Western Australia in May 2023

Rainfall

  • May rainfall was below average across Western Australia, and very much below average rainfall (lowest 20 percents of all years) was observed for most of the southern two-thirds of the state, however May is typically dry in the northern WA.
  • For Western Australia as a whole, May rainfall was 3.2 mm, which was 88% below the 1961–1990 average, and the lowest on record. Previous lowest May rainfall record was 4 mm in 1948.
  • For the South West Land Division (SWLD) as a whole, May rainfall was 14.1 mm, which was 76% below the 1961-1990 average, and the third-lowest on record, lowest for 59 years since 1964 (13.9 mm).

Temperature

  • Mean maximum temperatures were above average for the western parts of the state, whilst most of the Kimberley observed below average mean maxima.
  • For Western Australia as a whole, the mean maximum temperature was 0.57 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
  • Mean minimum temperatures were very much below average (lowest 20 percents of all years) in the Kimberley and Northern Interior. The eastern SWLD, and along the Eucla coast also observed cooler than normal mean minima.
  • For Western Australia as a whole, the mean maximum temperature was 1.37 °C below the 1961–1990 average, and the lowest since 2000.
  • The inland southwest of the state experienced a freezing cold morning, with temperatures dipping to minus 3 °C on the 27th, resulting in a number of lowest May temperature records.
  • Several sites along the Kimberley and Pilbara coast had their lowest May temperature on record on the 30th and 31st.
  • Mean minimum temperatures at Broome Airport and Derby Aero in the west Kimberley coast were more than 3 °C below average, the lowest May mean minimum temperature for 47 years since 1976.
  • Mean minimum temperatures were 2–3 °C below average at Telfer and Newman in the south Pilbara, and Giles Meteorology Office in the Southern Interior, their lowest May mean minimum temperature since 2000.

Extremes in May 2023
Hottest day 36.1 °C at Wyndham Aero on the 6th
36.1 °C at Yampi Sound (Defence) on the 7th
Warmest days on average 32.9 °C at Yampi Sound (Defence)
Coolest days on average 18.2 °C at Shannon
Coldest day 12.9 °C at Bickley on the 6th
Coldest night -2.6 °C at Newdegate Research Station on the 27th
-2.6 °C at Wandering on the 27th
Coolest nights on average 4.8 °C at Wandering
Warmest nights on average 24.6 °C at Troughton Island
Warmest night 27.4 °C at Troughton Island on the 7th
Warmest on average overall 27.5 °C at Troughton Island
Coolest on average overall 12.2 °C at Wandering
Wettest overall 72.8 mm at Mount William
Wettest day 35.0 mm at Carnarvon Airport on the 10th
Strongest wind gust 107 km/h at Cape Leeuwin on the 10th

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 lowest May temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
May
Pingelly 0.4 on the 27th = 0.4 on the 25th in 2012 52 8.7
Derby Aero 8.2 on the 30th 9.1 on the 30th in 2011 39 18.8
Karratha Aero 10.5 on the 30th 10.8 on the 31st in 2012 30 18.4
Cunderdin Airfield -2.2 on the 27th -1.2 on the 25th in 2012 27 8.2
Lake Grace -0.7 on the 27th 0.2 on the 25th in 2012 26 8.6
Newdegate Research Station -2.6 on the 27th -2.3 on the 25th in 2012 26 7.0
Norseman Aero -2.3 on the 27th -2.1 on the 31st in 2016 24 7.0
Wyndham Aero 8.9 on the 31st 9.6 on the 27th in 2012 23 19.2
Munglinup West 3.0 on the 27th 3.1 on the 22nd in 2017 22 9.6
Roebourne Aero 7.6 on the 31st 7.9 on the 31st in 2012 21 16.9



Record lowest May mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
May
Argyle Aerodrome 15.3 16.0 in 2011 28 19.2

