Western Australia in 2022: Extreme heatwave in the Pilbara in January, a very wet spring

Western Australia above average annual rainfall in 2022 was largely due to the second-wettest spring on record. The state-wide annual maximum and minimum temperatures were above average, but it was the coolest daytime temperatures since 2011. Early in January, an extreme to severe heatwave was observed in the Pilbara with temperatures climbing over 50 degrees at multiple sites.

Above average rainfall in the north and eastern South West Land Division

  • Annual rainfall was 22% above the 1961–1990 average, the wettest year since 2017 for Western Australia.
  • Rainfall was above average for much of the northern WA and eastern parts of the South West Land Division; it was the seventh-wettest year on record for the Kimberley District.
  • A monsoon trough and low pressure systems brought a number of highest annual daily rainfall records in the Kimberley in February; daily rainfall of 652.2 mm on the 1st at Country Downs was the state's second-highest annual daily rainfall, behind only 747 mm at Whim Creek on 3 April 1898.
  • Tropical Cyclone Anika brought daily rainfall of 100–200 mm in the east Pilbara and far west Kimberley at the start to March.
  • Ex-Tropical Cyclone Charlotte produced daily rainfall of 100–200 mm in the Gascoyne District at the end of March, several sites had their annual daily rainfall records on the 30th.
  • Daily rainfall of 50–120 mm was recorded near the Gascoyne coast at the start to April; Carnavon recorded 118.6 mm on the 2nd, its highest daily rainfall in April, and its third-highest annual daily rainfall on record, behind 207.8 mm on 17 December 2010, and 137.2 mm on 5 February 2021.
  • A slow-moving trough produced a number of annual daily rainfall records in the South East Coastal District on 13 and 14 April
  • A cloudband and cold front produced daily rainfall of 25–70mm along the west Gascoyne and Central West districts on 16 August, including several annual daily rainfall records.
  • Large parts of the Kimberley and the adjacent Northern Interior districts observed their highest spring rainfall on record, and in the top 10% of historical records for most of the northern half and south-east of the state, as well as along the south coast. It was the second-wettest spring on record for WA

Extreme heatwave with record breaking temperatures in the Pilbara

  • The annual mean maximum temperature was 0.61 °C above the 1961–1990 average for Western Australia, although the year 2022 was the coolest since 2011.
  • The annual mean minimum temperature was 0.38 °C above the 1961–1990 average for Western Australia.
  • An extreme to severe heatwave was observed in the Pilbara and central Western Australia between 12 and 14 January, when maximum temperatures reached high 40s to over 50 °C including a handful of records
  • Onslow Airport recorded 50.7 °C on 13 January, which equalled the all-time highest temperature in Australia; both Roebourne Aero and Mardie recorded 50.5 °C on the same day, ranking as the equal third-highest temperature in the country.
  • Geraldton Airport in the Central West District recorded its all-time longest run (6 consecutive days) with maximum temperatures over 43 °C in 113 years of record in late January
  • On the last day of May, wet and cloudy conditions over the northwest WA resulted in daytime temperatures in the low 10s, the annual coldest day on record for a number of sites in the Pilbara.
  • It was a very cold morning on 5 July with minimum temperatures below 5 °C in the inland Pilbara and Kimberley; Telfer Aero and Fitzroy Crossing Aero recorded their annual lowest temperature on record.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes in 2022
Hottest day 50.7 °C at Onslow Airport on 13 Jan
Warmest days on average 36.0 °C at Fitzroy Crossing Aero
Coolest days on average 20.1 °C at North Walpole
Coldest day 8.5 °C at Rocky Gully on 9 Aug
Coldest night -5.0 °C at Eyre on 6 Jul
Coolest nights on average 8.5 °C at Wandering
Warmest nights on average 24.5 °C at Bedout Island
Warmest night 34.6 °C at Marble Bar on 13 Jan
Warmest on average overall 29.2 °C at Argyle Aerodrome
Coolest on average overall 15.0 °C at Rocky Gully
Wettest overall 1782.8 mm at Country Downs
Wettest day 652.2 mm at Country Downs on 1 Feb
Strongest wind gust 137 km/h at Jacup on 11 Feb
137 km/h at Cape Leeuwin on 1 Aug

