Western Australia in July 2019: record warm days; a dry month

Mean maximum temperatures were above average across Western Australia, and it was the warmest July on record for the State as a whole. Rainfall was below average for most of WA, and it was the tenth-driest July on record for the State. The statewide mean minimum temperature was above average.

Below average rainfall for most of WA

  • Rainfall was 61% below July average for WA , the tenth-driest July on record and driest since 2012
  • Rainfall was the tenth-driest July on record for the South West Land Division (SWLD), and driest since 2012
  • A cold front and associated cloudband produced widespread 30-60 mm rainfall in the SWLD on the 5th; some sites had their highest July daily rainfall on record
  • It was very dry in the Southeast Coastal district with monthly rainfall totals only in the 20-50 mm range, and it was driest July since 1977 for some sites
  • Monthly rainfall was generally less than 10 mm along the Eucla district, and Mundrabilla Station had its driest July since 1986
  • It was the third-driest year to date (January-July) for WA, and driest for eighty-three years since 1936; the driest year to date on record was 1924
  • It was the fifth-driest year to date for the SWLD, and driest since 2010; the driest year to date on record was 1914
  • Forrest in inland Eucla district recorded 24.2 mm rainfall for year so far (January-July), and only four days had more than 2 mm; it was its driest year to date on record, and previous record was in January-July 1944 when 32.3 mm was recorded at Forrest Afro

Above average mean maximum temperatures across WA.3

  • The mean maximum temperature was 2.54 °C above average for WA, which exceeded previous record set in July 2017 (+2.34 °C)
  • The mean maximum temperature was 1.34 °C above average for the SWLD, equal ninth-highest on record, equaled with July 2002
  • The mean minimum temperature was 0.63 °C above average for WA; though only 0.16 °C above average for the SWLD
  • The year to date mean maximum temperature was 2.11 °C above average for WA, which was the warmest year to date (January-July) on record; previous record was 1.83 °C on January-July 2005
  • The year to date mean minimum temperature was 0.61 °C above average for WA, the highest since 2016
  • Days were particularly warm in a broad area extending from the west Kimberley and east Pilbara coast to the Southern Interior; some sites had their warmest July on record or warmest July for over two decades
  • It was the warmest July on record at Port Hedland Airport, as the result of a total 18 days recorded temperature of 30 °C or higher; previous July record was 16 days set in July 2003
  • Frezzing temperatures were recorded in isolated spots in the southern WA mostly during the middle and late July; Eyre in the Eucla coast recorded the State's lowest temperature of the month with -4.0 °C om the 31st

Further information

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Extremes in July 2019
Hottest day 36.4 °C at Kalumburu on the 30th
36.4 °C at Yampi Sound (Defence) on the 30th
Warmest days on average 33.5 °C at Kalumburu
33.5 °C at Yampi Sound (Defence)
Coolest days on average 15.1 °C at Katanning
Coldest day 10.3 °C at Katanning on the 26th
Coldest night -4.0 °C at Eyre on the 31st
Coolest nights on average 2.6 °C at Norseman Aero
Warmest nights on average 24.9 °C at Browse Island
Warmest night 25.9 °C at Browse Island on the 10th
Warmest on average overall 26.6 °C at Browse Island
Coolest on average overall 10.3 °C at Norseman Aero
Wettest overall 153.6 mm at Shannon
Wettest day 64.6 mm at Swanbourne on the 5th
Strongest wind gust 98 km/h at Rottnest Island on the 19th

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 highest July daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Manarra 52.0 on the 5th 48.8 on the 9th in 1928 99
Bungulla 36.0 on the 5th 34.8 on the 25th in 1929 92
Eradu 52.6 on the 5th =52.6 on the 9th in 1928 77
Coolangatta 47.7 on the 5th 44.0 on the 30th in 1996 69
Arena 51.4 on the 5th 42.0 on the 9th in 2010 40
Katanning 26.8 on the 5th 26.0 on the 30th in 2001 21



Record lowest July total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
July
Eyre 2.1 3.8 in 1897 89 34.4
Steep Point 11.3 12.6 in 2010 24 47.2
Norseman Aero 5.8 6.2 in 2006 20 21.5

Lowest July total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
lower
Average for
July
Esperance Aero 21.2 17.8 in 1977 77.0
Pleasant Valley 22.8 16.2 in 1977 72.7
The Duke 50.8 33.3 in 1977* 94.9
Mundrabilla Station 2.0 0.0 in 1986 22.4

