Friday, 1 June 2018 - Monthly Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC11R0

Western Australia in May 2018: Dry and warm

Rainfall was below average for most of Western Australia, particularly in central and southern parts. Most of the State also recorded above average daytime temperatures, with very much above average near the west coast. Mean minimum temperatures were below average in the northeast and in areas near the south coast. The Statewide mean minimum temperature was below average as a result.

Below average rainfall for most of WA

  • Rainfall in May 2018 for WA was well below average and the lowest since 2012
  • Rainfall in May 2018 was well below average in the South West Land Division (SWLD), and the lowest since 2006
  • Several sites in the SWLD, particularly near the south coast either registered their driest May on record, or driest May for over two decades
  • A strong cold front moved across western WA on 23 and 24 May and a deep low pressure system tracked south of WA in the following days. The system produced the first significant rainfall for the season in western parts the SWLD. Acton Park near Busselton recorded 93.4 mm in the 24 hours to 9am on the 25th, which was the wettest May day in the SWLD for five years, since a daily total of 105.0 mm was recorded at Aston Downs (near Busselton) on 8 May 2013

Above average mean maximum temperatures for most of WA

  • The mean maximum temperature averaged across WA was 1.4 °C above average, though it was cooler than last May
  • The mean maximum temperature for the SWLD was 2.34 °C above average, which was the sixth-highest on record and the highest since 2002
  • The mean minimum temperature for WA was 0.47 °C below average, whilst the mean minimum temperature for the SWLD was close to average
  • Daytime temperatures were 8 °C to 12 °C above normal near the west coast on the 12th, and York, Bridgetown and Wandering registered their record high May temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s
  • A mean maximum temperature of 21.4 °C at Cape Leeuwin was its highest in May in 121 years of record; several SWLD sites near the west coast recorded either their record warm May or warmest May for over 20 years
  • Albany Airport recorded a mean maximum temperature of 21.5 °C, which exceeded the record set at the old Albany Airport (21.0 °C in May 1972)
  • Newman Aerodrome in the Pilbara had its record warm May morning on the 1st, whilst Leinster Aerodrome and Eyre both reported their record cold May morning towards the end of month

Strong cold front produced damaging winds in southwest WA

  • A strong cold front and associated deep low pressure system produced rain and damaging winds in southwestern WA on 24 and 25 May. Several sites recorded wind gusts over 100 km/h. Albany Airport recorded a N'ly wind gust of 102 km/h on the 25th, its highest gust since 139 km/h on 21 September 2017. Bushfires in and around Albany were fanned by northerly winds ahead of the cold front.

Further information

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Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in May 2018
Hottest day 38.3 °C at Roebourne Aero on the 10th
Warmest days on average 34.0 °C at Wyndham Aero
Coolest days on average 19.3 °C at Shannon
Coldest day 13.2 °C at Manjimup on the 25th
Coldest night -2.9 °C at Eyre on the 21st
Coolest nights on average 4.1 °C at Collie East
Warmest nights on average 27.1 °C at Browse Island
Warmest night 29.3 °C at Browse Island on the 3rd
29.3 °C at Browse Island on the 7th
Warmest on average overall 28.5 °C at Browse Island
28.5 °C at Troughton Island
Coolest on average overall 12.9 °C at Collie East
Wettest overall 162.6 mm at Cowaramup
Wettest day 93.8 mm at Acton Park on the 25th
Strongest wind gust 115 km/h at Cape Leeuwin on the 25th

tremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall		 Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures		 Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures		 Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

Record lowest May total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
May
Bremer Bay 10.2 13.5 in 1887 108 79.9
Swanara 4.4 5.5 in 1966 58 41.5
Windrush 20.0 23.6 in 2002 58 73.3
Denbarker 25.8 36.0 in 2006 46 83.8
Hopetoun North 6.8 8.2 in 2002 22 45.3
Rocky Gully 33.8 35.4 in 2006 22 74.4

Lowest May total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
lower		 Average for
May
Mount Barker 20.8 16.3 in 1896 81.7
Wereroa 52.2 0.0 in 1956* 131.8
Kendenup 17.2 16.1 in 1964 69.4
Tamar 26.8 22.8 in 1959* 76.2
Ravensthorpe 8.0 6.4 in 1972 43.7
Amrista Park 11.0 10.8 in 1983 40.9
Gorya Valley 4.0 3.0 in 1983* 31.9
Munglinup 8.0 4.9 in 1972* 56.4
Denmark 46.7 45.0 in 1996 128.5

