Rainfall - near average: The city received 3.4 mm of rainfall over 4 days in February compared with the average of 13 mm over 2 days. Historically, February rainfall has ranged from 0.0 mm on 17 occasions, to 166.3 mm in 1955. Last February Perth registered 20.6 mm rainfall. The wettest day in February 2007 was the 18th when 2.2 mm was recorded.

Mean daily maximum temperature - near average: Perth's mean daily maximum temperature in February was 30.1°C, compared with the average of 31.2°C. Daily maxima ranged from a mild 22.9°C on the 28th to a very hot 40.1°C on the 3rd.

Mean daily minimum temperature - near average: Perth's mean daily minimum temperature in February was 17.6°C, compared with the average of 18.0°C. Daily minima ranged from a cool 11.8°C on the 18th to a warm 25.1°C on the 26th which was the highest daily minimum temperature in Perth since the 26.1°C on 18 February 2004.

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.

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.

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 Perth (Mount 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 Perth (Mount 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 on weekdays.