Monday, 1 October 2018 - Monthly Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC11R0

Western Australia in September 2018: driest September in decades

Rainfall in September 2018 was below to very much below average in the southwest, northeast, and southeast parts of Western Australia. It was the third-driest September and driest in eight decades since 1939 for the State as a whole. For the South West Land Division, it was the fourth-driest start to spring and driest since 1939. The mean maximum temperatures were above average across most of the State whilst the mean minimum temperatures were generally near average except the southwest where the overnight temperatures were below average.

Below average rainfall across most of WA

• For Western Australia as a whole, rainfall in September 2018 was the third-lowest in September on record, and driest in eight decades since 1939
• For South West Land Division (SWLD) as a whole, it was the fourth-driest September on record, and driest in eight decades since 1939
• Rainfall totals were mostly less than 10 mm in the Gascoyne, Goldfields and Eucla districts, and the north and east of the SWLD apart from its coastal areas
• A dozen sites in the SWLD had their driest September on record
• Many sites recorded their lowest September rainfall for at least 20 years
• Rainfall at the end of month was the only useful falls in the southern Goldfields districts

Above average maximum temperatures for most of WA

• Daytime temperatures were above average for most of the State; the mean maximum temperature was 1.6 °C above average for WA as a whole
• Mean minimum temperature was close to average for WA, however, the mean minimum temperature was one degree below average for the SWLD
• Sunny and easterly winds saw warmer than normal daytime temperatures across most of WA between the 23rd and 26th, and 40.9 °C recorded at Roebourne Aero in the Pilbara on the 26th was the highest temperature of the month in the country
• Clear skies and light winds led to two consecutive very cold mornings in the SWLD on the 15th and 16th, with a number of sites broke their lowest September temperature record
• Fresh easterly winds resulted in daily minimum temperatures in the high 10s in the Central West district on the 29th, and Morawa Airport had its highest daily minimum temperature on record

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes 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 lower value has gone unreported

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top