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall
Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures
Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures
Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window


Monthly maps
Rainfall rankMaximum temperature rankMinimum temperature rank
January Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
February Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
March Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
April Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
May Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
June Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
July Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
August Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
September Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
October Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
November Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
December Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window


Record highest daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Murgoo 175.0 on 30 Mar 160.0 on 22 Mar 1927 134
Berkshire Valley 94.0 on 30 Mar 82.0 on 14 Apr 1961 116
Indarrie 130.0 on 30 Mar 93.0 on 13 Feb 1939 98
Country Downs 652.2 on 1 Feb 476.0 on 29 Jan 1978 53
Carlingup 94.0 on 13 Apr 90.8 on 5 Jan 2007 47
Cape Arid National Park 137.4 on 12 Apr 77.8 on 28 Feb 2000 35
Kalumburu 250.0 on 27 Feb 241.0 on 11 Dec 1998 25
Tabletop 49.6 on 16 Aug 49.2 on 4 Mar 2021 22
Tardun Hill 55.6 on 16 Aug 49.2 on 14 Feb 2017 22
Tenindewa 68.8 on 16 Aug 61.4 on 30 Jan 2017 22
Tibradden 60.6 on 16 Aug 48.4 on 12 Apr 2021 22



Record highest annual total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Annual
average
Booralee 487.6 485.4 in 1992 94 316.3
Cherrabun 937.2 900.1 in 1982 40 444.0
Lansdowne 1237.0 1037.5 in 1974 28 655.4

Highest annual total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Annual
average
Murgoo 433.2 563.0 in 1975* 219.8
Country Downs 1782.8 1914.2 in 1978* 966.6
Munglinup 729.8 843.1 in 1971* 530.0
Adina 908.8 964.4 in 1999 717.2
Berkshire Valley 528.6 700.9 in 1999 429.9
Yandanooka 470.8 729.7 in 1999* 404.1
Pleasant Valley 732.8 768.8 in 1999* 554.3
River Plains 495.8 547.8 in 1992* 386.0

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




Record highest temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Annual
average
Mardie 50.5 on 13 Jan = 50.5 on 19 Feb 1998 66 33.9
Mandora 48.5 on 11 Dec 48.4 on 22 Dec 1981 61 34.2
Onslow Airport 50.7 on 13 Jan 49.2 on 22 Dec 2011 59 32.1
Jarrahwood 42.0 on 21 Jan 41.9 on 23 Feb 1991 46 22.7
Carnegie 47.8 on 14 Jan = 47.8 on 15 Jan 2019 34 30.7
Karratha Aero 48.4 on 13 Jan 48.2 on 21 Jan 2003 30 32.5
Shannon 41.0 on 5 Feb = 41.0 on 26 Dec 2007 27 20.4
Bridgetown 41.4 on 5 Feb 41.3 on 7 Mar 2007 25 22.4
Roebourne Aero 50.5 on 13 Jan 49.2 on 21 Feb 2015 22 34.9



Record lowest daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Annual
average
Telfer Aero 12.3 on 31 May 13.1 on 5 Jul 2010 49 34.2
Gingin Aero 11.5 on 9 Aug 12.1 on 7 Jun 2016 27 25.6
Newman Aero 10.2 on 31 May 10.5 on 5 Jul 2011 27 32.2
Paraburdoo Aero 13.4 on 31 May 13.6 on 5 Jul 2011 27 33.6
Marble Bar 14.0 on 31 May 15.7 on 5 Jul 2010 23 35.7
Roebourne Aero 16.2 on 31 May 17.7 on 21 Jun 2021 22 34.9