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



Record highest May temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
May
York 33.5 on the 12th 33.3 on the 1st in 2002 23 21.8
Bridgetown 29.3 on the 12th 28.7 on the 6th in 2004 21 19.5
Wandering 30.1 on the 12th 29.8 on the 8th in 2010 20 20.0


Record highest May mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
May
Cape Leeuwin 21.4 21.3 in 2003 121 19.2
Kalbarri 28.5 28.3 in 2009 44 26.0
Rottnest Island 22.6 22.5 in 2009 28 21.1
Rocky Gully 20.4 20.3 in 2003 22 18.5

Highest May mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
May
Pearce RAAF 24.6 24.9 in 1972 22.0
Pingelly 22.0 22.1 in 1972* 19.7
Narrogin 21.3 21.5 in 1972* 18.6
Brookton 22.4 =22.4 in 1983* 20.4
Badgingarra Research Stn 24.5 =24.5 in 1994* 22.5
Gingin Aero 24.5 25.5 in 1996 22.7

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



Record highest May daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
May
Carnegie 21.4 on the 2nd = 21.4 on the 8th in 2014 29 10.9
Newman Aero 22.6 on the 1st 22.4 on the 7th in 2014 22 12.0


Record lowest May temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
May
Eyre -2.9 on the 21st -2.5 on the 14th in 2015 30 9.1
Leinster Aero 1.4 on the 29th 2.3 on the 31st in 2006 24 10.6


Record lowest May mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
May
Wagin 6.1 = 6.1 in 2009 43 8.0


