Albany records driest winter

Albany has experienced its driest winter on record with just 219.6mm of rain falling on the coastal city in the past three months.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the previous record was set 134 years ago in 1881 when 248mm was recorded.

This year's winter rainfall was almost half the average winter amount of 400mm.

There is 65-75 per cent chance of exceeding the average rainfall for Albany in the next three months.

Water Corporation acting Great Southern regional manager Stuart Dyson said there were no plans to introduce water restrictions in Albany because the city's water supply is sourced from groundwater.

However, Mr Dyson said Albany is subject to a two-day-per-week sprinkler roster - a measure which was made permanent in 2007, for spring, summer and autumn.

"In our drying climate, we encourage people to use water wisely and conserve it as a precious resource," he said.

"The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast rain in Albany in the coming week, so we encourage our customers to keep their sprinkler systems off now and give their gardens a free drink."

WA Farmers Albany Zone president Lyn Slade, said there had been reports of local farmers experiencing lower than usual water levels in their dams.

"The dropping of rainfall into damns is a real concern for livestock going into summer," she said.

"Cropping farmers are going okay - the crops are looking good."

Wignalls Winery owner Rob Wignall, said low rainfall could be a concern for winemakers if irrigation reserves were not replenished, but said his own reserves had reached capacity last week.