Friday, 1 June 2007 - Monthly Climate Summary for Perth - Product Code: IDCKGC11L0

A dry and cool May for Perth

Rainfall - below average: The city received 61.4 mm of rainfall over 13 days in May compared with the average of 119 mm over about 12 days. The wettest day in May 2007 was the 28th when 32.2 mm was recorded. Historically, May rainfall has ranged from 14.1 mm in 1964, to 308.1 mm in 1879. Last May Perth registered 31.0 mm rainfall.

Year to date rainfall - near average: The total rainfall for January to May this year was 166.6 mm recorded on 33 days compared with the average of 204 mm over 28 days. The total for the same period last year was 110.0 mm.

Mean daily maximum temperature - below average: Perth's mean daily maximum temperature in May was 21.1°C, which was the lowest mean daily maximum temperature for May since the 20.6°C in 1997. The average for May is 22.3°C. Daily maxima ranged from a mild 17.1°C on the 28th to a warm 28.9°C on the 10th.

Mean daily minimum temperature - near average: Perth's mean daily minimum temperature in May was 10.6°C, compared with the average of 10.9°C. Daily minima ranged from a cold 3.8°C on the 22nd to a mild 16.9°C on the 2nd.

Climate of Perth in June
June is Perth's wettest month of the year, on average. Cool and cloudy days are common. Some are cold, windy and showery, while others are sunny with light winds.

Warm days in June: On average, erth can expect 12 days when the maximum temperature is 20 degrees or more. The greatest number of such days in June was 21 days in 1983. Last June, Perth recorded 18 such days.

Cold days in June: On average, Perth can expect one day when the maximum temperature is 15 degrees or less. The greatest number of such days in June was 10 in 1931 and 1955. Last June, Perth recorded no such days.

Cold nights in June: Perth has a mean of six cold nights when the minimum temperature is 5 degrees or lower. The greatest number of such nights was 13 in 2006.

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) and Glenn Cook Western Australia Climate Services Centre
on, tel: (08) 9263 2222, office hours.