dry summers and cool wet winters.  The interior of the state is semi-arid to arid, whilst it is tropical in the north where the wet and dry seasons replace summer and winter.   In the north the Dry is from May/June to August/September whilst the Wet is usually November/December to February/March.
As much as 2 metres of rain can fall in the Wet, frequently making roads impassable and closing airstrips. Most safari tour companies in the Kimberley close their operations during the Wet, as do many country accommodations, and the winter Dry is the main tourist season.

Perth: Average Temperatures and Rainfall

Broome: Average Temperatures and Rainfall

TOPOGRAPHY of Western Australia

With an area of 2,526,780 square kms, WA makes up approximately one third of the Australian continent but its total population is only around 2 million, of whom just over 1 million live in the state capital, Perth. Ninety percent of the population live in the south west corner of the state.
In the north, the Kimberley region still has a true frontier feel with huge rivers and majestic gorges while to the south of it the Pilbara combines the wonderful Hamersley Ranges with massive iron ore workings and natural gas and oil drilling. Close offshore on the north west coast are several hundred kilometres of coral reef to rival the Great Barrier Reef. The south west corner of Western Australia is much more benign with tall forests, vineyards and spectacular, rugged beaches. Inland are the Western Australian goldfields. The famous spring wild flowers are particularly profuse in the south west corner.