WA news LIVE: Perth's unseasonably warm start to May
Latest posts
Latest posts
9.30am
Perth's unseasonably warm start to May
By
Perth is on track to record one of the warmest May's on record with temperatures hovering around four degrees above average all of this week.
A series of strong high pressures system are contributing to the warmer weather. So far, this month we've average daytime temperatures of 26.5 degrees, that's four degrees warmer than usual.
It has made it our warmest start to May in 16 years.
We've also seen very little rainfall, just 7.8mm has hit the gauge, that's just nine per cent of our usual average, making it the driest start to May since 2017.
Temperatures are set to hover in the high 20s for the next week, reaching 26 degrees today, tomorrow and Thursday, before a forecast of 27 degrees for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
9.30am
Across the country and around the world
Making headlines across the country and around the world today:
Anthony Albanese has been coldly rational in learning from some of the weaknesses of his first term in power, so he can hold on to that power for several terms to come.
Sussan Ley's camp is confident she has the numbers to become the first woman to lead the Liberal Party, but re-elected leader David Littleproud has refused to commit to the pact that binds the Coalition.
Overseas, the rapper, producer and music executive Sean 'Diddy' Combs called himself 'the king', a court heard on the first day of his much anticipated sex-trafficking trial – 'and he expected to be treated like one'.
The US and China have brokered a deal to slash eye-watering tariffs on each other for 90 days in a bid to defuse a trade showdown between the world's two biggest economies that has rattled financial markets and revived fears of a global recession.
9.30am
Today's weather
9.30am
This morning in Perth
Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Tuesday, May 13.
Making headlines this morning, confronting photos of extreme coastal erosion at one of Western Australia's beloved coastal holiday towns have emerged online as a plan for the area's future hangs in limbo.
The photographs contrast a view of Lancelin from 2020 and one taken this month, showing the loss of 25 metres or more of coastal land. Other photos show the exposed foundations of a community-erected beach gazebo that last week the Shire of Gingin had to move for the third time.
Property values have edged below their peaks recently, but new figures lay bare how the pullback pales in comparison to their long-term growth.
Perth is at peak – up 55.6 per cent in 10 years. Cotality head of Australian research Eliza Owen attributed the past decade's price growth to the gap between supply and demand for housing, as well as lower interest rates and an improvement in the jobs market.
And, in case you missed it, Western Australia's environment watchdog has taken the unusual step of reopening public consultation on Woodside's $30 billion Browse gas export project after the energy giant overhauled the contentious plan.
Woodside had sought approval to develop one of the three gas fields it discovered more than 50 years ago, about 425 kilometres north of Broome, and pipe gas 1000 kilometres to the 40-year-old North West Shelf plant for processing. It lodged a request to vary the plans in March, six years after the initial proposal was submitted.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
Price of common Aussie staples to soar
Milk and butter prices are predicted to surge, with floods destroying dairy farms in NSW and the driest conditions on record crippling those in Victoria and South Australia. Many NSW farmers are embarking on gruelling post-flood clean-up efforts, returning to their properties to find their cattle dead or missing, fences and infrastructure destroyed, and machinery submerged in flood waters that will likely need to be replaced. Dams and paddocks are also dry in Victoria and South Australia, with fodder prices reaching nearly double their usual amount. 'I think the whole eastern seaboard is going to feel the shortage of milk and dairy products one way or the other,' EastAUSMilk president Joe Bradley told The Age. 'There's no ifs or buts … it's a disaster. Prices have to rise.' Map of Australia highlighting dairy shortages across the nation. NewsWire Credit: NewsWire The hardships in the dairy industry are tipped to send the prices of items like milk and butter soaring, according to industry experts. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia EastAusmilk chief executive Eric Danzi warned this may be the first time many Australians see the devastation of the floods would be when they go to their local supermarket. 'There is going to be a real shortage of milk and products,' he told 2GB. 'How that plays through to consumers I don't know. 'Between the floods now, ex- Cyclone Alfred and the drought in South Australia as well as Victoria you're going to have a massive reduction in milk production across Australia.' Leaders of the Australian dairy industry have called on governments to take immediate action. 