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Wednesday 1 March, 2006

MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - WESTERN AUSTRALIA REGIONAL OFFICE

Wettest February for 13 years in Perth

Rainfall above average: The city received 20.6 mm of rainfall over 3 days in February compared with the average of 12 mm over 2 days. It was the wettest February since the 27.6 mm in 1993. Historically, February rainfall has ranged from 0.0 mm on 17 occasions to 166.3 mm in 1955. Last February Perth registered 3.0 mm. The wettest day in February 2006 was the 7th when 18.0 mm was recorded.

Mean daily maximum temperature near average: Perth's mean daily maximum temperature in February was 31.4 degrees Celsius, compared with the average of 31.2 degrees. Daily maxima ranged from a mild 22.3 degrees on the 15th to a very hot 40.1 degrees on the 21st.

Mean daily minimum temperature near average: Perth's mean daily minimum temperature in February was 17.8 degrees Celsius, compared with the average of 18.0 degrees. Minima ranged from a cool 12.1 degrees on the 2nd to a warm 24.9 degrees on the 21st.

February monthly mean temperature and sunshine
Element	2006	Long- term Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Maximum Temperature (°C)	31.4	31.2	35.1	1985	26.5	1926	1897
Minimum Temperature (°C)	17.8	18.0	22.7	1985	15.6	1931	1897
Sunshine (hours per day)	11.1	11.1	12.0	3 years	7.7	1955	1898
February rainfall and rain days
Element	2006	Long-term Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Rainfall (mm)	20.6	12	166.3	1955	0.0	17 years	1876
Rain days	3	2	8	3 years	0	17 Years	1876

February daily extremes
Element	2006	Date	Extreme	Date	Records Commence
Highest daily maximum (°C)	40.1	21/02/2006	46.2	23/02/1991	1897
Lowest daily maximum (°C)	22.3	15/02/2006	19.0	17/02/1914	1897
Highest daily minimum (°C)	24.9	21/02/2006	29.3	3 years *	1897
Lowest daily minimum (°C)	12.1	02/02/2006	8.7	01/02/1902	1897
Wettest 24 hours to 9am (mm)	18.0	07/02/2006	120.0	09/02/1992	1876

* The 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 20 mm of rainfall on five days, though March has been rainless on several occasions since records began.

March monthly mean temperatures and sunshine
Element	Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Maximum temperature (°C)	29.3	31.8	1978	24.4	1927	1897
Minimum temperature (°C)	16.5	20.0	1988	13.5	1900	1897
Sunshine (hours per day)	9.4	10.6	2001	5.5	1927	1898
March monthly rainfall and rain days
Element	Average	Highest	Year	Lowest	Year	Records Commence
Rainfall (mm)	20	145.2	1934	0.0	6 years	1876
Rain days	5	10	1915	0	6 years	1876

March daily extremes
Element	Highest	Date	Lowest	Date	Records Commence
Maximum temperature (°C)	42.3	05/03/1990	16.4	27/03/1968	1897
Minimum temperature (°C)	28.3	02/03/1934	7.6	24/03/2001	1897
Rainfall 24 hours to 9am (mm)	77.0	09/03/1934	n/a	n/a	1876

Hot days in March: On average, Perth can expect about nine 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 40 degrees or above occur in Perth in about six years out of ten. The most recent event was 23 March 2005 when Perth experienced 41.9 degrees.

March top 10 hottest days			March top 10 coolest days
Position	Date	Max temp °C	Position	Date	Max temp°C
1	05 March 1990	42.3	1	27 March 1968	16.4
2	10 March 2003	42.0	2	26 March 1960	17.6
3	23 March 2005	41.9	3	27 March 1908	18.1
4	21 March 1988	41.7	4	28 March 1971	18.2
5	01 March 1991	41.4	5	28 March 1964	18.4
5	22 March 2004	41.4	6	19 March 1905	18.6
7	14 March 1922	41.3	6	10 March 1926	18.6
8	06 March 1914	41.2	6	19 March 1984	18.6
9	13 March 1922	41.1	9	29 March 1920	18.7
9	15 March 1922	41.1	10	29 March 1997	18.9

March top 10 warmest nights			March top 10 coolest nights
Position	Date	Min temp °C	Position	Date	Min temp°C
1	02 March 1934	28.3	1	24 March 2001	07.6
2	03 March 1961	27.8	2	25 March 1899	07.7
3	09 March 1919	27.0	2	08 March 1903	07.7
4	21 March 1930	26.6	4	28 March 1968	07.8
4	06 March 1972	26.6	5	08 March 2004	07.9
6	07 March 1979	26.4	6	23 March 1903	08.0
7	06 March 1990	26.1	7	30 March 1920	08.2
8	16 March 1980	26.0	7	29 March 1996	08.2
9	16 March 1955	25.9	9	18 March 1911	08.3
10	19 March 1902	25.8	10	16 March 1967	08.4
10	03 March 1956	25.8	-	-	-

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.

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