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




Record highest July mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
July
Port Hedland Airport 30.2 29.6 in 1992 71 27.3
Mardie 30.0 = 30.0 in 1994 63 27.7
Giles Meteorological Office 23.9 23.1 in 2018 62 20.1
Mandora 32.0 31.3 in 2017 57 29.0
Telfer Aero 28.0 27.7 in 2018 45 25.4
Curtin Aero 32.8 32.7 in 1992 27 31.1
Karratha Aero 28.3 28.0 in 2017 25 26.3
Newman Aero 25.1 = 25.1 in 2002 22 23.0
Barrow Island Airport 24.6 24.4 in 2000 20 23.7

Highest July mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
July
Jurien Bay 20.7 20.9 in 1977 19.5
Meekatharra Airport 21.9 22.0 in 1994 19.1
Badgingarra Research Stn 18.6 20.4 in 1994* 17.6
Gingin Aero 19.4 21.3 in 1996 18.3
Cygnet Bay 29.4 30.0 in 1996* 28.1

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




Highest July mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
July
Wittenoom 13.6 15.1 in 1973 11.5
Giles Meteorological Office 8.8 9.5 in 1996 6.9



Record highest July mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
July
Wittenoom 20.4 20.3 in 1973 66 17.9
Giles Meteorological Office 16.4 15.8 in 1973 62 13.5
Mardie 21.8 = 21.8 in 2015 62 19.8
Onslow Airport 20.9 = 20.9 in 2000 53 19.2
Telfer Aero 20.3 19.6 in 2016 45 18.1
Karratha Aero 21.7 = 21.7 in 2010 25 20.0
Paraburdoo Aero 19.2 18.9 in 1996 23 17.3

Highest July mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
July
Warburton Airfield 15.1 17.5 in 1971* 13.3

