Thursday, 2 March 2023 - Monthly Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC11R0

Western Australia in February 2023: Dry in the southwest and southeast

February rainfall was below average in the southern parts of Western Australia, with virtually no rain recorded in the southwest while less than 10 mm rainfall totals were reported in the southeast. Pockets of above average rainfall were in the north Kimberley and the Pilbara. The southern two-thirds of WA observed above average mean maximum temperature. For the state as a whole, it was the eleventh-warmest February on record. A broad area from the northwest down to the southeast of the state observed warmer than normal minimum temperatures, while minimum temperatures were generally close to average in the state's southwest and northeast.

Dry in the southern parts

• February rainfall was 30% below the 1961-1990 average for WA as a whole, the driest February since 2019.
• February was dry in the southern parts of Western Australia, with virtually no rain in the southwest and less than 10 mm totals in the southeast.
• For the South West Land Division as a whole, February rainfall was four times below average, and the driest February since 2019.
• A monsoon trough along the state's northern coast in late February and a tropical low that moved across the north and east Kimberley to the Northern Territory border at the end of February, brought locally heavy rainfall with daily falls of 90–200 mm; a number of sites had their highest February daily rainfall records.
• Pockets of above average rainfall were in the north Kimberley and the Pilbara. February rainfall totals in excess of 200–400 mm in the northern half of the Kimberley, with a number of sites received over 500 mm for the month.
• Emma Gorge had its wettest February on record , and Lake Argyle Resort had its the second-wettest February on record and the wettest February rainfall for 54 years.

Warmer than normal daytime and overnight temperatures for most of WA

• The mean maximum temperature was 1.88 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the eleventh-warmest February on record. for Western Australia.
• A severe to low-intensity heatwave hit central and southeast of the state in late February between the 16th and 23rd . The highest temperature of the month was 46.8 °C recorded on the 22nd at Eucla and Red Rocks Point.
• Esperance (town) recorded a maximum temperature of 43.9 °C on the 21st, which was its fifth-highest temperature for February on record. The record was 46.7 °C on 1 February 1991.
• The mean minimum temperature was 0.67 °C above the 1961–1990 average for Western Australia.

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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Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top