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for May 2018
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
May
2018		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
May
2018		 Mean for
May
2018		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
May
2018		 Total for
May
2018		 Average
for
May		 Rank of
May
2018		 Fraction of
May
average
North Kimberley (district 01)
Doongan 31.1 -0.2 35.3 9th 11.8 -3.1 6.5 20th 0 14.0 lowest 0%
Kalumburu 33.4 -0.2 36.2 4th 15.1 -2.0 9.9 17th 0 18.0 lowest 0%
Troughton Island 31.5 +0.3 34.3 9th 25.4 0.0 23.1 26th 0 40.2 lowest 0%
Truscott 31.7 -0.5 34.3 9th 20.9 -0.7 17.6 14th 0 24.5 v low 0%
Wyndham Aero 34.0 -0.2 37.4 2nd 17.1 -2.2 12.0 18th 0 11.8 lowest 0%
East Kimberley (district 02)
Argyle Aerodrome 32.2 +0.1 37.2 4th 18.0 -1.2 13.6 17th 0 8.1 lowest 0%
Halls Creek Airport 30.0   34.9 4th 13.9   9.4 25th 0
Kununurra Aero 33.1 +0.1 36.9 4th 16.6 -2.2 10.1 15th 0 7.0 lowest 0%
Warmun 30.2 -2.1 35.4 3rd 14.9 -2.4 10.2 14th 0 10.1 lowest 0%
West Kimberley (district 03)
Bidyadanga 32.8 +0.3 37.8 5th 17.5 -0.9 11.4 17th 0 25.0 lowest 0%
Broome Airport 31.7 +0.1 36.0 5th 16.8 -1.5 12.9 18th 0 26.9 lowest 0%
Curtin Aero 32.7 -0.6 37.0 5th 17.3 -1.8 12.3 25th 0 13.7 lowest 0%
Cygnet Bay 30.4 -0.6 33.4 10th 18.9 -0.2 14.9 19th 0 41.3 lowest 0%
Derby Aero 33.4 +0.5 37.9 5th 16.4 -2.5 12.1 16th 0 19.2 lowest 0%
Fitzroy Crossing Aero 33.2 -0.1 37.4 5th 14.7 -1.4 9.7 14th 0 14.7 lowest 0%
De Grey (district 04)
Bedout Island 28.9   32.9 9th 23.8   21.3 19th
Karratha Aero 30.8 +0.8 36.2 10th 18.3 0.0 14.2 21st 0 27.7 lowest 0%
Legendre Island 28.8   33.4 7th 22.6   17.8 27th
Mandora 32.3 +0.2 37.1 10th 16.3 -0.6 8.3 20th 0 24.8 lowest 0%
Marble Bar 31.5 +0.4 36.2 10th 16.3 -0.8 12.5 20th 0 12.5 v low 0%
Port Hedland Airport 32.6 +1.9 37.1 11th 17.3 0.0 11.4 20th 0 27.0 lowest 0%
Roebourne Aero 32.6 +0.9 38.3 10th 16.4 -0.4 12.0 27th 0 25.8 v low 0%
Fortescue (district 05)
Barrow Island Airport 27.8 +0.3 33.0 7th 21.7 +0.4 18.2 19th 0 51.9 v low 0%
Learmonth Airport 29.5 +1.0 35.8 11th 14.8 -1.3 8.5 21st 11.4 42.2 average 27%
Mardie 32.9 +1.4 37.9 7th 16.3 -0.7 12.3 20th 0 36.8 lowest 0%
Onslow Airport 31.0 +1.7 37.6 10th 17.4 0.0 12.0 21st 23.8 48.6 average 49%
Thevenard Island 29.7 +1.0 35.3 7th 20.5 -0.7 14.3 19th 4.8 38.3 average 13%
Wittenoom 29.8 +2.0 34.8 9th 16.5 +0.3 11.4 19th 0 27.1 lowest 0%
West Gascoyne (district 06)
Carnarvon Airport 28.6 +2.3 34.6 12th 14.4 -0.4 9.6 23rd 19.2 33.3 average 58%
Denham 26.9 +1.2 33.0 5th 17.5 +1.1 15.0 30th 15.6 36.5 average 43%
Murchison 27.3 +1.3 34.5 11th 10.1 -1.2 4.0 4th 12.6 17.3 average 73%
Shark Bay Airport 28.3 +1.0 35.9 12th 13.8 -0.7 7.9 4th 30.0 24.0 average 125%
East Gascoyne (district 07)
Newman Aero 27.8 +0.8 34.2 9th 11.1 -0.9 4.2 20th 0.4 19.1 low 2%
Paraburdoo Aero 29.7 +0.7 35.4 10th 14.1 -0.6 7.4 22nd 17.0 18.1 average 94%
Murchison (district 07A)
Meekatharra Airport 25.8 +2.0 32.3 10th 11.9 -0.2 7.3 4th 2.2 22.1 low 10%
Mount Magnet Aero 25.1 +1.2 31.2 11th 11.6 0.0 5.1 4th 2.0 16.8 low 12%
Paynes Find 24.7 +1.6 32.4 11th 8.4 -1.1 1.8 4th 7.8 36.2 low 22%
North Coast (district 08)