Record lowest annual mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Annual
average
Hopetoun North 21.1 21.2 in 2015 22 22.0
Munglinup West 22.3 22.5 in 2016 20 23.2

Lowest annual mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Annual
average
Eucla 22.5 22.2 in 1978* 22.8
Jacup 21.4 =21.4 in 1997* 22.1
Eyre 23.1 22.4 in 1995* 23.1
Esperance Aero 21.9 21.6 in 2000* 22.3
Varanus Island 28.7 28.6 in 2001 29.1

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




Record highest daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Annual
average
Jacup 23.2 on 6 Feb 22.9 on 19 Feb 2004 30 9.3
Southern Cross Airfield 29.4 on 11 Feb 28.8 on 8 Feb 2020 27 10.5
Marble Bar 34.6 on 13 Jan 34.5 on 19 Dec 2019 23 20.4
Garden Island HSF 26.6 on 19 Jan 26.2 on 14 Mar 2016 22 15.0



Record lowest temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Annual
average
Telfer Aero 2.1 on 5 Jul = 2.1 on 14 Jun 2011 49 19.6
Windy Harbour -0.5 on 5 Jun 0.7 on 11 Jul 2007 38 11.4
Kununurra Aero 6.0 on 8 Jul 6.1 on 15 Aug 2018 37 21.1
Fitzroy Crossing Aero 3.8 on 5 Jul 3.9 on 4 Jul 2012 26 20.2



Record lowest annual mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Annual
average
Munglinup West 16.2 16.3 in 2016 20 16.9

Lowest annual mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Annual
average
Eucla 17.5 17.4 in 2001 17.5
Forrest 18.2 18.1 in 2001 18.7
Ravensthorpe 16.3 16.2 in 2001* 16.7