Lowest May mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
May
Broome Airport 14.5 13.4 in 1976 18.3
Derby Aero 15.2 15.0 in 1976* 18.8
Warmun 13.4 11.5 in 1994 17.2
Giles Meteorological Office 8.6 7.1 in 2000 11.3
Newman Aero 9.1 6.2 in 2000 12.0
Paynes Find 7.6 5.3 in 2000 9.4
Telfer Aero 13.1 12.3 in 2000 15.5

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




Record lowest May mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
May
Derby Aero 23.5 = 23.5 in 1976 38 25.9
Argyle Aerodrome 22.5 22.6 in 2011 28 25.7
Wyndham Aero 23.7 24.0 in 2011 22 26.7

Lowest May mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
May
Broome Airport 22.6 22.5 in 1976 25.0



Summary statistics for May 2023
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
May
2023
Diff
from
average
Highest for
May
2023
Mean for
May
2023
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
May
2023
Total for
May
2023
Average
for
May
Rank of
May
2023
Fraction of
May
average
North Kimberley (district 01)
Kalumburu 31.9 -1.7 35.0 6th 15.0 -2.0 9.3 22nd 0 15.2 lowest 0%
Troughton Island 30.5 -0.7 33.3 6th 24.6 -0.9 22.0 29th 0 35.3 lowest 0%
Truscott 30.3 -1.9 33.4 6th 19.1 -2.4 14.5 30th 0 18.9 lowest 0%
Wyndham Aero 31.8 -2.4 36.1 6th 15.6 -3.6 8.9 31st 0 11.5 lowest 0%
East Kimberley (district 02)
Argyle Aerodrome 29.6 -2.6 34.5 6th 15.3 -3.9 10.5 22nd 0 7.4 lowest 0%
Halls Creek Airport 28.3   32.3 6th 11.8   6.4 31st 0
Kununurra Aero 30.6 -2.4 34.9 6th 14.8 -3.8 9.8 28th 0 6.6 lowest 0%
Warmun     34.2 6th 13.4 -3.8 7.0 31st 0 9.9 lowest 0%
West Kimberley (district 03)
Bidyadanga 31.3 -1.2 34.6 8th 17.0 -1.5 10.3 20th 0 24.7 lowest 0%
Broome Airport 30.7 -1.0 33.9 7th 14.5 -3.8 8.5 29th 0 26.6 lowest 0%
Curtin Aero 31.7 -1.6 34.9 7th 17.2 -1.9 12.9 21st 0 14.5 lowest 0%
Derby Aero 31.8 -1.2 34.7 7th 15.2 -3.6 8.2 30th 0 19.1 lowest 0%
Fitzroy Crossing Aero 31.7 -1.7 35.1 6th 12.4 -3.7 6.6 30th 0 14.6 lowest 0%
Yampi Sound (Defence) 32.9   36.1 7th 11.6   5.7 22nd 0
De Grey (district 04)
Karratha Aero 29.1 -0.9 33.1 4th 16.7 -1.7 10.5 30th 0 31.6 lowest 0%
Legendre Island 27.4 -1.0 30.9 4th 21.1 -1.1 16.7 31st
Mandora 31.9 -0.3 35.6 3rd 15.8 -1.2 7.6 24th 0.6 25.2 average 2%
Marble Bar 29.5 -1.6 33.2 4th 15.0 -2.2 9.1 30th 0 13.7 lowest 0%
Port Hedland Airport 31.0 +0.3 34.7 4th 17.1 -0.3 11.0 30th 0 27.3 lowest 0%
