Key Takeaways
- The first few days of 2026 will have perfect beach weather in Perth, with temperatures in the low to mid-thirties.
- A trough heading down the west coast is causing the warm weather, similar to the one that brought 42C on Christmas Day.
- The warm weather will last until at least Monday, with temperatures then dropping to the high 20s.
- Haze is expected on Friday and Saturday mornings due to bushfires and a temperature inversion phenomenon.
- The weather will be sunny for most of the week, with some cloud cover on Wednesday.
Introduction to the Weather Forecast
The first few days of 2026 are expected to be perfect for beachgoers in Perth, with temperatures set to remain in the low to mid-thirties until at least Monday. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, New Year’s Day will bring a maximum of 35.6C to the city, followed by 34C on Friday, and 34C for Saturday and Sunday. This spell of warm weather is caused by a trough heading down the west coast, similar to the one that brought a sweltering 42C maximum on Christmas Day.
The Cause of the Warm Weather
The trough is expected to linger around until Sunday, driving the temperature up and bringing pleasant summery weather. However, as the trough moves inland overnight into Monday, the temperatures will drop to the high 20s. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jessica Lingard explained that the trough’s movement is like a roller-coaster, bringing warmer temperatures and then cooler breaks. She said, "Some of (the troughs) linger around and drive the temperature up into the 40s and we have heatwaves, and other times we just get this nice run of really quite pleasant summery weather."
Temperature Forecast
The temperature forecast for the week is looking sunny, with Monday expected to reach a top of 31C, Tuesday 28C, and Wednesday 30C. However, residents can expect a positively chilly 17C overnight minimum on Wednesday. The warm weather will be a welcome start to the new year, and beachgoers can enjoy the sunny conditions. The temperature forecast is as follows: Thursday will be sunny with a maximum of 35C, Friday will be sunny with a maximum of 34C, and Saturday and Sunday will also be sunny with a maximum of 34C.
Haze and Bushfires
Residents in the metropolitan area can expect some haze to start their days on Friday and Saturday, which is indicative of the bushfires that have been blazing around Perth in the past few days. The haze is caused by a fascinating weather phenomenon, where an inversion forms overnight, trapping the smoke from the bushfires. Ms. Lingard explained, "What can happen is overnight we get what’s called an inversion forming, so the temperature of the atmosphere should be warmest at the surface and go up, and then it should decrease in temperatures as you move away (from the surface)." This phenomenon creates a "lid" feature, where the smoke from the bushfires has nowhere to go overnight, resulting in a hazy start to the day.
Conclusion and Outlook
In conclusion, the first few days of 2026 will be perfect for beachgoers in Perth, with warm weather and sunny conditions. However, the haze caused by the bushfires and temperature inversion phenomenon may affect the air quality on Friday and Saturday mornings. As the trough moves inland, the temperatures will drop, bringing a welcome break from the heat. The weather forecast for the week is looking sunny, with some cloud cover on Wednesday. Residents can enjoy the pleasant summery weather and take advantage of the perfect beach conditions.