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




Summary statistics for 2022
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean
for
2022
Diff
from
average
Highest
for
2022
Mean
for
2022
Diff
from
average
Lowest
for
2022
Total
for
2022
Average
annual
total
Rank
of
2022
Fraction
of annual
average
North Kimberley (district 01)
Doongan 33.2 0.0 39.9 3 Nov 19.5 +1.0 4.0 6 Jul 1560.4 1182.0 high 132%
Truscott 32.8 0.0 37.6 1 Nov 23.0 -0.1 10.7 6 Jul 1628.4 1143.7 v high 142%
Wyndham Aero     44.5 24 Oct 22.5 +0.2 7.9 12 Jul 851.0 835.7 average 102%
East Kimberley (district 02)
Argyle Aerodrome 35.5 +0.5 43.3 11 Jan 22.8 +0.4 8.9 13 Jul 931.4 740.1 high 126%
Halls Creek Airport 34.1   42.8 12 Jan 19.4   4.1 9 Jul 670.2
Kununurra Aero 35.5 +0.4 43.7 23 Oct 20.7 -0.4 6.0 8 Jul 1042.8 840.6 high 124%
West Kimberley (district 03)
Broome Airport 32.8 +0.5 39.9 7 Apr 22.1 +0.8 6.1 5 Jul 963.1 627.6 high 153%
Curtin Aero 35.8 +0.2 44.6 12 Jan 21.1 0.0 6.1 15 Jul 936.2 813.1 high 115%
Derby Aero 35.2 +0.5 42.7 22 Sep 21.6 +0.1 7.1 5 Jul 849.6 706.6 high 120%
Fitzroy Crossing Aero 36.0 -0.2 43.8 4 Nov 20.2 0.0 3.8 5 Jul 965.4 690.6 high 140%
Yampi Sound (Defence) 35.4   42.8 22 Sep 20.1   3.3 5 Jul 1339.0
De Grey (district 04)
Bedout Island 29.9 -0.5 36.6 17 Mar 24.5 0.0 16.2 1 Jun
Karratha Aero 32.2 -0.3 48.4 13 Jan 21.3 +0.3 8.1 7 Jul 284.4 297.2 average 96%
Mandora 34.2 0.0 48.5 11 Dec 20.0 +0.5 5.5 5 Jul 394.4 377.5 average 104%
Marble Bar 35.0 -0.7 47.2 13 Jan 20.4 0.0 5.1 7 Jul 553.8 399.9 high 138%
Port Hedland Airport 33.4 0.0 48.4 13 Jan 20.6 +1.0 7.4 7 Jul 385.0 318.5 average 121%
Roebourne Aero 34.4 -0.5 50.5 13 Jan 20.0 +0.2 4.8 7 Jul 245.4 286.8 average 86%
Fortescue (district 05)
Barrow Island Airport 29.2 -0.2 41.3 14 Jan 22.4 +0.1 13.4 7 Jul 428.4 281.8 high 152%
Karijini North 33.0   46.8 13 Jan 19.5   4.7 7 Jul 428.6
Learmonth Airport 31.8 -0.2 46.4 13 Jan 17.6 -0.1 5.1 8 Jul 395.4 253.9 high 156%
Onslow Airport 31.9 -0.2 50.7 13 Jan 20.0 +0.8 9.4 7 Jul 438.6 306.2 high 143%
Thevenard Island 30.0 +0.1 40.9 13 Jan 22.4 +0.5 12.9 7 Jul 459.8 234.6 high 196%
West Gascoyne (district 06)
Carnarvon Airport 28.4 +1.0 46.1 22 Jan 17.2 0.0 4.1 4 Jul 339.0 223.7 high 152%
Denham 27.4 +0.6 45.0 22 Jan 17.9 0.0 8.5 25 Jul 291.2 222.9 high 131%
Shark Bay Airport 29.1 0.0 46.5 23 Jan 16.5 +0.1 5.0 9 Jul 203.8 201.4 average 101%
East Gascoyne (district 07)
Newman Aero 31.6 -0.6 45.1 14 Jan 17.0 +0.5 -1.3 5 Jul 296.4 323.8 average 92%
Murchison (district 07A)
Meekatharra Airport 29.3 +0.2 45.1 6 Jan 16.5 +0.5 2.9 10 Aug 257.0 234.0 average 110%
Paynes Find 27.9 -0.1 44.4 5 Jan 12.8 -0.2 -1.3 4 Jul 339.5 290.2 high 117%
North Coast (district 08)
Dalwallinu     43.1 10 Feb 11.2 -0.5 0.4 31 Jul 305.6 298.2 average 102%
Geraldton Airport 27.1 +0.1 44.7 5 Feb 13.5 -0.3 2.9 4 Jul 566.6
