Friday, 28 February 2003 MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL OFFICE
Rainfall: Perth received 11.0 millimetres of rain over four days in February this year
compared with the average of 13mm over three days. The heaviest daily fall was 9.8mm on the 2nd,
making it the wettest February day for 10 years. Last February, Perth recorded 8.2mm over
three days. Historically, February rainfall has ranged from a low of 0.0mm in many
years to 166.3mm in 1955.
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| February averages | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Feb. 2003 |
Average | Highest average |
Year | Lowest average |
Year | Years of record |
| Max temp (°C) | 30.6 | 31 | 35.2 | 1985 | 26.5 | 1926 | 107 |
| Min temp (°C) | 18.0 | 17 | 22.7 | 1985 | 15.6 | 1931 | 107 |
| Sunshine (hours/day) | 10.9 | 11.2 | 12.0 | *many | 7.7 | 1955 | 106 |
| February rainfall averages and extremes | |||||||
| Element | Feb. 2003 |
Average | Highest | Year | Lowest | Year | Years of record |
| Rainfall (mm) | 11.0 | 13 | 166.3 | 1955 | 0.0 | many | 128 |
| Rain days | 3 | 3 | 8 | **many | 0 | many | 128 |
* Greatest mean daily sunshine hours in February 1969, 1999 and 2000.
** Greatest number rain days in February 1883, 1915 and 1986.
| February daily extremes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Feb. 2003 |
Date | Extreme | Date | Years of record |
| Highest daily maximum (°C) | 41.0 | 09/02/2003 | 46.2 | 23/02/1991 | 107 |
| Lowest daily minimum (°C) | 22.2 | 02/02/2003 | 19.0 | 17/02/1914 | 107 |
| Lowest daily minimum (°C) | 10.3 | 03/02/2003 | 8.7 | 01/02/1902 | 107 |
| Highest daily minimum (°C) | 24.4 | 09/02/2003 | 29.3 | #many | 107 |
| Wettest 24-hour period | 9.8 | 02/02/2003 | 120.6 | 09/02/1992 | 124 |
# Denotes highest February minimum temperature on record has occurred on the following dates: 6 February 1898, 8 February 1933 and 3 February 1962.
Climate of Perth in March
March is generally a little cooler than February. Most days are sunny and warm, but some hot days can occur, particularly in the first half of the month. On average, Perth can expect 19mm rainfall on four days, though March has been rainless on several occasions since records began.
| March monthly averages | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Average | Highest average |
Year | Lowest average |
Year | Years of record |
| Maximum temp (°C) | 29 | 31.8 | 1978 | 24.4 | 1927 | 106 |
| Minimum temp (°C) | 16 | 20.0 | 1988 | 13.5 | 1900 | 106 |
| Sunshine (hours/day) | 9.5 | 10.6 | 2001 | 5.5 | 1927 | 105 |
| March rainfall and rain days | ||||||
| Element | Average | Highest | Year | Lowest | Year | Year of record |
| Rainfall (mm) | 19 | 145.2 | 1934 | 0.0 | *many | 127 |
| Rain days | 4 | 10 | 1915 | 0 | *many | 127 |
* Nil rainfall and rain days in 1877, 1884, 1886, 1950 and 1973.
| March daily extremes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Highest | Date | Lowest | Date | Years of record |
| Maximum temp (°C) | 42.3 | 05/03/1990 | 16.4 | 27/03/1968 | 106 |
| Minimum temp (°C) | 28.3 | 02/03/1934 | 7.6 | 24/03/2001 | 106 |
| Rainfall (mm) 24 hours to 9am |
77.0 | 09/03/1934 | - | - | 123 |
Hot days in March: On average, Perth can expect about six days when the maximum temperature is 32 degrees or higher. The most number of such hot days in March was 17 in 1983.
Latest 40.0-degree day of the season: The latest maximum of 40.0 degrees of the season occurred on 23 March 1920, with 40.0 degrees. The last time Perth experienced a 40-degree day in March was on 9 March 1996 with 40.5 degrees. The most number of such days in March was three in 1922.
Hot start to March: In March 2001, Perth recorded its hottest start to March on record. The mean maximum temperature for the first six days was 38.0 degrees. On four of these days the maximum temperature exceeded the old century of 37.8 degrees.
| March top 10 hottest | March top 10 coolest | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Date | Max temp (°C) |
Position | Date | Max temp (°C) |
| 1 | 05 March 1990 | 42.3 | 1 | 27 March 1968 | 16.4 |
| 2 | 21 March 1988 | 41.7 | 2 | 26 March 1960 | 17.6 |
| 3 | 01 March 1991 | 41.4 | 3 | 27 March 1908 | 18.1 |
| 4 | 14 March 1922 | 41.3 | 4 | 28 March 1971 | 18.2 |
| 5 | 06 March 1914 | 41.2 | 5 | 28 March 1964 | 18.4 |
| 6 | 13 March 1922 | 41.1 | 6 | 19 March 1905 | 18.6 |
| 6 | 15 March 1922 | 41.1 | 6 | 10 March 1926 | 18.6 |
| 8 | 13 March 1988 | 41.0 | 6 | 19 March 1984 | 18.6 |
| 9 | 11 March 1959 | 40.9 | 6 | 19 March 1993 | 18.6 |
| 10 | 08 March 1964 | 40.7 | 10 | 29 March 1920 | 18.7 |
| 10 | 20 March 1988 | 40.7 | - | - | - |
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.