Second driest July on record in Perth

Rainfall well below average: The city received 62.8 millimetres of rainfall over 14 days in July compared with the average of 171 mm over 18 days. This was the driest July since the 61.5 mm in 1876 and ranks as the second driest July on record. Last July Perth recorded 112.6 mm over 13 days.Total rainfall for January to July this year was 588.0 mm compared with the average of 555 mm.

Mean daily maximum temperature near average: Perth's mean daily maximum temperature in July was 18.6 degrees Celsius compared with the average of 18.2 degrees. Daily maxima ranged from a cold 14.0 degrees on the 5th to a warm 22.8 degrees on the 19th.

Mean daily minimum temperature below average: Perth's mean daily minimum temperature in July was 6.7 degrees Celsius, compared with the average of 8.1 degrees. Minima ranged from a very cold 0.2 degrees on the 7th and 12th to a mild 12.7 degrees on the 4th.

Mean daily sunshine hours well above average: Perth's mean daily sunshine hours in July was 7.0 ** hours which was well above the average of 6.0 hours.

* Denotes the lowest minimum temperature for June on record on the following dates: 15 July 1997 and 27 July 1998.

** This is a preliminary figure based on the available data at the time of the media release. Please check updated mean sunshine hours from Daily Weather Observations for Perth at the beginning of next month.

Climate of Perth in August

August heralds the end of winter and generally shows signs of the forthcoming change in the season. Mean temperatures are generally similar to those in July, but there is a slight reduction in the mean rainfall. Mean sunshine hours increase, with an extra 1.2 hours per day on average.

Warm days in August: On average, Perth can expect one day when the maximum temperature is 25 degrees or higher. The greatest number of warm days in August was 4 in 1914. There were none in August last year.

Cold days in August: On average, Perth can expect one day when the maximum temperature is 15 degrees or less. The greatest number of such days was 10 in 1917. There was one such day in August last year.

Cold nights in August: On Average, Perth can expect seven nights when the minimum temperature is 5 degrees or less. The greatest number of such nights was 11 in 1999 and 2001 and there were eight in August last year.

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 on weekdays.