Monday, 1 July 2019 - Monthly Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC11R0

Western Australia in June 2019: dry along the southern coast and east, wet in the Gascoyne and mid-west

Rainfall in June 2019 was a mix bag in Western Australia, though for the State as a whole, rainfall was below average. Above average rainfall was recorded in rain depleted Central West and Gascoyne areas, whilst it was still very dry along the State's southern coasts and east. For the South West Land Division (SWLD), rainfall was near average and the wettest June since 2012. The mean maximum temperature was above average and mean minimum temperature was slightly below average for WA as a whole.

Wet in the Gascoyne and parts of the SWLD

• Rainfall in June 2019 was below average for WA, but was near average for the South West Land Division (SWLD), and the wettest June since 2012
• It was Western Australia's fifth-driest January to June period on record, and driest since 1972; it was also the tenth-driest January to June period on record for the SWLD, and driest since 2010
• June rainfall totals were 50-100 mm for the western Gascoyne and SWLD (away from the coast), increasing to 100-200 mm along the west coast and far southwest corner, and 200-300 mm along the southwest capes and in the Perth hills
• Above average rainfall was reported in the Gascoyne, SWLD and southern Goldfields, many sites either had their wettest June on record or wettest June for at least 20 years
• In contrast, it was a very dry June along the southern coast between Albany and Esperance and eastern WA, though it was a dry season in the the Kimberley and Northern Interior
• After a warm and dry start to June, a series of cold fronts brought a dozen or two rain days for most of the SWLD, including a week long wet spell between the 7th and 13th; the wettest day was on the 7th and the highest daily rainfall was 87.0 mm at Aston Down Alert (south of Buseelton)
• Prior to this wet June, the Central West district had experienced their driest January to May period on record; Geraldton Airport recorded 148.2 mm in June (compared to 6 mm in January-May), which was its wettest June for 37 years (215.2 mm in June 1982 at Geraldton Airport Comparison)
• Kalbarri (north of Geraldton) also had its wettest June since 1998 with 136.7 mm, and the daily rainfall of 60 mm on the 7th (its June daily rainfall record) exceeded its previous nine-month rainfall total (46.6 mm in September 2018-May 2019)
• A strong cold front and associated cloudband produced 40-80 mm in the western SWLD on the 23rd, and 20-30 mm in the eastern SWLD on the 24th; a number of sites had their highest June daily rainfall on record

Above average daytime temperatures in the north and east

• The mean maximum temperature for WA was 0.86 °C above average
• The mean minimum temperature for WA was 0.26 °C below average
• The year to date (January-June) mean maximum temperature for WA was 2.04 °C above average, and the warmest year to date on record
• The year to date mean minimum temperature for WA was 0.61 °C above average, and the warmest year to date since 2016
• A warm start to June near the west coast with daily maximum temperatures in the twenties resulted in a number of new June temperature records on the 1st or 2nd
• Northerly winds over the central WA in late June saw Leinster Aero and Southern Cross Airfield has their warmest June night on record on the 23rd, whilst Laverton Aero set its June records for highest maximum on the 26th and highest minimum on the 27th
• Clear skies and light winds resulted in freezing nights in the southwest inland parts on the 18th and 19th, before widespread frost in the southern WA on the 20th
• Eyre (in the Eucla district's mid-point coastline) recorded -6.2 °C on the 20th, which is not only its lowest June temperature on record, but also the State's June record; previous State's record was -6.0 °C at Norseman Aero on 27 June 2010 and at Collie East on 17 June 2006

Strong winds, beach erosion and tornado in the SWLD

• Several cold fronts brought significant rains and strong wind gusts to the SWLD between the 6th and 11th. Ahead of the passage of cold fronts, gusty northerly winds combined with very low dewpoints had produced severe fire danger situations in inland SWLD, and several fires were burned out of control on the 6th. A tornado was reported at Lake Nowergup around midday on the 10th. About 40 trees were damaged and a power line fell onto a farm property. Gabbadah, north of the Perth area, reported a roof torn off by a possible tornado. Tides were very high along the west coast and many places experienced beach erosion and inundation. The State's emergency agency received 183 calls for roof and structural damage, water ingress and downed trees

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 higher value has gone unreported

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top