Thursday, 28 February 2013 - Monthly Climate Summary for Perth - Product code IDCKGC11L0

Perth in February 2013: A hot dry February

• Rainfall: below average
• Maximum temperature: Very much above average
• Minimum temperature: average to above average

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Rainfall

Rainfall across the Perth metropolitan area during February 2013 was below average with monthly rainfall totals generally between 1 and 3 mm.

The first 20 days of February 2013 saw the continuation of a dry-spell across the Perth region which started on 17 January. This 34 day period with no measurable rainfall was brought to an end by a middle level disturbance that brought showers and thunderstorms to the Perth metropolitan area late on the 20th and into the 21st, whilst a weak cold front moved through the region on the afternoon of the 22nd bringing further showers. Daily falls during these events were generally less than 2 mm. No rainfall was observed in the last few days of the month.

Perth Metro recorded 0.8 mm of rainfall on 2 rain days in February 2013, well below the long-term average of 12.7 mm. The highest daily rainfall at Perth Metro during February 2013 was 0.6 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am on the 23rd. Last February (2012) Perth Metro received 23.6 mm in 3 rain days.

Maximum temperature

Mean maximum temperatures in February 2013 across the Perth metropolitan area were very much above average. Mean maxima were close to 30 °C on the offshore islands, increasing to the low-to-mid thirties on the coastal plain and in the hills.

February 2013 began with warm to hot days up to the 3rd, with daily maximum temperatures in the mid-to-high thirties at most sites, and a maximum of 40.5 °C reported at Pearce RAAF on the 3rd. Mild to warm days occurred from the 4th to 7th, followed by a run of generally hot days from the 8th to 13th with daily maximum temperatures over 35 °C for most sites. The 12th was one of the hottest days of the month with daily maxima over 40 °C for most sites on the coastal plain, and a maximum temperature of 42.5 °C at Gosnells City was the second highest temperature recorded in the Perth metropolitan area in February 2013. Two very hot days with daily maxima in the high thirties and low forties occurred on the 20th and 21st, with a maximum temperature of 43.2 °C recorded at Pearce RAAF on the 21st being the highest temperature of the month in the Perth area. A cooler change was observed between the 22nd and 24th with daily maxima dropping to the mid-to-high twenties for most sites. The 23rd was the mildest day for the month at all metropolitan sites as Bickley recorded the lowest maximum for February 2013 with 23.3 °C. Warm to hot days returned for most sites in the last four days of February.

Perth Metro's mean daily maximum temperature was 34.1°C, which is 2.7 °C above the average of 31.4 °C, and the 4th hottest February at Perth Metro since records commenced in 1897. The hottest February on record was February 1985 with a mean maximum temperature of 35.1 °C. Daily maxima at Perth Metro ranged from a very hot 40.5 °C on the 12th and 21st, to a mild 24.8 °C on the 23rd.

Minimum temperature

Mean minimum temperatures in February 2013 were near average to above average across the Perth metropolitan area, with mean minima generally in the mid-teens in the hills, the high teens on the coastal plain, and near 20 °C on the offshore islands.

For most sites in the Perth Metropolitan area, nights were cool to mild between the 1st and 10th, though one or two warm nights with minima in the low twenties were observed at some sites. Warm to hot nights were recorded between the 11th and 17th for many sites, with the 12th being the hottest night of the month at most locations across the Perth area. Pearce RAAF recorded a minimum of 28.6 °C on the 12th, the highest minimum temperature of the month in the Perth region. Cool to mild nights followed on the18th and 19th with a number of sites recording their coolest night of February 2013 on the 18th. Warm to hot nights returned on the 20th to 22th, followed again by cool to mild nights on the 23rd and 24th. A few sites recorded their coolest night of the month on the 24th, and Jandakot Aerodrome recorded a minimum of 8.9 °C on the 24th, the lowest minimum in the Perth metropolitan area in February 2013. Mild to warm nights were observed in Perth for the remainder of the month from the 25th.

Perth Metro's mean daily minimum temperature in February 2013 was 19.4 °C, which is above the average of 18.3 °C. Daily minima ranged from a mild 12.9 °C on the 24th to a very warm 25.2 °C on the 21st.

Sunshine

The mean daily sunshine hours for February 2013 was 11.0 hours, which is equal to the long-term average.

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Most values are the precipitation in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated. Days marked with »» are part of a longer accumulation, which is marked like this on the final day. Values over 100 mm have been rounded to the nearest whole millimetre. Days marked with - have a rainfall report of zero; days left blank have no rainfall report (which often indicates no rain fell).
This table is very wide; you may have to scroll sideways to see all the days, and you may need to set the paper to 'landscape' to print.

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top