Friday 2 January 2009 - Annual Climate Summary for Perth - Product Code:IDCKGC51L0

Near average rainfall with warmer days for Perth in 2008

Annual rainfall - near average: Perth's annual rainfall for 2008 was 807.8 mm on 117 days, compared with the long-term average of 855 mm on about 111 days. In 2007, Perth recorded 703.0 mm on 117 days.

Perth's wettest month in 2008 was July with 179.4 mm, on 20 days, just above the average of 170 mm. The wettest day in 2008 was 6 April when 58.6 mm of rainfall was recorded.

Perth's driest month was January when no rainfall was recorded.

Annual mean maximum temperature - near average: Perth's annual mean maximum temperature in 2008 was 24.6°C, which was the highest annual mean maximum temperature since the 24.8°C in 2006. The long-term annual mean maximum temperature is 24.4°C.

Daily maxima ranged from a cold 14.1°C on 31 July to a very hot 41.9°C on 3 January.

During 2008 Perth recorded 54 hot days, when the maximum temperature was 32°C or higher, which is the greatest number of such days since the 56 days in 1998. The long-term annual average is 47.

Annual mean minimum temperature - near average: Perth's annual mean minimum temperature in 2008 was 12.3°C, which was the lowest annual mean minimum temperature since the 12.3°C in 2005 and 2006. The long-term annual average is 12.7°C. Daily minima ranged from a cold 0.7°C on 6 and 7 July to a warm 24.9°C on 14 February.

Perth recorded 39 nights when the minimum temperature was 5°C or less, the greatest number of such nights since the 43 in 2001. The long-term annual average is 26.

Annual mean sunshine hours - average: Perth's annual mean sunshine hours in 2008 was 8.8 hours, which equals the long-term average of 8.8 hours.

Annual mean temperature and sunshine
Element

2008

 Long- term Average

Highest

 Year

Lowest

 Year Records Commence
Maximum
Temperature (°C)
24.6
24.4
25.2
1978
21.8
1917
1897
Minimum
Temperature (°C)
12.3
12.7
14.9
1988
12.0
1908/2001
1897
Sunshine
(hours per day)
8.8
8.8
9.1
1994
6.8
1923/1965
1898
Annual rainfall and rain days
Element 2007 Long-term Average Highest Year Lowest Year Records Commence
Rainfall (mm)
807.8
855
1338.8
1945
466.8
2006
1876
Rain days
117
111.3
167
1926
87
1969
1876

Daily extremes in 2008
Element 2008 Date Extreme Date

Records Commence
Highest daily maximum (°C)
41.9
03/01/2008
46.2
23/02/1991
1897
Lowest daily maximum (°C)
14.1
31/07/2008
8.8
26/06/1956
1897
Highest daily minimum (°C)
24.9
14/02/2008
29.3
* Several
1897
Lowest daily minimum (°C)
0.7
** Twice
−0.7
17/06/2006
1897
Wettest 24 hours to 9am (mm)
58.6
06/04/2008
120.6
09/02/1992
1876

Denotes * 6 February 1898, 8 February 1933 and 3 February 1962. ** 6 & 7 July 2008.

Past years in Perth
Season
Mean Maximum (°C)
Mean Minimum (°C)
Total Rainfall (mm)
Rain Days
Mean Sunshine (hours per day)
1994
24.7
12.8
739.8
89
9.1
1995
24.2
12.8
904.8
117
8.8
1996
24.4
13.0
888.6
129
8.7
1997
24.4
12.9
699.4
99
8.8
1998
24.4
12.9
742.6
129
8.6
1999
24.8
13.3
822.0
101
9.0
2000
24.5
12.9
796.2
112
8.9
2001
24.2
12.0
688.6
106
8.8
2002
24.5
12.7
737.8
117
8.9
2003
24.5
12.8
853.6
121
8.8
2004
24.5
12.6
637.0
108
8.9
2005
23.5
12.3
874.8
125
8.4
2006
24.8
12.3
466.8
97
9.0
2007
24.4
12.5
703.0
117
8.8
2008
24.6
12.3
807.8
117
8.8

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 Glenn Cook tel: (08) 9263 2222 during business hours.