Dalwallinu 23.6 +1.6 31.8 12th 9.0 -0.9 5.4 3rd 42.6 35.5 average 120%
Geraldton Airport 27.3   34.9 12th 12.3   6.0 5th 22.4
Kalbarri 28.5 +2.5 34.7 10th 13.4 +0.2 8.8 23rd 14.6 54.3 low 27%
Morawa Airport 25.6 +1.7 34.2 11th 10.3 -0.1 3.8 4th 23.2 36.7 average 63%
Mullewa 26.0 +2.3 34.0 11th 12.0 +0.8 7.4 4th 21.2 46.2 low 46%
North Island 25.4 +1.1 27.7 14th 18.4 0.0 10.6 11th 20.8 42.9 average 48%
Wongan Hills 23.8 +2.3 32.2 12th 10.0 +0.1 4.5 4th 33.0 51.6 average 64%
Central Coast (district 09)
Badgingarra Research Stn 24.5 +2.0 34.2 12th 11.7 +1.1 6.8 4th 57.6 69.0 average 83%
Bickley 20.5 +1.2 29.6 12th 9.8 -0.4 6.7 4th 151.6 131.9 high 115%
Garden Island HSF 23.0 +1.7 29.3 12th 14.1 +0.1 10.6 4th 44.4 75.4 low 59%
Gingin Aero 24.5 +1.8 33.9 12th 7.8 -1.3 1.1 20th 67.2 75.2 average 89%
Jandakot Aero 23.7 +1.7 31.5 12th 9.4 0.0 4.9 20th 81.0 106.6 average 76%
Jurien Bay 25.4 +2.2 31.0 15th 11.6 -0.2 5.0 20th 27.6 76.2 v low 36%
Lancelin 25.2 +2.5 31.1 11th 12.5 +0.1 7.1 20th 51.6 80.1 low 64%
Millendon (Swan Valley) 24.3   34.0 12th 9.5   3.6 20th 71.0
Pearce RAAF 24.6 +2.6 34.1 12th 10.2 -0.5 3.1 4th 62.2 83.9 average 74%
Perth Airport 24.2 +2.4 33.1 12th 10.3 -0.1 4.9 4th 72.2 98.5 average 73%
Perth Metro 23.9 +1.6 32.7 12th 10.0 -0.5 5.1 20th 67.4 89.4 low 75%
Rottnest Island 22.6 +1.5 27.3 23rd 15.7 +0.5 12.5 25th 54.2 74.0 average 73%
Swanbourne 23.6 +1.4 30.4 12th 13.0 +0.4 8.8 30th 70.4 90.7 low 78%
South Coast (district 09A)
Albany 20.7 +2.1 29.0 12th 10.9 +0.1 5.4 29th 39.4 115.4 v low 34%
Albany Airport 21.5   28.9 12th 8.3   2.4 17th 38.0
Bridgetown 21.2 +1.7 29.3 12th 5.2 -1.6 -0.1 20th 68.0 99.3 low 68%
Bunbury 22.3 +1.3 27.2 12th 8.5 -0.8 2.0 20th 84.4 98.4 average 86%
Busselton Aero 21.3 +0.8 27.1 11th 8.3 -0.8 3.6 20th 111.4 100.4 average 111%
Cape Leeuwin 21.4 +2.2 27.0 23rd 14.5 +0.8 11.6 29th 83.2 137.7 low 60%
Cape Naturaliste 21.2 +2.0 25.4 11th 13.3 +0.7 10.3 29th 66.2 114.4 low 58%
Collie East 21.8 +1.8 28.4 12th 4.1 -2.1 -0.9 20th 81.8 94.4 average 87%
Donnybrook 22.6 +2.6 30.0 12th 8.2 0.0 4.5 4th 91.0 134.4 low 68%
Dwellingup 21.1 +2.6 28.9 12th 7.4 -0.4 3.5 30th 127.8 157.7 average 81%
Esperance 21.8 +1.4 28.6 13th 10.4 -0.7 6.7 11th 40.0 71.5 low 56%
Esperance Aero 21.6 +1.4 28.4 6th 9.7 -0.9 5.7 29th 33.8 65.2 low 52%
Hopetoun North 22.3 +1.3 28.6 24th 9.9 -0.5 5.0 19th 6.8 45.3 lowest 15%
Jarrahwood 22.0 +2.1 27.0 12th 5.4 -1.4 -1.0 20th 120.2 126.4 average 95%
Mandurah 22.3 +1.2 28.0 11th 13.6 +0.1 9.9 4th 66.0 90.6 average 73%
Manjimup 20.3 +2.6 28.5 12th 9.1 +0.2 5.3 29th 92.6 128.9 average 72%
North Walpole 20.9 +1.9 28.3 12th 11.0 -0.3 6.5 29th 69.4 122.9 v low 56%
Rocky Gully 20.4 +1.9 28.2 12th 8.6 -0.7 3.3 29th 33.8 74.4 lowest 45%
Shannon 19.3 +1.2 27.3 12th 8.0 -0.9 3.1 29th 98.6 120.9 average 82%
North Central (district 10)
Bencubbin 22.3 +1.5 29.3 12th 9.0 -0.2 3.8 4th 20.4 36.5 low 56%
Cunderdin Airfield 23.2 +1.4 31.0 12th 7.4 -1.0 1.4 4th 22.0 31.2 average 71%
Merredin 22.4 +1.7 28.3 13th 9.7 +0.8 3.4 3rd 11.0 40.3 low 27%
Northam 23.6 +2.4 32.7 12th 7.3 -1.1 1.8 20th 34.9 54.8 average 64%
York     33.5 12th 5.0 -2.0 0.5 4th 18.7 43.6 low 43%
South Central (district 10A)
