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What summer? Perth set for wettest January in almost 20 years

Perth could be in for its wettest January in 17 years with thunderstorms and heavy rains forecast to drench the city with up to 95 millimetres over the next two days. 

Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Neil Bennett said a tropical low that had battered the North West of the state at the weekend with flash flooding was interacting with other systems above Perth and bringing with it persistent falls.

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Perth set for wet weather

Perth is bracing for more wild weather, with a severe thunderstorm set to batter the city this morning. Vision: Nine News Perth.

"From now through to Tuesday afternoon will likely be the heavier falls, probably the bulk of the falls may be falling overnight but you couldn't rule out heavier falls between [Monday morning] and overnight as well," he said. 

"This may be more heavier persistent falls rather than the really violent down bursts that could produce flash flooding.

"We will be keeping a close eye on things and if we need to issue a warning we will do."

Perth is on track to smash the January average rainfall total of 9.7 millimetres, with 6.6 millimetres already recorded to Monday morning. 

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"We think the most likely amount is around 40 millimetres up until 9am tomorrow morning," Mr Bennett said. 

"Pearce base has had 17 millimetres of rain in the last 24 hours but that started to really pick up since 7am this morning."

The late rain will likely make this January the wettest January on record since 2000, when an unprecedented 139 millimetres fell - 104 millimetres in one day - due to the breakup of a tropical cyclone on the north coast. 

A severe thunderstorm warning is in place for parts of the Goldfields and Gascoyne areas, including people in Moora, Dalwallinu, Dowerin and Wongan Hills - with residents warned to prepare for potential flash flooding. 

More than 50 millimetres fell over Dalwallinu in less than an hour on Monday morning. 

Coastal parts of the Pilbara are still bracing for thunderstorms after the tropical low moved over the area at the weekend, dumping 55 millimetres on Karratha on Saturday.