Friday 31 May 2002
MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL OFFICE
Rainfall: May rainfall in Perth was below average this year. The city received 70.4
millimetres of rain over 16 days compared with
the average of 123mm over 14 days. Last May, 108.6mm was recorded.
The last time rainfall exceeded the May mean total was in 1995.
Historically, May rainfall has ranged from a low of 14.1mm in 1964 to
308.1mm in 1879. The wettest day this month was on the 6th when
20.8mm was recorded.
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| May averages | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element | May 2002 | Average | Highest average |
Year | Lowest average |
Year | Years of record |
| Maximum temp (°C) | 22.9 | 21 | 23.9 | 1972 | 18.7 | 1931,56 | 106 |
| Minimum temp (°C) | 11.2 | 10 | 13.8 | 1972 | 8.8 | 2000 | 106 |
| Sunshine (hours/day) | 7.0 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 2000 | 3.4 | 1905 | 105 |
| May rainfall averages and extremes | |||||||
| Element | May 2002 | Average | Highest | Year | Lowest | Year | Years of record |
| Rainfall (mm) | 70.4 | 123 | 308.1 | 1897 | 14.1 | 1964 | 127 |
| Rain days | 16 | 14 | 25 | 1921 | 5 | 1913 | 127 |
| May daily extremes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element | May 2002 | Date | Extreme | Date | Years of record |
| Highest daily maximum (°C) | 34.3 | 1st | 34.3 | 1/5/2002 | 106 |
| Lowest daily maximum (°C) | 18.6 | 11th | 11.5 | 23/5/1995 | 106 |
| Lowest daily minimum (°C) | 4.5 | 22nd | 1.3 | 11/5/1914 | 106 |
| Highest daily minimum (°C) | 19.2 | 3rd | 20.8 | 1/5/1983 | 106 |
| Wettest 24-hour period (mm) | 20.8 | 6th | 76.2 | 17/5/1942 | 123 |
Climate of Perth in June
June is Perth's wettest month of the year, on average. Cool and cloudy days are common. Some are cold, windy and showery, while others are sunny with light winds. Perth experienced its wettest month on record in June 1945 when 476.1mm of rain fell over 23 days. Perth also recorded its record fewest hours of sunshine in that month, with an average of only 2.9 hours a day.
| June averages | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Average | Highest average |
Year | Lowest average |
Year | Years of record |
| Maximum temperature (°C) | 19 | 20.6 | 1983 | 15.9 | 1898 | 105 |
| Minimum temperature (°C) | 9 | 12.6 | 1964 | 7.1 | 1931 | 105 |
| Sunshine (hours/day) | 5.8 | 6.9 | 1955 | 2.9 | 1945 | 104 |
| June rainfall and rain days | ||||||
| Element | Average | Highest | Year | Lowest | Year | Years of record |
| Rainfall (mm) | 182 | 476.1 | 1945 | 54.9 | 1877 | 126 |
| Rain days | 17 | 27 | 1918,70 | 9 | 1893,1976 | 126 |
| June daily extremes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Highest | Date | Lowest | Date | Years of record |
|
| Maximum temperature (°C) | 28.1 | 5/6/1975 | 8.8 | 26/6/1956 | 105 | |
| Minimum temperature (°C) | 18.7 | 12/6/1988 | 1.3 | 11/6/1995 | 105 | |
| Rainfall (mm) 24 hours to 9am | 99.1 | 10/6/1920 | - | - | 122 | |
Warm days in June: On average, Perth can expect about seven days when the maximum temperature is 20 degrees or more. The greatest number of such days in June was 21 days in 1983. Last June, Perth recorded 18 such days.
Cold days in June: On average, Perth can expect about two days when the maximum temperature is 15 degrees or less. The greatest number of such days in June was 10 in 1931 and 1955. Last June, Perth recorded two such days.
| June top 10 hottest | June top 10 coolest | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Date | Max temp°C |
Position | Date | Max temp°C |
| 1 | 5 June 1975 | 28.1 | 1 | 26 June 1956 | 08.8 |
| 2 | 02 June 1914 | 27.6 | 2 | 8 June 1923 | 10.0 |
| 3 | 3 June 1984 | 26.9 | 3 | 24 June 1966 | 10.2 |
| 4 | 4 June 1984 | 26.8 | 4 | 18 June 1931 | 10.4 |
| 5 | 2 June 1977 | 26.3 | 5 | 25 June 1956 | 10.6 |
| 6 | 4 June 1919 | 26.2 | 6 | 29 June 1920 | 10.9 |
| 6 | 11 June 1972 | 26.2 | 7 | 26 June 1946 | 11.0 |
| 8 | 12 June 1925 | 25.7 | 8 | 13 June 1898 | 11.6 |
| 8 | 12 June 2000 | 25.7 | 9 | 18 June 1936 | 12.1 |
| 10 | 16 June 1935 | 25.6 | 9 | 30 June 1950 | 12.1 |
| 10 | 28 June 1985 | 25.6 | 9 | 20 June 1955 | 12.1 |
| 10 | 24 June 1988 | 25.6 | 9 | 9 June 1973 | 12.1 |
Note: Official Perth observations have been recorded at several different sites over the years. Changes in site location can affect both temperature and rainfall readings. Due to a relatively short period of record for the current site, temperature averages have been estimated to represent that site.
Ends
Further information:
John Relf (JR), or Glenn Cook, tel:(08) 9263 2222 or, after hours, the senior forecaster.