Wednesday, 1 October 2014 - Monthly Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC11R0

Western Australia in September 2014: warmest September on record

September 2014 in Western Australia was exceptionally warm and ranked as the warmest September in terms of mean maximum temperature since records commenced in 1910. Mean maximum temperatures were above to very much above average throughout the state, with much of WA 2 to 3 °C warmer than normal, increasing to up to 4 °C warmer than normal in central and southeastern parts. For the Lower Southwest (southwest of a line from Jurien Bay to Bremer Bay), September 2014 was the third highest on record.

Mean minimum temperatures were above average to very much above average across much of WA, apart from in the Kimberley, with areas of highest on record in the west Gascoyne, northern Southwest Land Division (SWLD), Goldfields, and western Eucla. Mean minima were 3 °C to 4 °C warmer than normal in the southern Gascoyne, and neighbouring northern Central West, northern Goldfields and Southern Interior. In contrast, the Kimberley saw below to very much below average mean minimum temperatures, with mean minima 3 °C to 4 °C cooler than normal in the east. For WA as a whole the mean minimum temperature ranked as the sixth warmest September on record. When averaged across the Lower Southwest, September 2014 ranked third warmest on record.

Rainfall in September 2014 in WA was above to very much above average in parts of the Pilbara, Gascoyne, northern and eastern SWLD, southern Goldfields and Eucla. A number of locations in the west Gascoyne and Central West recorded one of their wettest September on recorded, largely due to two significant rainfall events in the latter part of the month. Areas in the southern SWLD, northern Goldfields, Southern Interior, much of the Kimberley and eastern parts of northern Interior saw below to very much below average rainfall. Rainfall in September 2014 was near average when averaged across the State; similarly, rainfall was also near average for the SWLD and the Lower Southwest (southwest of a line from Jurien Bay to Bremer Bay).

• Two strong cold fronts produced widespread, mainly minor damage, over southern WA from the 7th to 9th. Given the path of damage, a tornado likely moved through Forrestfield (southeast of Perth). Severe wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h were observed in multiple coastal and inland sites while Cape Leeuwin recorded the highest wind gust of 119 km/h on the 8th. Tides at a number of coastal sites eequalled or exceeded the Highest Astronomical Tide and over 10,000 homes lost power.
• Denham recorded 22 consecutive nights with minimum temperature at or above 15 °C from the 1st to 22nd
• A deep trough off the west coast moved slowly into central WA on the 20th and 21st, resulting many locations in the SWLD, southern Gascoyne and southern Goldfields recording their hottest September day on record.
• A strong cold front and associated cloudband moved through SWLD, southern Gascoyne and Goldfields on the 21st and 22nd, bringing significant rainfall to the SWLD. A number of locations in the Central West recorded their wettest September day on record.
• A cold front and associated cloudband moved through SWLD on the 27th bringing moderate rainfall to southern parts

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

xtremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

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

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

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

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top