'More than 40 per cent of Australia's dairy farmers are in drought, many of them battling the driest conditions on record, including in South Australia, South West Victoria, and extending into Gippsland, Northern Victoria and southern NSW,' a statement from industry body Australian Dairy Farmers said. EastAusmilk chief executive Eric Danzi has warned the issues being faced by diary farmers may be passed onto Aussies at the checkout. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'Meanwhile, dairy farmers in NSW are cleaning up after a 1-in-500 year flood. 'We've issued an urgent plea to state and federal governments for meaningful support for dairy farmers.' Among the requests is for the NSW government to roll out Category D and C disaster grants. Currently, personal hardship assistance grants of $180 per individual or $900 per family are available, along with $1m community recovery grants for affected local councils. NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said that these are not going far enough to support flood-impacted residents. 'When you've got people who have lost literally everything – whether it's their home in town or their home out of town, and their hundred cattle or two hundred cattle, or all their fences or all of their fodder crops … 180 bucks or 900 bucks isn't going to help,' he told 2GB. 'Category D means everything is on the table. There are primary producer grants, there are small business grants, there are more household grants available, there are more council grants available.' Over the past two weeks, a majority of Victoria received 20 per cent or less of the average typical rainfall expected in May, and the latest reporting from the Bureau of Meteorology indicated these conditions are likely to continue into June. The Victorian Government on Friday announced it will deliver a new and expanded Drought Package due to the worsening conditions – supported by an additional $37.7 million in funding. New analysis by the Treasury estimated that the immediate loss of economic activity from natural disasters so far in 2025 will be $2.2 billion.
West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Milk, butter prices tipped to soar as floods, droughts squeeze beleaguered Aussie dairy farmers
Milk and butter prices are predicted to surge, with floods destroying dairy farms in NSW and the driest conditions on record crippling those in Victoria and South Australia. Many NSW farmers are embarking on gruelling post-flood clean-up efforts, returning to their properties to find their cattle dead or missing, fences and infrastructure destroyed, and machinery submerged in flood waters that will likely need to be replaced. Dams and paddocks are also dry in Victoria and South Australia, with fodder prices reaching nearly double their usual amount. 'I think the whole eastern seaboard is going to feel the shortage of milk and dairy products one way or the other,' EastAUSMilk president Joe Bradley told The Age. 'There's no ifs or buts … it's a disaster. Prices have to rise.' EastAusmilk chief executive Eric Danzi warned this may be the first time many Australians see the devastation of the floods would be when they go to their local supermarket. 'There is going to be a real shortage of milk and products,' he told 2GB. 'How that plays through to consumers I don't know. 'Between the floods now, ex- Cyclone Alfred and the drought in South Australia as well as Victoria you're going to have a massive reduction in milk production across Australia.' Leaders of the Australian dairy industry have called on governments to take immediate action. 'More than 40 per cent of Australia's dairy farmers are in drought, many of them battling the driest conditions on record, including in South Australia, South West Victoria, and extending into Gippsland, Northern Victoria and southern NSW,' a statement from industry body Australian Dairy Farmers said. 'Meanwhile, dairy farmers in NSW are cleaning up after a 1-in-500 year flood. 'We've issued an urgent plea to state and federal governments for meaningful support for dairy farmers.' Among the requests is for the NSW government to roll out Category D and C disaster grants. Currently, personal hardship assistance grants of $180 per individual or $900 per family are available, along with $1m community recovery grants for affected local councils. NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said that these are not going far enough to support flood-impacted residents. 'When you've got people who have lost literally everything – whether it's their home in town or their home out of town, and their hundred cattle or two hundred cattle, or all their fences or all of their fodder crops … 180 bucks or 900 bucks isn't going to help,' he told 2GB. 'Category D means everything is on the table. There are primary producer grants, there are small business grants, there are more household grants available, there are more council grants available.' Over the past two weeks, a majority of Victoria received 20 per cent or less of the average typical rainfall expected in May, and the latest reporting from the Bureau of Meteorology indicated these conditions are likely to continue into June. The Victorian Government on Friday announced it will deliver a new and expanded Drought Package due to the worsening conditions – supported by an additional $37.7 million in funding. New analysis by the Treasury estimated that the immediate loss of economic activity from natural disasters so far in 2025 will be $2.2 billion.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Slushy start: warmer winter a downer for ski slopes
