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Perth: Outlook for 2022 Account

as at 15 February 2022

  • Rainfall is likely to be average during the 2021–22 year.
  • Inflows into the region's storages are expected to increase compared to last year.

Schematic representation of the Perth region. In 2021–22, annual rainfall is expected to be average. End-of-year storage volume is likely to be similar to last year. Water use is likely to increase compared to last year.

For further information on the outlook for the region during the 2021–22 year scroll down this page or click on the links below:

 

Current water levels

  • Rainfall was average to above average across the region during July 2021–January 2022.
  • At 15 February 2022, storages were 60% full compared to 40% at the same time last year.
  • More information on current storage levels in the region is available on the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Storage website.

 

Climate outlook

Map of Perth region showing the spatial distribution of the chance of exceeding median rainfall in percentage categories for March–May 2022. Rainfall has a 45–55% chance of exceeding median rainfall during March–May 2022 across most of the region and a 65–70% chance of exceeding median rainfall across the northern part of the region, including Perth. Key aspects of the rainfall map are described in the text below the figure.
Figure S14 Chance of exceeding median rainfall for the Perth region for March–May 2022

 

  • According to the Bureau of Meteorology's climate outlook (from 10 February 2022), rainfall is expected to be close to average during the next three months (March–May 2022).
  • The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is currently in a La Niña phase and is likely to end in mid-autumn 2022.
  • The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which tends to have a larger influence on rainfall across the Perth region during the summer–autumn months than ENSO, is also likely to remain neutral through early autumn.
  • Total annual rainfall for 2021–22 is likely to be average and total inflows into the region's storages are expected to increase compared to 2020–21.

 

Future commitments

  • Water use is expected to increase due to the likelihood of better rainfall conditions across the region compared to last year.