Overnight rain soaked Perth, with rain gauges overflowing across the metropolitan area. The Bureau of Meteorology's Angus Hines said the system is moving north, and storms are possible. The Perth metro site recorded 7.2mm, while the heaviest fall of 28mm was recorded east of Lancelin. Mr Hines warned that more rain is likely before summer patterns settle in. Sunny weather and temperatures up to 28 degrees are forecast midweek, before a cold front brings showers on Saturday.
WIRED staff have recommended several LED grow lights to keep houseplants healthy through winter. The picks range from a small magnetic light for seedlings to a broad, dimmable light that can hang from the ceiling or sit on a stand. The guide also rates a heavy, high-output panel for serious growers and a low-cost clip-on model. Reviewers say ease of use, brightness and safety around pets and children matter more than light colour for everyday home use. Each light was tested at home over months or years, with light output measured at a set distance.
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has issued an urgent call for 16,000 more donors as its blood reserves fall to their lowest level in almost a decade. Blood supplies have dropped 60 per cent since June, with more than 1,200 donor chairs empty each day during a prolonged cold and flu season. Lifeblood says even minor symptoms stop people from donating, because donors must be symptom-free for seven days. Demand is still rising, with type O blood in particular under strain. Lifeblood says all blood types are needed right now.
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Canberra gardeners are buying plants that survive winter, according to a year of nursery orders across the ACT. Japanese box and English box handle hard frost well, and coastal rosemary is a native option that tolerates frost to about minus 7 degrees. For trees, ornamental pears, crepe myrtle and Japanese maples are popular choices. Bay trees, liriope and mondo grass also sell well, and pots are the most common purpose.
WIRED has listed a deal on an Ecobee thermostat for $120, promoted as a way to upgrade home heating controls for winter. The offer is presented through a commerce piece written by Kat Merck, who covers smart home technology and sustainable products for the publication. Merck's background includes forestry studies and wildland firefighter training at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
