Winter Storms and Wet Weather Checks for Perth Drivers

This guide is for Perth drivers getting ready for the wet months, when cold fronts roll in off the Indian Ocean. It covers the electrical checks worth doing before winter, what storms do to a car's electrics, and how to stay safe around floodwater and fallen power lines.

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Perth's wet season arrives in a rush

Perth gets most of its rain in a few months. Around three-quarters of the city's yearly rainfall falls between May and September, and July is usually the wettest month. After a long dry summer and autumn, the first strong fronts can catch drivers out, with wipers, lights and seals that haven't been tested in months.

Winter weather in Perth often comes in bursts. A cold front can bring heavy rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms for a day or two, followed by clear, cold mornings. That pattern means sudden low visibility on the freeways, followed by foggy windscreens and cold starts.

Storms Perth remembers

Perth has had some severe winter storms. The Bureau of Meteorology's Special Climate Statement 40 describes a run of lows and cold fronts from 7 to 13 June 2012. A tornado on 7 June damaged parts of Dianella and Morley. On 10 June, gusts reached 106 km/h at Jandakot and 119 km/h on Rottnest Island, more than 170,000 homes lost power after around 800 power lines came down, and Fremantle recorded its highest sea level since records began in 1897.

In late May 2020, a system linked to ex-Tropical Cyclone Mangga combined with a cold front to bring winds over 100 km/h to the south-west. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses lost power, most of them in the Perth metro area.

Events like these bring down trees and power lines across roads, flood low spots and leave traffic lights dark. They are a good reason to have your car in good shape before winter starts.

Electrical checks before the first front

Do these on a dry weekend in April or early May, before you need them.

• Wipers: check both speeds, the intermittent setting and the rear wiper. A slow or stalling wiper motor often shows up in the first heavy rain.
• Washers: make sure the pump runs and the jets are aimed at the glass.
• Headlights: check low and high beam, and that they are aimed correctly. Dim, yellowed lenses cut your light in heavy rain.
• Tail, brake and indicator lights: have someone walk around the car while you operate them. See how to replace a brake light globe.
• Fog lights, if fitted: check they work, and remember to switch them off when visibility improves.
• Rear demister: turn it on and feel whether the lines warm up evenly.
• Battery: cold mornings ask more of a weak battery. Have it tested if it is more than a few years old or the engine cranks slowly.

Fogged windscreens and the air conditioning

On cold, wet Perth mornings the inside of the windscreen fogs up quickly. The fastest way to clear it is usually the demist setting with the air conditioning on, because the system dries the air before it reaches the glass. If your air conditioning isn't working, demisting takes much longer and you may be tempted to drive with a fogged screen.

Many people don't use their air conditioning much in winter, so faults only show up when they need it. If it blows warm, smells musty or the compressor doesn't engage, have it checked. Regassing and refrigerant work must be done by a licensed technician. Our guide to common car air conditioning problems explains the usual causes.

Water leaks and electrical faults

Water where it shouldn't be causes a lot of winter electrical faults. Blocked scuttle drains under the windscreen, perished door seals, tired sunroof drains and leaking tail light seals let water reach wiring, connectors and modules. Some cars have body control modules or fuse boxes low in the footwell or under the seats, where a small leak can do real damage.

Warning signs include damp carpet, a musty smell, fogging that won't clear, central locking or windows acting up, and lights that flicker after rain. If you find water, dry it out as soon as possible and find the source. If you have problems with windows after rain, see electric window stopped working. Corroded connectors often need cleaning or replacing, not just drying.

Floodwater and cars don't mix

Never drive into water of unknown depth or current. Water can hide washed-out road and debris, and it doesn't take much moving water to float a car. If water enters the air intake, the engine can be badly damaged. Water above the floor can soak wiring looms, connectors and modules, which can cause faults weeks later as corrosion sets in.

If your car has been in floodwater, don't try to start it. Contact your insurer first and have the car inspected. A flood-affected car's electrical system may need extensive work, and some cars are written off.

Fallen power lines and storm driving

After a storm, treat every fallen line as live. Stay well away, keep others away and report it to Western Power. If a line falls on your car while you are in it, stay inside unless there is a fire, and wait for help. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services' advice on what to do during a storm also says to avoid driving during severe storms, slow down and use your lights if you must travel, and pull over with hazard lights on if you can't see.

Check Emergency WA for warnings and Main Roads WA for road closures before you head out, and obey closure signs. If traffic lights are out, treat the intersection with extra caution.

Getting help before winter

If wipers, lights, demisters or the air conditioning need work, book it before the wet season rather than during the first storm week, when everyone else is booking too. Local help is available across the metro area, including in Fremantle, Bayswater and Canning Vale.

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Questions Perth drivers ask

When does Perth's wet season start?

Perth's rain is concentrated in the cooler months. Around three-quarters of the yearly total falls between May and September, and July is usually the wettest month. The first strong cold fronts often arrive in May. Checking wipers, lights, demisters and the battery in April gives you time to fix anything before you need it.

Why does my car's electrics play up after heavy rain?

Water is probably getting in somewhere. Blocked scuttle or sunroof drains, worn door seals and leaking light seals can let water reach connectors and modules. Look for damp carpet, a musty smell or condensation that won't clear. Find and fix the leak, dry the area, and have corroded connectors cleaned or replaced.

What should I do if a power line falls on my car?

Stay inside the car unless there is a fire or other immediate danger. Warn others to stay well away, call 000 if anyone is in danger, and wait for emergency services or Western Power to make it safe. Don't touch the car and the ground at the same time. Treat every fallen line as live.

Is my car safe to drive after being in floodwater?

Don't start it until it has been checked. Water in the engine can cause serious damage when started, and wet wiring and modules can corrode and fail later. Contact your insurer first, then have the car inspected. Electrical faults from flooding may not appear straight away, so watch for warning lights and odd behaviour.

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