Thursday, 6 January 2022 - Monthly Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC11R0

Western Australia in December 2021: third warmest December on record

For Western Australia as whole, it was the third-warmest December on record overall and rainfall was below average. Mean maximum temperatures were above average across almost the whole state, and the highest on record in the Pilbara region. Mean minimum temperatures were also above average for most of the state apart from the southern and north-eastern parts, resulting in statewide averaged the mean maximum temperature and minimum temperature ranking the third-highest and fourth-highest on record respectively. Rainfall was mostly below average in the western and southern half of the state, and rainfall was close to average in the north.

Below average rainfall in the west and south

• Rainfall was 26% below average for Western Australia as a whole.
• Most of the western half of the state and along the southern coastal areas recorded nil rainfall or less than 10 mm monthly rainfall, while up to 100–200 mm monthly totals were recorded in the north and west Kimberley from thunderstorms.

Well above average mean maximum temperatures across the state

• For Western Australia as whole, the mean temperature was 1.69 °C above average, which was the third-warmest December on record overall, behind 2019 (3.4 °C above average) and 1972 (2.59 °C above average).
• Western Australia's mean maximum temperature was 2.23 °C above average, which was the third-highest for December on record, behind 2019 (4.25 °C above average) and 1972 (2.86 °C above average ).
• Western Australia's mean minimum temperature was 1.15 °C above average, which was the fourth-highest for December on record.
• The north of the state experienced severe heatwave conditions a number of times during December; a number of sites in the Pilbara had their hottest December days on record, while Broome Airport, Port Hedland Airport and several other sites had their warmest December nights on record
• Marble Bar undoubtedly claimed the hottest place of the month for the state and the country, as the town recorded its highest mean maximum temperature and mean minimum temperature for December in 120 years of temperature observations (combining the current and old sites) at 44.7 °C and 28.7 °C respectively.
• Marble Bar recorded a total of 16 days with maximum temperatures at 45 °C or above in December, which was the highest count for December on record and the second-highest count for any month.
• A severe to extreme heatwave hit the west coast, particularly in and around Perth, in late December, with daytime and overnight temperatures peaking on Christmas Day (25th) and Boxing Day (26th); several locations recorded their highest December temperature on record or warmest December night on record.
• Locations near the west coast recorded at least 3 consecutive days with maximum temperatures at 40 °C or above during the heatwave, and Perth had its first 4 consecutive days of 40 °C in December.
• Geraldton Airport recorded 6 consecutive days with maximum temperatures at 40 °C or above between the 24th and 29th, which was its longest such run in December and the equal second-longest run for any month at Geraldton (combining the current and old sites observations from 1941).

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

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

* 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