High heat, thunderstorms to sweep Australia's west this week

A preview of summer is on the way this week for Australia's western coast, with days of storms set to follow 40-degree temperatures.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a maximum of 34 degrees for Perth today, which will be exceeded by a predicted 40 degrees at Geraldton and potentially even higher temperatures further north and inland.

"The culprit of the incoming hot weather is a deepening trough over the Pilbara which will extend over the Gascoyne (on Sunday)," Weatherzone reports.

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"By (Monday), the trough will extend offshore from the Midwest Coast, allowing hot winds from the interior to draw heat to near coastal areas as far south as Perth."

The Midwest Coast has an "extreme" fire rating for today, with many other districts seeing a rating of "high".

The heat is expected to give way to thunderstorms after the trough gains some moisture from today, Weatherzone said.

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"Thunderstorms are most likely for Gascoyne and Central West forecast district on Monday, extending south and inland as the week progresses," the website reported.

"These storms carry the potential to bring damaging wind gusts exceeding 90km/hr.

"Perth's best chances for thunderstorms look to be on Wednesday and Thursday, with storms firing up towards the south coast by the end of the week."

It's even possible the first Ashes Test in Perth this weekend could be affected, with a possible shower forecast for Sunday - though that could change the closer the weekend comes.

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