Kalbarri     43.9 19 Jan 15.5 +0.8 6.1 26 Jul 337.1 339.6 average 99%
Mullewa 28.3 +0.3 45.1 5 Jan 13.7 +0.4 2.6 5 Jul
North Island 25.2 +0.4 36.5 18 Feb 18.8 +0.2 6.7 26 Jul 361.8 281.7 high 128%
Wongan Hills 26.0 +0.2 43.0 10 Feb 11.5 -0.4 1.5 18 Aug 461.2 387.7 high 119%
Central Coast (district 09)
Badgingarra Research Stn 25.5 -0.4 42.9 5 Feb 12.2 +0.2 2.3 11 Oct
Bickley 22.5 -0.1 40.9 5 Feb 11.5 +0.2 4.0 4 Jul 995.6 1084.9 average 92%
Garden Island HSF 23.0 +0.3 39.3 19 Jan 15.0 0.0 4.4 18 Aug 756.8 617.7 high 123%
Gingin Aero 25.8 +0.2 44.4 5 Feb 11.1 +0.1 -0.6 4 Jun 620.8 620.7 average 100%
Jandakot Aero 24.9 +0.3 42.3 5 Feb 12.3 +0.7 1.7 18 Aug 757.0 817.0 average 93%
Millendon (Swan Valley) 25.7   44.5 5 Feb 12.4   1.5 3 Jul 635.4
Pearce RAAF 25.9 +0.6 44.0 5 Feb 12.8 +0.6 2.4 5 Jun 699.6 655.6 average 107%
Perth Airport 25.5 +0.9 44.1 5 Feb 12.6 +0.4 2.1 4 Jun 668.4 759.7 low 88%
Perth Metro 25.2 +0.4 42.5 5 Feb 13.1 +0.2 2.5 3 Jul 701.6 735.6 average 95%
Rottnest Island 22.5 +0.2 39.3 21 Jan 15.8 +0.1 7.9 10 Aug 644.4 570.7 high 113%
Swanbourne 23.9 -0.2 41.3 19 Jan 14.2 +0.2 5.2 18 Aug 805.0 739.7 average 109%
South Coast (district 09A)
Albany Airport 20.5 -0.4 44.2 5 Feb 10.9 +0.2 0.4 3 Jul 753.4
Bridgetown 22.3 -0.1 41.4 5 Feb 8.9 +0.2 -1.6 4 Jul 594.8 731.4 low 81%
Bunbury 23.4 +0.2 38.5 19 Jan 11.4 +0.3 0.8 2 Jul 772.2 730.4 average 106%
Busselton Aero 23.3 +0.2 38.6 19 Jan 10.4 +0.1 1.2 6 Jul 636.0 683.2 average 93%
Cape Leeuwin 20.5 +0.7 40.7 19 Jan 14.7 +0.6 8.4 19 Jul 779.8 953.2 low 82%
Cape Naturaliste 22.5 +1.7 36.9 16 Feb 13.0 +0.3 5.8 22 Aug 790.6 798.0 average 99%
Collie East 23.1 -0.1 41.0 5 Feb 8.7 +0.2 -3.1 4 Jul 581.8 726.6 low 80%
Dwellingup 22.8 +0.8 40.9 5 Feb 10.1 +0.5 0.5 18 Aug 1009.2 1224.5 low 82%
Esperance 21.6 -0.3 45.2 11 Feb 12.4 +0.3 4.3 4 Jul 753.4 621.4 high 121%
Esperance Aero 21.9 -0.4 45.0 11 Feb 11.2 -0.1 3.4 31 Aug 659.8 570.9 high 116%
Hopetoun North 21.1 -0.9 45.8 11 Feb 11.9 +0.3 0.9 4 Jul 557.6 487.3 high 114%
Mandurah 23.6 +0.3 37.7 17 Feb 14.8 0.0 6.3 18 Aug 594.8 646.2 low 92%
Manjimup 21.3 +0.8 41.9 5 Feb 10.1 +0.4 3.1 6 Jul 806.2 985.0 low 82%
North Walpole 20.1 -0.2 39.2 4 Feb 11.5 -0.2 4.0 4 Jul 985.2 1074.3 average 92%
Rocky Gully 20.3 -0.6 43.0 5 Feb 9.7 +0.1 0.3 6 Jul 713.0 729.4 average 98%
Shannon 20.2 -0.2 41.0 5 Feb 10.0 +0.2 1.1 3 Jul 965.6 1022.0 average 94%
Windy Harbour 20.2 0.0 37.8 19 Jan     -0.5 5 Jun 904.3 1073.6 low 84%
North Central (district 10)
Bencubbin 25.5 +0.1 43.0 10 Feb 11.7 0.0 1.0 29 Aug
Cunderdin Airfield 25.7 -0.4 43.4 6 Feb 10.1 -0.4 -1.4 4 Jun 365.0 308.4 high 118%
Merredin 25.4 +0.2 44.0 12 Jan 11.6 +0.1 -0.1 31 Jul 396.3 326.1 high 122%
Northam 25.5 +0.1 43.5 5 Feb     1.0 5 Aug 420.6 427.2 average 98%
