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ABC News
ABC News
National

Unseasonal rain creates havoc in Western Australia's winter food bowl of Carnarvon

Carnarvon grower Su Tran inspects his tomato crop for rain damage. (ABC News: Kate Ferguson)

Red cherry tomatoes hang from Su Tran's plentiful crop in Carnarvon, but a closer inspection reveals the devastating detail.

Unseasonal rain has caused many of Mr Tran's ripe fruits to split, and rather than being picked and packed for Perth and beyond they will be going in the bin.

Su Tran's tomatoes split due to unseasonal rain. (ABC News: Kate Ferguson)

Carnarvon grower Jamie Moore's property is a muddy sight, with flooding between each of his capsicum rows.

Mr Moore said he and his workers have had to down tools until the ground dries again, which could be over a week away.

Jamie Moore's capsicum plantation remains flooded after the unseasonal rain. (ABC News: Kate Ferguson)

It is a precarious time for Mr Moore as ripening capsicum is also susceptible to splitting and diseases brought on by unseasonal rain events.

Carnarvon capsicum grower Jamie Moore has had to down tools due to the rain. (ABC News: Kate Ferguson)

Back in March, rockmelon grower Joe Poentes and his family hurriedly collected ripe fruit before they were also hit with unseasonal rain.

"It could cause rockmelons a lot of damage as they rot after the rain," he said.

Joe Poentes collects his rockmelons before unseasonal rain in March.  (ABC News: Kate Ferguson)

More heavy, unseasonal rain

This week a low pressure system off the WA coast brought over 60 millimetres of rain to Carnarvon in a single day, more than its entire monthly rainfall average.

It follows the wettest autumn in 22 years for the Gascoyne, where 218mm was recorded at Carnarvon Airport.

That is over three times the average rainfall for the season.

Melons were the latest fruits to be affected by the unseasonal rain with rotting rockmelons, honey dew, and watermelons lining paddocks of the state's winter food bowl.

Carnarvon, the state's food bowl at this time of year, after the rain. (ABC News: Kate Ferguson)

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts more rain on the way, with another 60mm expected to fall in coming days.

"The actual line is just to the north of Carnarvon, so there could be more falls through that north-western Gascoyne … so you couldn't rule out up to 60-70mm again," said the BOM's Luke Huntington.

"There is [also] a risk of those thunderstorms reaching severe criteria."

Lots of split tomatoes line Carnarvon grower Su Tran's plantation. (ABC News: Kate Ferguson)
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