Beverley 23.3 +1.9 31.4 12th 6.4 -1.5 1.6 4th 30.4 53.2 low 57%
Brookton 22.4 +2.0 31.0 12th 7.1 -0.6 1.8 4th 39.6 56.6 average 70%
Hyden 23.0 +2.2 29.1 12th 7.1 -0.5 1.2 29th 9.7 38.7 v low 25%
Jacup 20.8 +1.1 27.2 12th 7.5 -1.0 3.7 4th 16.4 31.7 low 52%
Katanning 20.5 +1.3 28.5 12th 7.8 -0.9 3.5 29th
Lake Grace 21.3 +1.3 28.1 12th 7.7 -1.1 2.8 4th 9.0 29.9 low 30%
Narembeen 23.0 +2.1 28.9 12th 8.3 +0.1 3.1 4th 16.7 38.9 low 43%
Narrogin 21.3 +2.7 29.0 13th 7.1 -0.7 2.6 5th 35.8 62.4 low 57%
Newdegate Research Station 21.1 +1.2 27.8 12th 5.9 -1.3 1.0 30th 10.4 42.2 low 25%
Pingelly 22.0 +2.3 30.0 12th 7.4 -1.4 1.8 3rd 30.0 57.4 low 52%
Ravensthorpe 22.3 +2.3 28.5 13th 9.5 -0.1 5.0 5th 8.0 43.7 v low 18%
Wagin 20.9 +1.4 28.5 13th 6.1 -1.9 2.6 20th 4.4 53.8 v low 8%
Wandering 21.5 +1.5 30.1 12th 5.2 -1.1 -0.8 20th 54.8 56.2 average 98%
Eucla (district 11)
Eucla 21.2 +0.1 32.4 1st 10.9 +0.3 3.9 30th 23.8 31.0 average 77%
Eyre 22.7 +1.3 29.3 1st 6.8 -2.3 -2.9 21st
Forrest 22.1 -0.2 32.1 1st 7.2 -1.7 2.0 14th 2.8 17.8 low 16%
Red Rocks Point 21.4 +0.1 33.1 1st 11.7 +0.3 5.9 30th 13.0 29.9 low 43%
South East (district 12)
Bulga Downs 24.7 +0.8 31.5 1st 8.4 -0.8 2.2 29th
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport 21.8 +1.1 26.9 6th 9.3 +0.6 3.4 30th 1.2 25.1 v low 5%
Laverton Aero 23.5 +1.3 29.7 8th 9.9 -0.6 3.6 29th 0 14.6 lowest 0%
Leinster Aero 24.4 +1.3 30.7 8th 9.1 -1.5 1.4 29th 0 15.5 lowest 0%
Leonora Aero 24.0 +0.9 29.6 6th 9.4 -0.5 1.7 29th 0 10.4 v low 0%
Munglinup West 22.0 +1.5 29.3 13th 9.1 -0.6 5.5 29th 9.8 38.7 v low 25%
Norseman Aero 21.9 +1.0 27.6 6th 6.5 -0.6 0.0 29th 2.2 19.2 v low 11%
Salmon Gums Res.Stn. 21.3 +1.5 28.1 6th 6.2 -1.0 -0.1 5th 13.8 34.0 low 41%
Southern Cross Airfield 22.2 +0.9 27.7 13th 7.1 -0.4 0.5 4th 11.2 27.9 low 40%
North East (district 13)
Carnegie 26.2 +0.9 34.2 9th 9.3 -1.6 4.9 23rd 6.0 16.3 average 37%
Giles Meteorological Office 24.9 +1.2 30.8 2nd 9.8 -1.6 4.3 14th 0 20.8 lowest 0%
Telfer Aero 29.5 +0.4 34.8 10th 13.5 -2.0 8.8 25th 0 19.1 lowest 0%
Warburton Airfield 25.0 +0.6 32.0 1st 10.5 0.0 4.8 28th 1.2 15.6 low 8%
Wiluna 25.5 +1.7 33.0 1st 9.1 -0.9 3.0 20th 0 25.3 lowest 0%
Wiluna Aero 25.5   33.2 1st 9.1   2.5 4th 0
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Adele Island 29.8   32.5 11th     22.3 18th
Browse Island 30.0   32.6 5th 27.1   25.1 4th
Rowley Shoals 28.6   30.8 11th     25.6 30th
Varanus Island 28.2 +0.3 32.4 7th 23.9 +0.4 20.8 27th 0 31.3 v low 0%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists the main features of the weather in Western Australia using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11 am on Friday 1 June 2018. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites are long-term means based on observations from all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site. They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of long-term average rain.

The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site, based on the decile ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3, average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Further information

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