Paul Rosser 
July recorded 102.5mm with the Year to Date (YTD) rising to 255.0mm. The major falls included a 13.0mm, a 23.0mm & a very good fall of 30.0mm. The later figure was part of that major weather pattern from the 22nd to the 28th which gave us 61.0mm of our 102.5mm. This was due to a westerly cold front coming in from south WA combined with a warmer wet front blending in with it from Broome. This weather pattern is most unusual. Our 50,000litre tank filled on the 25th July. I put the auto cleaner on then & the bottom is now as clear as it was when it was installed 14 years ago. A great investment indeed.
This month compares to the last 14 years favourably:
2025 102.5mm (3) 255.0mm YTD
2024 57.5mm 217.0mm
2023 41.0mm 368.5mm
2022 31.5mm 251.5mm
2021 102.0mm 302.5mm
2020 26.5mm 293.0mm
2019 32.0mm 224.5mm
2018 42.5mm 166.5mm
2017 103.5mm (2) 299.5mm
2016 131.0mm (1) 366.5mm
2015 89.5mm 325.0mm
2014 66.0mm 295.0mm
2013 99.0mm 326.0mm
2012 62.0mm 380.0mm
July proved to be a good return on a monthly basis but is in the bottom third of the YTD figures. This means our soil moisture is still dry compared to average. This has been supported when Anne, Doug & I were planting C3 & C4 Native grasses around the Grevillea Dam last week, when we found the top 50mm was wet but dry by the time our spades were down 200mm. The ‘drought’ from August 2024 to June 2025 was in the worst top five since records began.
The series of cold rain bearing fronts will continue into August & early spring. This means we will have slightly higher than average rainfall through late winter & into early spring. Day time temperatures will be around average but will continue to be slightly above average at night. Sea temperatures around Australia continue to be above average at present. This will be the driver for above average falls during this period.
Some interesting information through this last week, stated ‘China added more solar power capacity last year than the rest of the world combined.’ Despite this growth China has commissioned a new coal- based electricity plant to help it balance its grid. On the up-side China’s coal imports will drop by 25% this year as the renewable systems grow. On the other hand, the USA has removed all support for renewables & transferred this cash to oil, gas, coal & nuclear plants via Trump’s ‘Beautiful Big’ Bill. approved by Congress last month. We live in a crazy world.
Continue to enjoy the rain over the next few weeks. While a nice sunny day may be great, I feel a good 25mm day is even better. This happens when you’ve got a 50,000litre tank in your back yard.
Catch you next report.
Paul
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