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




Summary statistics for July 2019
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
July
2019
Diff
from
average
Highest for
July
2019
Mean for
July
2019
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
July
2019
Total for
July
2019
Average
for
July
Rank of
July
2019
Fraction of
July
average
North Kimberley (district 01)
Doongan 30.7 +0.9 34.0 20th 10.0 -0.9 5.9 6th 0 0.7 lowest 0%
Kalumburu 33.5 +1.2 36.4 30th 13.3 -0.7 7.5 5th 0 1.5 lowest 0%
Mount Elizabeth 29.3 +0.7 32.9 20th 7.5 -0.5 3.3 6th 0 3.2 lowest 0%
Troughton Island 28.5 +0.2 30.5 13th 22.0 -0.3 20.4 19th 0.2 2.7 average 7%
Truscott 31.1 +0.3 33.6 30th 18.2 -0.3 14.8 6th 0.4 2.0 high 20%
Wyndham Aero 33.1 +1.0 36.0 30th 14.6 -0.8 10.1 5th 0 2.6 lowest 0%
East Kimberley (district 02)
Argyle Aerodrome 31.3 +1.4 34.9 30th 16.7 +0.8 12.5 6th 0 1.4 lowest 0%
Halls Creek Airport 29.2   33.4 21st 11.2   7.1 6th 0
Kununurra Aero 31.9 +1.2 35.3 30th 13.1 -1.9 8.9 6th 0 1.4 lowest 0%
Warmun 30.9 +1.3 38.0 31st 14.0 +1.3 9.5 6th 0 5.2 lowest 0%
West Kimberley (district 03)
Broome Airport 31.1 +2.2 33.9 26th 13.5 -0.2 8.5 16th 1.2 6.6 average 18%
Curtin Aero 32.8 +1.7 36.3 29th 15.1 -0.4 9.4 7th 0 7.9 lowest 0%
Cygnet Bay 29.4 +1.3 32.6 29th 14.7 -0.1 12.1 7th 0 10.6 lowest 0%
Derby Aero 32.3 +1.5 35.3 31st 14.2 -0.5 10.9 16th 0 7.7 lowest 0%
Fitzroy Crossing Aero 32.5 +1.6 35.9 29th 12.5 +0.2 8.2 16th 0 5.7 lowest 0%
De Grey (district 04)
Bedout Island 26.3 +1.3 27.7 29th 20.6 +1.1 19.1 16th
Karratha Aero 28.3 +2.0 32.0 31st 15.1 +1.3 10.7 18th 0.8 13.7 average 6%
Legendre Island 25.4   28.4 29th 18.6   16.0 6th
Mandora 32.0 +3.0 35.9 29th 13.2 +0.7 7.3 18th 0 8.7 lowest 0%
Marble Bar 29.7 +2.3 33.6 27th 13.1 +1.0 8.3 22nd 0 14.9 v low 0%
Port Hedland Airport 30.2 +2.9 33.7 28th 13.5 +1.1 8.5 16th 0 10.6 lowest 0%
Roebourne Aero 29.9 +2.0 33.8 28th 13.1 +1.0 7.6 18th 0 8.7 v low 0%
Fortescue (district 05)
Barrow Island Airport 24.6 +0.9 27.1 31st 17.6 +0.1 14.2 18th 6.8 15.0 average 45%
Karijini North 27.0   31.4 27th 13.3   8.1 22nd 0
Learmonth Airport 25.6 +1.3 29.4 12th 11.5 +0.1 6.5 17th 25.0 22.1 average 113%
Mardie 30.0 +2.3 32.6 31st 13.7 +1.8 9.3 17th 11.2 13.8 average 81%
Onslow Airport 27.6 +2.2 31.5 12th 14.2 +1.2 10.0 18th 17.6 19.9 high 88%
Thevenard Island 25.6 +0.7 28.9 10th 17.5 +0.1 12.8 2nd 10.8 17.9 average 60%
Wittenoom 27.2 +2.9 31.7 27th 13.6 +2.1 8.1 18th 0 13.7 lowest 0%
West Gascoyne (district 06)
Carnarvon Airport 24.1 +1.7 30.1 30th 11.1 +0.2 6.4 17th 18.2 42.6 average 43%
Denham 22.5 +0.8 27.5 30th 13.1 +0.4 13.0 4th 10.6 39.4 low 27%
Murchison 22.6 +1.5 26.4 18th 5.9 -0.5 3.0 15th 6.3 27.8 low 23%
Shark Bay Airport 23.9 +1.2 28.1 30th 10.3 -0.2 6.0 19th 17.2 29.9 average 58%
East Gascoyne (district 07)
Newman Aero 25.1 +2.1 30.4 27th 8.2 +1.8 2.6 16th 0 14.7 lowest 0%
Paraburdoo Aero 27.0 +2.2 31.3 19th 11.4 +1.6 7.3 19th 3.6 13.9 average 26%
Murchison (district 07A)
Meekatharra Airport 21.9 +2.8 27.2 4th 8.2 +0.8 3.8 21st 6.8 20.6 low 33%
Mount Magnet Aero 20.2 +1.3 25.4 4th 7.0 0.0 4.4 1st 2.0 27.7 v low 7%
