Ghost Rainbows, Storms, and Sunsets: April's Skies Over Western Australia Captured by Readers

April in Western Australia presented a classic autumnal tableau, offering a diverse range of weather conditions across the state. While the northern regions basked in warm sunshine, the southern parts experienced cooler, wetter days, painting a picture of the state's distinct weather personality. This meteorological duality provided a stunning backdrop for the spectacular photographs submitted by ABC readers, capturing everything from dramatic storms to breathtaking sunsets.

Perth, in particular, experienced notable temperature swings. The Easter long weekend saw highs of around 29 degrees Celsius, followed by a drop to a more comfortable 18.6C by Monday. As the month progressed, overnight lows dipped significantly, with some mornings in the Newdegate and Wandering areas dropping below one degree Celsius, even bringing frost. Perth itself recorded its coldest morning since October, dipping to a mere 7.2 degrees, and Swanbourne registered a record low April maximum temperature of 16.4C.

Despite the brisk weather, the first half of April offered pleasant, summer-like conditions for much of the south, making it ideal for outdoor activities like exploring the Perth Hills. However, the settled weather pattern shifted dramatically mid-month with the arrival of thunderstorms on April 14, bringing the first substantial rainfall to Perth after a dry initial fortnight. This transition underscored the dynamic nature of Western Australia's climate, providing ample visual drama for photographers and a reminder of the approaching winter.