Rainfall below average: The city received 3.0 millimetres of rainfall on 3 days compared with the average of 13 mm on 2 days. Since 1876, February rainfall has ranged from 0.0 mm, recorded on 17 occasions, to 166.3 mm in 1955. Last February Perth recorded 2.0 mm on 2 days.

Mean daily maximum temperature below average: Perth's mean daily maximum temperature was 30.0 degrees Celsius making it the lowest mean maximum temperature for February since the 29.0 degrees in 1994. The average is 31.3 degrees. Daily maxima ranged from a mild 23.5 degrees on the 6th and 7th, to a very hot 42.0 degrees on the 15th, the highest daily maximum temperature in February since 1997.

Mean daily minimum temperature below average: Perth's mean daily minimum temperature was 17.0 degrees Celsius, compared to an average of 18.1 degrees. Minima ranged from a cool 13.4 degrees on the 8th, to a warm 22.2 degrees on the 15th.

Mean daily sunshine hours about average: Perth's mean daily sunshine hours was 10.5, which was close to the average of 11.1 hours.

February monthly mean temperature and sunshine
Element	2005	Long- term Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Maximum Temperature (°C)	30.0	31.3	35.1	1985	26.5	1926	1897
Minimum Temperature (°C)	17.0	18.1	22.7	1985	15.6	1931	1897
Sunshine (hours per day)	10.5	11.1	12.0	3 years	7.7	1955	1898
February monthly rainfall and rain days
Element	2005	Long-term Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Rainfall (mm)	3.0	13	166.3	1955	0.0	17 years	1876
Rain days	3	2	8	3 years	0	17 years	1876

February daily extremes
Element	2005	Date	Extreme	Date	Records Commence
Highest daily maximum (°C)	42.0	15/02/2005	46.2	23/02/1991	1897
Lowest daily maximum (°C)	23.5	06 & 07/02/2005	19.0	17/02/1914	1897
Highest daily minimum (°C)	22.2	15/02/2005	29.3	3 days	1897
Lowest daily minimum (°C)	13.4	08/02/2005	8.7	01/02/1902	1897
Wettest 24 hours to 9am (mm)	1.6	27/02/2005	120.6	09/02/1992	1876

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 19 mm of rainfall on four days, though March has been rainless on several occasions since records began.

Hot days in March: On average, Perth can expect about eight days when the maximum temperature is 32 degrees or higher. The greatest number of such hot days in March was 17 in 1983.

Days 40 degrees or higher in March: Daily maximum temperatures of 40 degrees or above are uncommon in Perth in March, but occur on approximately one day every two years. The most recent event was 22 March 2004 when Perth experienced 41.4 degrees. The latest of the season was on 23 March 1920 when the daily maximum temperature reached 40.0 degrees.

Note: Official Perth observations have been recorded at several different sites with varying instrumentation over the years, and these changes can affect the continuity of the climate record. For the current Mt Lawley site, the most significant changes of this kind relate to temperature and rain days. For that reason, current mean temperature and rain-day data quoted here are based only on readings from the Mt Lawley site, which commenced observations in 1993. Sunshine recordings are from Perth Airport and for similar reasons current means use only Perth Airport data, which commenced in 1993.

Further information:
John Relf (JR), or John Cramb tel: (08) 9263 2222.