Wettest autumn for thirty-eight years in Perth

Rainfall: Autumn rainfall in Perth was very much above average. From March to May, Perth received 271.2 millimetres over 32 days compared with the average of 182 mm over 23 days. It was the wettest autumn since the 291.4 mm in 1967. Last autumn, Perth recorded 115.2 mm over 18 days. Rainfall totals for individual autumn months were: March 52.2 mm (average 19 mm), April 27.8 mm (average 44 mm) and May 191.2 mm (average 119 mm).

Mean daily maximum temperatures: The mean daily maximum temperature for Perth this autumn of 26.2 degrees Celsius was slightly above the average of 25.8 degrees. Daily values ranged from a cool 15.9 degrees on 1 April to a very hot 41.9 degrees on 23 March. Last autumn the mean daily maximum temperature was 25.7 degrees.

Mean daily minimum temperatures: The mean daily minimum temperature for Perth this autumn of 14.9 degrees was well above the average of 13.7 degrees. Daily minima ranged from a cool 7.1 degrees on 18 April to a warm 23.4 degrees on 17 March. Last autumn the mean minimum temperature was 13.1 degrees.

Mean daily sunshine hours: Perth's mean daily sunshine hours this autumn was 7.2 hours, which was the least number of sunshine hours since the 7.1 hours in 1990. The average is 8.1 hours.

Autumn mean temperature and sunshine
Element	Autumn 2005	Long term Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Maximum Temperature (°C)	26.2	25.8	27.2	1978	22.3	1917	1897
Minimum Temperature (°C)	14.9	13.7	16.6	1988	12.1	1960	1897
Sunshine (hours per day)	7.2	8.1	8.8	1972	6.0	1926	1898
Autumn rainfall and rain days
Element	Autumn 2005	Long term Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Rainfall (mm)	271.2	182	372.4	1879	42.2	1983	1876
Rain days	32	23	42	1926	10	1886	1876

 

Autumn daily extremes
Element	Autumn 2005	Date	Extreme	Date	Records Commence
Highest daily maximum (°C)	41.9	23/03/2005	42.3	05/03/1990	1897
Lowest daily maximum (°C)	15.9	01/04/2005	11.5	23/05/1995	1897
Highest daily minimum (°C)	23.4	17/03/2005	28.3	02/03/1934	1897
Lowest daily minimum (°C)	7.1	18/04/2005	1.3	11/05/1914	1897
Wettest 24 hours to 9am (mm)	50.4	02/05/2005	77.0	09/03/1934	1876

Past autumn's in Perth 1994-2005
Season	Mean Maximum (°C)	Mean Minimum (°C)	Total Rainfall (mm)	Rain Days	Mean Sunshine (hour)
1994	26.7	13.8	101.4	16	8.7
1995	25.6	13.1	169.4	22	8.4
1996	25.6	13.1	86.8	23	8.2
1997	24.6	14.1	175.0	27	7.5
1998	26.4	14.4	151.6	28	7.8
1999	25.9	14.9	158.4	25	7.8
2000	25.6	13.0	81.2	16	8.5
2001	25.7	13.3	118.8	21	8.2
2002	25.6	13.6	169.0	33	8.1
2003	26.6	14.6	203.0	28	8.0
2004	25.7	13.1	115.2	18	8.5
2005	26.2	14.9	271.2	32	7.2

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 Glen Cook tel: (08) 9263 2222 on weekdays.