Paynes Find 20.0 +1.5 24.0 4th 4.5 -1.0 1.2 16th 19.1 34.9 average 55%
North Coast (district 08)
Dalwallinu 18.1 +1.2 22.0 3rd 5.9 0.0 2.3 15th 38.0 48.7 average 78%
Geraldton Airport 21.2   25.9 30th 8.8   4.6 18th 42.8
Kalbarri 23.6 +1.8 27.8 30th 9.6 -0.1 5.9 19th 24.6 69.5 low 35%
Morawa Airport 20.1 +1.4 24.0 3rd 5.7 -0.4 2.7 18th 34.6 44.2 average 78%
Mullewa 20.8 +2.0 24.2 30th 7.2 +0.2 3.7 19th 22.8 59.0 low 39%
North Island 21.5 +0.4 23.9 3rd 16.2 +0.9 12.2 5th 42.4 66.2 average 64%
Wongan Hills 18.2 +1.1 21.8 17th 6.2 -0.4 3.0 8th 60.8 69.4 average 88%
Central Coast (district 09)
Badgingarra Research Stn 18.6 +1.0 22.2 30th 7.6 +0.4 4.8 6th 55.2 101.2 low 55%
Bickley 15.8 +0.7 19.6 30th 7.8 +0.6 4.7 14th 138.4 216.8 low 64%
Garden Island HSF 18.3 +0.5 20.9 3rd 11.4 +0.2 8.4 16th 132.2 116.4 high 114%
Gingin Aero 19.4 +1.1 22.8 30th 6.2 -0.2 0.2 17th 97.6 124.0 low 79%
Jandakot Aero 18.9 +0.9 22.6 31st 7.5 +0.6 1.4 17th 132.8 173.1 low 77%
Jurien Bay 20.7 +1.2 24.3 31st 8.9 -0.5 4.4 8th 80.2 113.2 low 71%
Karnet 16.2 +0.7 20.1 30th 6.6 +0.3 3.3 17th 122.1 217.1 v low 56%
Lancelin 20.5 +1.3 24.4 31st 9.9 0.0 7.1 14th 87.9 119.9 low 73%
Millendon (Swan Valley) 19.2   22.8 30th 7.8   2.8 17th 94.0
Pearce RAAF 19.3 +1.4 22.7 30th 8.9 +0.5 4.6 16th 91.4 133.8 low 68%
Perth Airport 19.3 +1.4 23.2 30th 8.4 +0.4 4.9 12th 99.6 155.3 low 64%
Perth Metro 19.3 +0.9 23.2 30th 8.4 +0.6 3.3 17th 108.6 144.5 low 75%
Rottnest Island 18.3 +0.5 21.4 3rd 13.1 +0.7 9.7 5th 123.0 113.0 average 109%
Swanbourne 18.7 +0.3 22.2 3rd 10.4 +0.7 7.2 17th 137.8 149.8 average 92%
South Coast (district 09A)
Albany 16.8 +1.0 20.6 17th 9.6 +1.4 5.8 16th 136.0 142.7 average 95%
Albany Airport 16.7   20.5 16th 7.8   2.7 3rd 92.4
Bridgetown 16.3 +0.6 20.3 31st 5.3 +0.8 0.5 30th 79.4 127.9 low 62%
Bunbury 17.9 +0.6 20.4 3rd 7.5 +0.4 2.2 16th 94.6 140.5 low 67%
Busselton Aero 17.2 +0.4 20.3 31st 7.7 +0.9 3.6 28th 93.6 133.4 low 70%
Cape Leeuwin 17.3 +0.9 19.9 16th 12.2 +0.9 9.3 14th 89.8 179.5 v low 50%
Cape Naturaliste 17.5 +1.1 21.6 16th 11.0 +0.6 7.5 28th 86.2 159.7 v low 54%
Collie East 16.9 +0.7 21.4 31st 5.0 +1.1 -0.8 16th 60.6 128.8 low 47%
Donnybrook 17.8 +1.3 21.8 31st 7.0 +1.3 2.4 16th 83.8 186.0 v low 45%
Dwellingup 16.3 +1.3 20.6 31st 5.9 +0.4 1.6 16th 150.0 233.8 low 64%
Esperance 17.7 +0.5 23.2 19th 8.4 +0.1 4.3 15th 69.6 95.3 low 73%
Esperance Aero 17.2 +0.8 22.2 19th 7.5 -0.1 4.4 6th 21.2 77.0 v low 28%
Hopetoun North 18.4 +0.4 23.8 4th 8.4 +0.7 3.3 30th 35.4 66.6 low 53%
Jarrahwood 17.2 +0.8 21.0 31st 5.5 +0.6 -0.5 28th 87.2 179.8 v low 48%
Mandurah 18.1 +0.6 20.4 3rd 10.9 +0.2 8.0 14th 111.8 116.9 average 96%
Manjimup 15.7 +1.3 20.1 30th 7.2 +0.8 3.8 14th 111.4 173.6 low 64%
North Walpole 16.5 +0.5 19.7 16th 9.3 +0.4 5.2 29th 127.0 178.7 v low 71%
Rocky Gully 15.3 +0.6 19.4 31st 7.1 +0.6 2.7 28th 83.8 105.0 low 80%
Shannon 15.2 +0.4 18.6 16th 7.2 +0.7 3.2 28th 153.6 177.8 average 86%
Witchcliffe 16.7 +0.3 19.9 16th 8.4 +0.2 2.9 29th 140.4 189.9 low 74%
North Central (district 10)
Bencubbin 17.3 +0.9 21.3 4th       33.1 45.2 average 73%