The first dustings of winter snow have arrived on Australian mountaintops but long-range weather forecasts suggest it could be slow start to the ski season. Skiers and boarders ideally want a solid base of snow covering rocks and shrubs yet the Bureau of Meteorology's predictions of ongoing above-average temperatures could delay big dumps on the mainland resorts. Yet the University of Melbourne climate scientist Professor David Karoly said forecasts of above-average rainfall for cooler temperatures could lead to more snow overall this winter. Weatherzone further described conditions as "unfavourable" early in the season, due to start officially on June 7, before improving in later months. For snow to settle, it needs low-enough temperatures and adequate moisture. Prof Karoly said there was a lot of guesswork in forecasting rain or snow several months ahead. BOM's long-range forecasts do include estimates of precipitation but no specific outlook for the Kosciuszko and Victorian alpine areas. Yet Prof Karoly said climate change was having a clear impact on longer-term trends, already cutting snow seasons short and thinning coverage, particularly at lower elevations. "The snow season depends often on getting a base of snow and then repeated, if you like, big dumps of snow," he told AAP. "And unfortunately, for much of the last 10 to 15 years, there have been fewer-than-normal big dumps of snow, which means there has been relatively poor snow seasons." Snow-making is challenged by higher overnight temperatures, he added, and is less likely to stick around if days stay warm. Extra rainfall in warmer conditions then serves to wash away the snow cover base. Last year, an Australian National University report found the average ski season across Australian resorts could be 44 days shorter by 2025 under a mid-emissions scenario. The study, commissioned by climate advocacy group Protect our Winters Australia, was not isolated to ski tourism and found climate change was harming fragile high country ecosystems, putting unique species like Pygmy-possums at risk. Protect our Winters Australia director Lily O'Neill, who lives 30 minutes from the mountains, said her two sons were "profoundly upset" by shortening snow seasons. "The mountains are massively at threat right now from climate change," she told AAP. Ms O'Neill said Australia's snowy landscapes could recover if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced rapidly, as highlighted in the 2024 ANU report. The first dustings of winter snow have arrived on Australian mountaintops but long-range weather forecasts suggest it could be slow start to the ski season. Skiers and boarders ideally want a solid base of snow covering rocks and shrubs yet the Bureau of Meteorology's predictions of ongoing above-average temperatures could delay big dumps on the mainland resorts. Yet the University of Melbourne climate scientist Professor David Karoly said forecasts of above-average rainfall for cooler temperatures could lead to more snow overall this winter. Weatherzone further described conditions as "unfavourable" early in the season, due to start officially on June 7, before improving in later months. For snow to settle, it needs low-enough temperatures and adequate moisture. Prof Karoly said there was a lot of guesswork in forecasting rain or snow several months ahead. BOM's long-range forecasts do include estimates of precipitation but no specific outlook for the Kosciuszko and Victorian alpine areas. Yet Prof Karoly said climate change was having a clear impact on longer-term trends, already cutting snow seasons short and thinning coverage, particularly at lower elevations. "The snow season depends often on getting a base of snow and then repeated, if you like, big dumps of snow," he told AAP. "And unfortunately, for much of the last 10 to 15 years, there have been fewer-than-normal big dumps of snow, which means there has been relatively poor snow seasons." Snow-making is challenged by higher overnight temperatures, he added, and is less likely to stick around if days stay warm. Extra rainfall in warmer conditions then serves to wash away the snow cover base. Last year, an Australian National University report found the average ski season across Australian resorts could be 44 days shorter by 2025 under a mid-emissions scenario. The study, commissioned by climate advocacy group Protect our Winters Australia, was not isolated to ski tourism and found climate change was harming fragile high country ecosystems, putting unique species like Pygmy-possums at risk. Protect our Winters Australia director Lily O'Neill, who lives 30 minutes from the mountains, said her two sons were "profoundly upset" by shortening snow seasons. "The mountains are massively at threat right now from