York 25.5 -0.2 43.6 5 Feb 9.7 +0.1 -2.0 4 Jul 420.7 403.3 average 104%
South Central (district 10A)
Beverley 26.0 +0.5 44.0 5 Feb 10.3 0.0 -0.2 4 Jul 389.8 417.0 average 93%
Brookton 24.3 0.0 42.2 5 Feb 9.7 -0.1 -0.8 4 Jul 438.3 448.3 average 98%
Hyden 24.8 -0.4 43.7 12 Jan 9.9 -0.1 0.0 29 Aug 411.3 341.0 high 121%
Jacup 21.4 -0.7 44.0 11 Feb 9.3 0.0 0.7 29 Aug 618.2 455.4 v high 136%
Katanning 21.9 -0.6 42.4 11 Feb 9.4 -0.2 -0.8 1 Jul 353.4 444.4 low 80%
Lake Grace 23.0 -0.6 42.9 11 Feb 10.0 -0.4 -0.2 29 Aug 344.6 333.1 average 103%
Newdegate Research Station 23.1 -0.4 42.7 6 Feb     -2.3 3 Jul 377.8 366.6 average 103%
Ravensthorpe 22.0 -0.8 43.5 11 Feb 10.6 +0.1 1.5 2 Jul
Wandering 23.5 -0.3 42.6 5 Feb 8.5 -0.1 -2.2 3 Jul 496.6 521.1 average 95%
Eucla (district 11)
Eucla 22.5 -0.3 45.6 26 Dec 12.4 +0.2 0.4 6 Jul
Eyre 23.1 0.0 41.5 2 Dec 10.4 -0.3 -5.0 6 Jul 358.7 315.7 high 114%
Forrest 25.6 -0.8 44.6 9 Jan 10.9 -0.1 -2.6 6 Jul 147.4 214.5 low 69%
Red Rocks Point 21.6 -0.9 39.7 7 Feb 13.2 0.0 1.9 1 Aug 415.0 337.6 average 123%
South East (district 12)
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport 25.2 -0.2 42.5 11 Feb 12.3 +0.5 0.2 25 Jul 185.0 264.6 low 70%
Laverton Aero 27.3 +0.1 45.4 13 Jan 14.4 +0.3 -0.4 5 Jul 129.4 275.9 low 47%
Leinster Aero 28.2 -0.1 44.3 28 Feb 14.7 0.0 0.7 6 Jul 167.0 248.4 low 67%
Leonora Aero 27.8 -0.4 44.6 13 Jan 14.6 +0.1 -0.6 6 Jul 155.4 243.0 low 64%
Munglinup West 22.3 -0.9 44.9 11 Feb 10.2 -0.3 1.8 6 Aug 563.0 449.2 high 125%
Salmon Gums Res.Stn. 23.6 +0.1 43.1 11 Feb 8.9 -0.2 -4.0 3 Jul 401.6 355.1 high 113%
Southern Cross Airfield 25.6 -0.3 44.6 12 Jan 10.8 +0.3 -1.5 4 Jul 329.2 302.5 average 109%
North East (district 13)
Giles Meteorological Office 29.2 -0.3 43.3 10 Jan 15.4 -0.5 -1.2 4 Jul 334.8 290.4 high 115%
Wiluna Aero 29.4   45.1 28 Feb 15.3   -1.3 5 Jul 236.8
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Adele Island 30.3   33.7 3 Nov     18.9 6 Jul
Rowley Shoals 28.3   32.2 18 Mar 26.3   21.7 6 Jul
Varanus Island 28.7 -0.4 38.4 13 Jan 23.6 0.0 17.4 10 Aug 547.0 239.6 v high 228%

Notes

The Annual climate summary, generally published on the second working day of the year, lists the main features of the weather in Western Australia using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 12 pm on Tuesday 24 January 2023. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites are long-term means based on observations from all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site. They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of long-term average rain.

The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site, based on the decile ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3, average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

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Climate