Cunderdin Airfield 17.9 +0.9 21.4 17th 5.2 +0.5 1.0 17th 46.0 50.4 average 91%
Merredin 17.3 +1.0 21.0 27th 5.6 +0.1 1.5 8th 36.6 50.2 low 73%
Northam 18.2 +1.3 22.1 17th 5.7 +0.3 0.2 17th 47.4 82.1 low 58%
York 17.7 +0.6 21.2 17th 4.6 +0.8 0.0 17th 45.0 71.4 low 63%
South Central (district 10A)
Beverley 17.5 +0.6 20.6 17th 5.6 +0.5 0.2 17th 45.8 76.9 low 60%
Brookton 16.7 +0.6 20.8 17th 5.5 +1.0 0.1 17th 45.4 84.6 low 54%
Corrigin 16.3 +0.9 20.0 30th 5.0 +0.1 -0.5 17th 41.9 59.3 average 71%
Hyden 17.3 +0.8 21.0 30th 4.3 -0.3 0.6 8th 33.1 47.7 low 69%
Jacup 16.2 +0.5 20.1 17th 5.9 +0.3 1.7 29th 31.8 49.8 low 64%
Katanning 15.1 +0.4 18.9 31st 6.5 +0.6 2.0 30th 50.4 61.6 low 82%
Lake Grace 16.1 +0.5 20.0 17th 6.1 +0.8 2.1 29th 33.6 36.7 average 92%
Narembeen 17.6 +1.1 21.0 30th 5.4 -0.1 2.3 12th 28.3 49.6 low 57%
Narrogin 16.0 +1.4 20.0 17th 5.5 +0.3 1.6 17th 49.0 85.9 low 57%
Newdegate Research Station 15.8 +0.5 19.9 4th 4.9 +0.8 -0.2 17th 33.6 47.7 average 70%
Pingelly 16.4 +1.0 20.1 17th 6.1 +0.6 2.0 17th 44.9 81.0 low 55%
Ravensthorpe 17.5 +1.2 23.0 4th     4.3 6th 25.9 46.9 low 55%
Wagin 16.0 +0.6 19.7 31st 6.1 +0.5 1.5 15th 46.5 69.8 low 67%
Wandering 16.4 +0.6 20.2 17th 4.6 +0.6 -0.3 17th 72.8 95.2 low 76%
Eucla (district 11)
Balladonia 19.6 +2.0 25.1 25th 4.3 -0.5 -1.5 16th 9.9 20.5 low 48%
Eucla 18.7 +0.7 25.1 19th 7.2 +0.1 1.2 17th 8.2 24.9 low 33%
Eyre 19.4 +1.1 26.9 19th 3.7 -2.0 -4.0 31st 2.1 34.4 lowest 6%
Forrest 19.5 +0.7 25.0 19th 4.6 -0.5 -0.9 19th 6.0 14.7 average 41%
Red Rocks Point 18.6 0.0 26.2 19th 7.8 +0.3 1.7 9th 0 36.3 v low 0%
South East (district 12)
Bulga Downs 20.5 +1.2 26.0 19th 4.7 -0.1 0.4 1st
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport 18.4 +1.6 24.6 19th 4.8 -0.3 2.0 12th 3.8 24.2 v low 16%
Laverton Aero 20.0 +1.5 25.6 4th 5.0 -0.9 -0.9 1st 0.6 15.7 low 4%
Leinster Aero 20.4 +1.6 26.2 4th 5.5 -0.6 1.5 1st 1.4 16.6 low 8%
Leonora Aero 20.5 +1.5 26.3 4th 4.9 -1.1 -0.1 1st 0.8 16.1 v low 5%
Munglinup West 17.4 +0.7 22.0 17th 6.5 -0.1 3.4 6th 23.2 41.3 v low 56%
Norseman Aero 18.0 +0.7 24.4 19th 2.6 -1.5 -1.7 14th 5.8 21.5 lowest 27%
Salmon Gums Res.Stn. 17.1 +1.0 23.0 19th 4.3 -0.3 -2.6 14th 15.2 36.3 low 42%
Southern Cross Airfield 17.6 +1.0 21.3 19th 3.8 +0.2 -0.2 17th 35.8 35.1 average 102%
North East (district 13)
Carnegie 23.3 +2.0 29.2 27th 7.0 +1.0 0.8 19th 0 11.8 lowest 0%
Giles Meteorological Office 23.9 +3.8 29.2 28th 8.8 +1.9 1.9 17th 0 10.7 lowest 0%
Telfer Aero 28.0 +2.6 32.1 27th 12.6 +1.9 7.6 18th 0 11.7 lowest 0%
Warburton Airfield 23.6 +2.8 29.4 27th 6.7 +1.0 -0.9 22nd 0.4 12.1 low 3%
Wiluna 21.9 +2.4 27.5 19th 4.6 -0.9 1.5 1st 1.5 14.7 low 10%
Wiluna Aero 21.9   27.6 19th 5.0   0.1 7th 0.2
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Adele Island 28.2   29.4 1st 23.6   21.2 16th
Browse Island 28.2   29.2 9th 24.9   23.8 16th
Rowley Shoals 26.1   27.1 13th 24.2   22.9 16th

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 10 am on Thursday 1 August 2019. 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

Media
(03) 9669 4057
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