Rainfall below average: The city received 27.8 millimetres of rainfall over 7 days in April compared with the average of 44 mm over 7 days. Historically, April rainfall has ranged from 0.0 mm, recorded in 3 years, to 148.8 mm in 1926. Last April Perth recorded 12.0 mm over 6 days. Total rainfall for January to April this year was 83.0 mm compared with the average of 86 mm. The highest daily rainfall in April 2005 occurred on the 2nd with 16.0 mm.

Mean daily maximum temperature below average: Perth's mean daily maximum temperature in April was 24.7 degrees Celsius compared with the average of 26.0 degrees. This was the lowest mean maximum for April since 24.7 degrees was also recorded in 1990. Daily maxima ranged from a cool 15.9 degrees on the 1st, the coolest April day for 25 years, to a hot 35.8 degrees on the 6th.

Mean daily minimum temperature below average: Perth's mean daily minimum temperature in April was 12.4 degrees Celsius, the lowest for April on record at the current Perth Mt Lawley site since records began there in 1993. The average is 14.0 degrees. Daily minima ranged from a cool 7.1 degrees on the 18th to a mild 16.9 degrees on the 23rd.

Mean daily sunshine hours near average: Perth's mean daily sunshine hours in April was 8.1 hours, which matches the average of 8.1 hours.

April monthly mean temperature and sunshine
Element	2005	Long- term Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Maximum Temperature (°C)	24.7	26.0	28.2	1978/99	21.0	1968	1897
Minimum Temperature (°C)	12.4	14.0	17.3	1978	11.6	1914	1897
Sunshine (hours per day)	8.1	8.1	9.3	1920	4.4	1926	1898
April monthly rainfall and rain days
Element	2005	Long-term Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Rainfall (mm)	27.8	44	148.8	1926	0.0	3 years	1876
Rain days	7	7	19	1926	0	3 years	1876

April daily extremes
Element	2005	Date	Extreme	Date	Records Commence
Highest daily maximum (°C)	35.8	06/04/2005	37.6	09/04/1910	1897
Lowest daily maximum (°C)	15.9	01/04/2005	13.6	16/04/1919	1897
Highest daily minimum (°C)	16.9	23/04/2005	24.4	02/04/1913	1897
Lowest daily minimum (°C)	7.1	18/04/2005	4.1	20/04/1914	1897
Wettest 24 hours to 9am (mm)	16.0	02/04/2005	69.6	17/04/2002	1876

Cool and dry April in Perth

Rainfall increases dramatically in May, with pleasantly mild days and cool nights. On average there are nearly seven hours of sunshine per day.

May monthly mean temperatures and sunshine
Element	Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Maximum temperature (°C)	22.3	24.0	2003	18.7	1931/56	1897
Minimum temperature (°C)	10.8	13.8	1972	8.8	2000	1897
Sunshine (hours per day)	6.7	7.9	2000	3.4	1905	1898
May monthly rainfall and rain days
Element	Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Rainfall (mm)	119	308.1	1879	14.1	1964	1876
Rain days	12	25	1921	5	1913	1876

May daily extremes
Element	Highest	Date	Lowest	Date	Records Commence
Maximum temperature (°C)	34.3	01/05/2002	11.5	23/05/1995	1897
Minimum temperature (°C)	20.8	01/05/1983	1.3	11/05/1914	1897
Rainfall 24 hours to 9am (mm)	76.2	17/05/1942	n/a	n/a	1876

Cold days in May: On average Perth has one cold day when the maximum temperature is 15 degrees or lower. The greatest number of such days was three in 1936. The most recent cold day Perth recorded was 23 May 1995, when the maximum was only 11.5 degrees, the coldest May day on record.

Latest 30-degree day of the season: On average Perth experiences one day when the maximum temperature is 30 degrees or higher. The latest 30-degree day in the season occurred on 9 May 1962, with exactly 30.0 degrees recorded.

Latest 32-degree day of the season: Hot days are very rare in May. The latest date on which a maximum temperature of 32 degrees or greater occurred was 3 May in 1907, with 32.2 degrees registered.

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:
We regret that Bureau staff are unavailable to provide further information relating to this release until after 8.30 am on Monday. From that time please ring (08) 9263 2222 for John Relf (JR) or John Cramb.