Tuesday, 8 February 2022 - Annual Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC51R0

Western Australia in 2021: wet in the west, very warm days in the north

Rainfall in 2021 was above average in the west of Western Australia, the southern Kimberley and the eastern borders of the Southern Interior District, whilst the remainder of the state saw close to average rainfall. Some areas in the Gascoyne and the South West Land Division reported their highest annual rainfall on record. Annual mean maximum temperatures were above average in the far north and south-east, areas surrounding the Gascoyne District, and along the west coast. Annual mean minimum temperatures were above average for much of the southern half and coastal north-west of WA.

Wet in the west

• Above average rainfall was recorded in the west of WA, the southern Kimberley and the eastern borders of the Southern Interior District, while close to average annual rainfall was observed elsewhere.
• Western Australia annual rainfall in 2021 was 9% above the 1961–1990 average.
• Many locations in the Gascoyne District and the South West Land Division (SWLD) recorded their highest annual rainfall on record or highest for at least 20 years.
• A number of highest all-time daily rainfall records were registered during the first half of the year.
• Two tropical lows moved across the Kimberley and Pilbara districts and produced daily rainfall in excess of 100 mm in late January; Myroodah in the west Kimberley recorded WA's highest daily total of the year on the 31st with 260.0 mm, and Old Mornington Homestead had its all-time daily rainfall record set on the 30th.
• March was wet for western and north-eastern WA, and the statewide averaged March rainfall was 40% above the 1961–1990 average
• A broad trough and a weak low pressure system produced daily rainfall totals between 50 mm and 100 mm in a large part of the SWLD on the 3rd or 4th of March, including a number of all-time daily rainfall records
• A broad low pressure trough lingered in northern WA, and produce thunderstorms and showers during the middle of March; Flora Valley in the south-east Kimberley recorded its all-time daily rainfall record on the 15th with 177 mm.
• April was wet in the western parts of the state. Severe tropical cyclone Seroja and its remnants produced widespread moderate rainfall in the west from the North West Cape down to the South Coastal and South East Coastal districts, with locally heavy daily falls in excess of 100 mm on the 12th, including a number of all-time daily rainfall records.
• The passage of two cloudbands in May resulted in above average rainfall in the west of WA. Locally heavy daily rainfall totals of 80–100 mm were recorded on 3 May around Walpole in the south coast from thunderstorms.
• Although June rainfall was below average in the Gasocyne, northern Goldfields and much of the SWLD, the southern coastal areas recorded above average rainfall. A strong cold front and associated low pressure system brought widespread moderate rainfall to most of the SWLD on the 21st, with daily rainfall of 166.2 mm recorded at Wereroa, near Denmark in the South Coastal District.
• The frequent passage of frontal systems saw the SWLD record 50% above July average rainfall, and the wettest July since 1996 for the region.
• After the state experienced a dry August and September, October rainfall was above average for WA, and the SWLD had their wettest October since 2011.
• Rainfall in the SWLD during the cool season (April–October) was 13% above the 1961–1990 average, the wettest cool season since 2005.
• For WA as a whole, November was the ninth-wettest November on record, and wettest since 2012, although it was dry in parts of the south-west.
• December rainfall was below average for most of WA, with the western half of the state and along the southern coastal areas recorded little to zero rainfall.

Above average daytime temperature in the Kimberley

• Annual mean maximum temperatures were above average in the far north and south-east, areas surrounding the Gascoyne District, and along the west coast; the reminder of the state saw close to average mean maxima.
• Western Australia annual mean maximum temperature was 0.67 °C above the 1961–1990 average, but it was the lowest since 2011.
• Annual mean minimum temperatures were above average for much of the southern half, and coastal north-west of WA.
• Western Australia annual mean minimum temperature was 0.24 °C above the 1961–1990 average, but it was the lowest since 2012.
• Western Australia mean temperature in February was the lowest since 2006.
• On the 30th of March, areas around Esperance in the South East Coastal District had their hottest day and last day of 40 °C or higher in 2021, while Esperance Airport and Munglinup West also had their all-time high daily minimum temperature on record
• Western Australia mean maximum temperature in June was the lowest since 1993. Much of WA observed a cold spell between the 21st and 25th, with maximum temperatures below 20 °C in the Pilbara, and 10 °C or lower in the Central Wheat Belt, Great Southern and South East Coastal districts on the 21st, including a number of all-time low maximum temperature.
• Western Australia mean temperature in July was the second-highest on record, and the highest since 1973.
• In September, the southern WA observed a number of frosty nights, between the 3rd and 5th, and between the 12th and 14th.
• Western Australia mean temperature in November was the lowest since 2008, but the third-highest on record for December. An extreme heatwave along the north-west and west coast during the Christmas period saw a number of all-time daily maximum temperature, and daily minimum temperature records.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

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Monthly maps
	Rainfall rank	Maximum temperature rank	Minimum temperature rank
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

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* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top