Wednesday, 31 January 2001

MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL OFFICE

Near normal January in Perth

Rainfall and rain days - slightly below average: Perth received 2.4 millimetres of rain on two days in January, compared with the long-term average of 9mm over three days. Last January, 139.0mm registered in the rain gauge, making it the wettest January on record. This month was the driest since 1.8mm in 1998. Historically, January rainfall has ranged from a low of 0.0mm in many years to 139.0mm. The wettest day this month was the 31st when 2.2mm was recorded.

Mean daily maximum temperature - about average: Perth's mean maximum temperature in January was 29.9 degrees Celsius compared with the long-term average of about 30 degrees. Daily maxima ranged from a mild 21.7 on the 24th to a hot 36.7 degrees on the 8th.

Mean daily minimum temperature - above average: Perth's mean daily minimum temperature in January was 17.8 degrees compared with the long-term average of about 17. The lowest daily minimum was a cool 8.9 degrees on the 25th, the lowest January minimum temperature on record at an official Perth site. The previous record low was 9.2 degrees on 20 January 1925. The highest minimum for the month was a warm 23.0 degrees on the 18th.

Climate of Perth in February

Like January in Perth, February is typically sunny and warm to hot. Daytime temperatures are slightly higher than January on average, but prevailing sea breezes moderate temperatures in the afternoon. Rain occurs on about three days of the month on average.


February averages
Elements Average Highest Year Lowest Year
Maximum temperature (°C) 31 35.2 1985 26.5 1926
Minimum temperature (°C) 17 22.7 1985 15.6 1931
Rainfall (mm) 13 166.3 1955 0.0  Many 
Rain days 3 8  *Many 0 Many
Sunshine (hours/day) 11.3 12.0  **Many 7.7 1955

* Greatest number of rain days occurred in 1883,1915 and 1986.
** Greatest mean daily sunshine hours occurred in 1969,1999 and 2000.

February daily extremes
Element  Highest Date Lowest Date
Maximum temperature (°C) 46.2 23/02/1991 19.0 17/02/1914
Minimum temperature (°C) 29.3  *Many  8.7 01/02/1902 
Rainfall (mm) 24 hours to 9am 120.6 09/02/1992    

* Denotes highest February minimum temperature record has occurred on the
following dates: 6 February 1898, 8 February 1933 and 3 February 1962.

Very hot days in February: On average, Perth can expect about one day when the maximum temperature is 40 degrees or higher. The highest number of such days in February was four in 1933 and 1985. The last time Perth recorded such a day in February was on 8 February 2000 when 40.1 degrees was recorded.

Hot days in February: On average, Perth can expect about 10 days when the maximum temperature is 32 degrees or higher. The greatest number of hot days in February was 23 in 1996. That year also recorded the second highest mean maximum temperature on record for February: 34.6 degrees.

February's top 10 hottest and coolest days
Position Date Max
Temp°C		 Position Date Max 
Temp°C
1  23 February 1991 46.2 1  17 February 1914  19.0
2  08 February 1933 44.6 2  10 February 1917  19.6
3  26 February 1997 44.5 2  15 February 1955 19.6
4  07 February 1933 44.3 4  07 February 1929 19.8
5  04 February 1982 44.0 5  17 February 1897 19.9
6  08 February 1940 43.8 5  25 February 1908 19.9
7   25 February 1985  43.7 7   14 February 1982  20.0
8  25 February 1934 42.7 8 14 February 1955 20.3
8  20 February 1977 42.7 9  25 February 1991 20.4
8  01 February 1997 42.7 10  15 February 1919 20.5

Note: Official Perth observations have been recorded at several different sites over the years. Changes in site location can affect both the temperature and the rainfall readings. The long-term temperature averages have been calculated for the current site.

Ends

Further information: John Relf, tel:(08) 9263 2222 or (after hours) the senior forecaster, tel: (08) 9263 2252.