Monday 3 December, 2007- Monthly Climate Summary for Perth - Product Code:IDCKGC11L0

Perth dazzles in record warmth and sunshine

Mean daily maximum temperature - highest on record: Perth's mean daily maximum temperature in November was 28.5°C, which was the highest mean daily maximum temperature for Perth in November since records commenced in 1897. The previous record was 27.7°C in 1920, whilst the average for November is 26.2°C. Daily maxima ranged from a mild 21.0°C on the 19th to a very hot 39.8°C, on the 12th which was the highest daily maximum temperature since the 40.3°C on 11 November 2003 and the fifth highest daily maximum temperature in Perth for November on record.

Days of 38°C or above: During November 2007, Perth experienced two days of 38°C or above, the first such occurrence in November since 1978. Other years with two days of 38°C or more in November included; 1962 and 1936, whilst Perth has never recorded three such days in November.

Mean daily minimum temperature - near average: Perth's mean daily minimum temperature in November was 14.7°C, which compares with the average of 14.2°C. Daily minima ranged from a cool 9.1°C on the 20th to a warm 21.6°C on the 12th.

November Rainfall - below average: The city received 5.2 mm of rainfall over 3 days in November, which is the driest November since 1999, when 4.4 mm was recorded. The average for November is 22 mm on about 6 days. Last November Perth registered 16.2 mm on 8 days.

Year to date rainfall - below average: The total rainfall for January to November this year was 685.0 mm on 110 days. The average to the end of November is 843 mm on about 107 days. Last year Perth recorded its driest (January to November) period on record with 461.6 mm on 95 days.

Mean daily sunshine hours - sunniest on record: Perth's mean daily sunshine hours in November was 12.3 hours, which was the sunniest November on record. The previous record was 11.9 hours in 2002 whilst the long term average for November is 10.6 hours.

* Denotes the highest daily maximum temperature recorded on 24 November 1913 and 11 November 2003.

Climate of Perth in December

December is typically a dry month and days are generally sunny and warm to hot. On most afternoons a sea breeze moderates the temperature. December is Perth's sunniest month on average with 11.7 hours of sunshine per day.

Very hot days: Perth can expect one day in December when the maximum temperature is 40°C or higher. The highest number of such December days was two in 1968, 1974, 1977, 1997 and 2002. The last time Perth recorded a very hot day in December was on 14 December 2004 with 41.5°C.

Hot days: On average, Perth can expect seven days in December when the maximum temperature is 32°C or higher. The highest number of hot days in December was eighteen in 1931, Perth's warmest December on record with a mean maximum temperature of 31.7°C. Last December, Perth recorded 12 hot days.

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 on weekdays.