Monday, 2 September 2002

SEASONAL CLIMATE SUMMARY - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL OFFICE

Perth winter drier than normal once again

Rainfall: Winter rainfall in Perth this year was well below average. From June to August, Perth received 384.8 millimetres over 51 days compared with the average of 490mm over 52 days. Last winter, Perth recorded 382.2mm over 42 days. Rainfall totals for individual winter months were: June 183.8mm (av 182mm), July 119.8mm (av 173) and August 81.2mm (av 135 mm). The wettest day was 4 June when 53.0mm fell.

Winter rainfall totals (mm), 1990-2002
Year Rainfall (mm) Rain days Departure
from normal
1990 351.6 45 -138
1991 509.2 58 +19
1992 532.6 55 +43
1993 346.0 43 -144
1994 535.0 51 +45
1995 512.4 52 +22
1996 555.8 63 +66
1997 361.6 41 -128
1998 414.8 57 -75
1999 401.6 48 -88
2000 497.2 58 +7
2001 382.2 42 -108
2002 384.8 51 -105

Maximum temperatures: The mean daily maximum temperature for Perth this winter of 18.8 degrees Celsius was near the average of 18 degrees. Daily values ranged from a cold 14.5 degrees on 12 July to a warm 25.3 degrees on 24 August. Last winter the mean maximum temperature was 19.1 degrees.

Minimum temperatures: The mean daily minimum temperature for Perth this winter of 8.7 degrees was near the average of 8 degrees. Daily minima ranged from a cold 0.9 degrees on 28 July to a mild 14.4 degrees on 2 and 3 June. Perth recorded 18 cold nights this winter when the temperature was 5 degrees or less, two fewer than the long-term average of 20 nights. Last winter the mean minimum temperature was 6.6 degrees.

Winter averages
Element 2002 mean Average Highest
average
Year Lowest
average
Year Years of
record
Maximum temp (°C) 18.8 18 19.7 1976 16.5 1916 106
Minimum temp (°C) 8.7 8 11.0 1964 6.6 2001 106
Sunshine (hours/day) 6.3 6.3 7.2 2001 4.1 1926 105
Winter rainfall averages and extremes
Element 2002 total Average Highest Year Lowest Year Years of
record
Rainfall (mm) 384.8 490 957.1 1945 260.0 1940 127
Rain days 51 52 68 1915,26 35 1902 127

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.