climate change," she told AAP. Ms O'Neill said Australia's snowy landscapes could recover if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced rapidly, as highlighted in the 2024 ANU report. The first dustings of winter snow have arrived on Australian mountaintops but long-range weather forecasts suggest it could be slow start to the ski season. Skiers and boarders ideally want a solid base of snow covering rocks and shrubs yet the Bureau of Meteorology's predictions of ongoing above-average temperatures could delay big dumps on the mainland resorts. Yet the University of Melbourne climate scientist Professor David Karoly said forecasts of above-average rainfall for cooler temperatures could lead to more snow overall this winter. Weatherzone further described conditions as "unfavourable" early in the season, due to start officially on June 7, before improving in later months. For snow to settle, it needs low-enough temperatures and adequate moisture. Prof Karoly said there was a lot of guesswork in forecasting rain or snow several months ahead. BOM's long-range forecasts do include estimates of precipitation but no specific outlook for the Kosciuszko and Victorian alpine areas. Yet Prof Karoly said climate change was having a clear impact on longer-term trends, already cutting snow seasons short and thinning coverage, particularly at lower elevations. "The snow season depends often on getting a base of snow and then repeated, if you like, big dumps of snow," he told AAP. "And unfortunately, for much of the last 10 to 15 years, there have been fewer-than-normal big dumps of snow, which means there has been relatively poor snow seasons." Snow-making is challenged by higher overnight temperatures, he added, and is less likely to stick around if days stay warm. Extra rainfall in warmer conditions then serves to wash away the snow cover base. Last year, an Australian National University report found the average ski season across Australian resorts could be 44 days shorter by 2025 under a mid-emissions scenario. The study, commissioned by climate advocacy group Protect our Winters Australia, was not isolated to ski tourism and found climate change was harming fragile high country ecosystems, putting unique species like Pygmy-possums at risk. Protect our Winters Australia director Lily O'Neill, who lives 30 minutes from the mountains, said her two sons were "profoundly upset" by shortening snow seasons. "The mountains are massively at threat right now from climate change," she told AAP. Ms O'Neill said Australia's snowy landscapes could recover if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced rapidly, as highlighted in the 2024 ANU report. The first dustings of winter snow have arrived on Australian mountaintops but long-range weather forecasts suggest it could be slow start to the ski season. Skiers and boarders ideally want a solid base of snow covering rocks and shrubs yet the Bureau of Meteorology's predictions of ongoing above-average temperatures could delay big dumps on the mainland resorts. Yet the University of Melbourne climate scientist Professor David Karoly said forecasts of above-average rainfall for cooler temperatures could lead to more snow overall this winter. Weatherzone further described conditions as "unfavourable" early in the season, due to start officially on June 7, before improving in later months. For snow to settle, it needs low-enough temperatures and adequate moisture. Prof Karoly said there was a lot of guesswork in forecasting rain or snow several months ahead. BOM's long-range forecasts do include estimates of precipitation but no specific outlook for the Kosciuszko and Victorian alpine areas. Yet Prof Karoly said climate change was having a clear impact on longer-term trends, already cutting snow seasons short and thinning coverage, particularly at lower elevations. "The snow season depends often on getting a base of snow and then repeated, if you like, big dumps of snow," he told AAP. "And unfortunately, for much of the last 10 to 15 years, there have been fewer-than-normal big dumps of snow, which means there has been relatively poor snow seasons." Snow-making is challenged by higher overnight temperatures, he added, and is less likely to stick around if days stay warm. Extra rainfall in warmer conditions then serves to wash away the snow cover base. Last year, an Australian National University report found the average ski season across Australian resorts could be 44 days shorter by 2025 under a mid-emissions scenario. The study, commissioned by climate advocacy group Protect our Winters Australia, was not isolated to ski tourism and found climate change was harming fragile high country ecosystems, putting unique species like Pygmy-possums at risk. Protect our Winters Australia director Lily O'Neill, who lives 30 minutes from the mountains, said her two sons were "profoundly upset" by shortening snow seasons. "The mountains are massively at threat right now from climate change," she told AAP. Ms O'Neill said Australia's snowy landscapes could recover if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced rapidly, as highlighted in the 2024 ANU report.
