Morawa may get its first Christmas Day rainfall in at least 22 years tomorrow.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a searing 41 degree maximum in the small Mid West town, with a 30 per cent chance of rain.
And though December falls are not uncommon, the Morawa Airport BOM station — which opened in 1997 — has yet to record rain on a Christmas Day.
“There is the potential for thunderstorm development; it’s not an unusual phenomenon at this time of year,” BOM Geraldton duty observer Patrick Ramsdale said.
“Most of the rainfall at this time of year is most likely to be thunderstorm activity, so it’s based on the position of the trough.
“Often, when the trough sits inland, you can get some storms and the odd shower out of it.”
Mr Ramsdale predicted any rainfall would be less than 1mm.
Elsewhere in WA on Christmas Day the weather will be warm.
While Geraldton can expect a pleasant top of 31C, spare a thought for Warburton, where the mercury could reach a face-melting 47C.
The Aboriginal community, south of the Gibson Desert in the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku, is one of three localities expecting a top of 47 C.
Also suffering through the heat will be residents of Telfer and Kiwirrkurra, while Marble Bar is expecting a slightly cooler 46 C.
Mr Ramsdale said though the possibility of showers was initially forecast for Geraldton on Christmas Day, there was now only a five per cent chance.
“The current forecast has the trough sitting inland from Geraldton, which means that the hotter temperatures are also further to the east of us,” he said.
“Because we’re expected to be on the western side of the trough, we’re not expecting showers or high temperatures in Geraldton.”
The warm temperatures and light winds will be ideal for hitting Geraldton’s beaches.
“For the Geraldton coast tomorrow, we’re looking at a southerly wind, around 15-20 knots,” Mr Ramsdale said.
“That’s with a south-westerly swell around 1.5 metre to 2 metre, which will get up to 2 metre to 3 metre during the morning.
“Seas will be around 1 metre to 1.5 metres through most of the day. That will be decreasing to a metre in the morning, but back up to 1 metre to 1.5 metre in the afternoon.”
For those heading north to Kalbarri for Christmas, expect a partly cloudy day with a top of 33C.
Similar conditions are predicted across the Mid West coastline.
A mostly sunny day with a top of 36C is forecast for Perth.
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