Roebourne Aero 30.9 -0.7 34.8 4th 14.8 -2.1 7.6 31st 0 40.9 lowest 0%
Fortescue (district 05)
Barrow Island Airport 26.8 -0.7 30.7 4th 20.5 -0.9 15.8 23rd 0 60.1 lowest 0%
Karijini North 28.5   32.4 4th 15.3   8.8 24th 0
Learmonth Airport 29.1 +0.5 34.0 4th 14.5 -1.6 9.3 23rd 0.2 41.6 low 0%
Mardie 32.1 +0.6 35.3 3rd 15.9 -1.1 10.4 23rd 0 38.5 lowest 0%
Onslow Airport 30.4 +1.0 33.5 4th 17.1 -0.4 11.5 30th 0 51.3 lowest 0%
Thevenard Island 29.2 +0.5 32.1 4th 21.2 0.0 15.8 26th 0 47.4 lowest 0%
West Gascoyne (district 06)
Carnarvon Airport 28.4 +2.0 34.8 8th 14.4 -0.4 9.8 22nd 35.0 33.1 average 106%
Denham 27.0 +1.2 32.5 3rd 17.2 +0.7 14.2 15th 1.0 36.1 v low 3%
Murchison 27.4 +1.3 33.0 5th 10.8 -0.3 5.1 22nd 2.4 16.5 low 15%
Shark Bay Airport 28.7 +1.3 34.7 3rd 14.7 +0.2 9.7 22nd 0.4 23.1 v low 2%
East Gascoyne (district 07)
Newman Aero 26.1 -1.0 29.7 3rd 9.1 -2.9 3.9 23rd 0 18.6 lowest 0%
Paraburdoo Aero 29.1 +0.1 32.5 3rd 14.7 -0.1 7.8 22nd 0 19.2 lowest 0%
Murchison (district 07A)
Meekatharra Airport 25.0 +1.1 30.0 5th 12.2 +0.1 6.5 27th 0 21.6 lowest 0%
Mount Magnet Aero 25.0 +1.1 30.4 5th 11.0 -0.6 4.0 28th 5.6 16.9 average 33%
Paynes Find 25.1 +1.9 30.0 5th 7.6 -1.8 1.5 28th 3.2 34.9 low 9%
North Coast (district 08)
Dalwallinu 23.5 +1.4 28.9 4th 8.7 -1.0 3.1 27th 13.0 34.1 low 38%
Geraldton Airport 26.5 +1.4 31.8 18th 12.3 0.0 5.8 28th 30.6 38.2 average 80%
Kalbarri 27.5 +1.4 33.8 3rd 14.0 +0.7 6.2 28th 9.9 52.9 v low 19%
Morawa Airport 25.1 +1.1 30.4 4th 9.5 -0.9 1.8 28th 12.8 34.8 average 37%
Mullewa 25.5 +1.7 31.6 4th 11.6 +0.4 5.4 25th 13.0 45.3 low 29%
North Island 24.9 +0.5 28.8 18th 19.2 +0.8 16.9 25th 24.4 40.3 average 61%
Wongan Hills 23.2 +1.6 28.5 9th 9.2 -0.6 1.5 27th 14.0 50.8 low 28%
Central Coast (district 09)
Badgingarra Research Stn 23.5 +1.0 29.1 4th 11.5 +0.9 6.9 27th 35.8 66.6 low 54%
Bickley 19.0 -0.3 24.8 3rd 9.7 -0.4 5.0 26th 42.0 129.7 v low 32%
Garden Island HSF 21.3 -0.1 26.6 18th 13.2 -0.6 7.7 27th 21.2 73.8 lowest 29%
Gingin Aero 22.9 +0.2 29.8 3rd 8.0 -0.9 -0.8 27th 40.0 72.5 low 55%
Jandakot Aero 22.2 +0.2 27.2 3rd 10.0 +0.7 3.2 27th 56.0 104.2 low 54%
Jurien Bay 24.3 +1.0 31.3 18th 12.3 +0.6 5.4 26th 29.0 74.8 low 39%
Millendon (Swan Valley) 22.8   29.0 3rd 9.4   1.3 27th 19.4
Pearce RAAF 23.1 +1.0 29.6 3rd 10.5 -0.2 2.8 28th 21.6 82.3 v low 26%
Perth Airport 22.4 +0.6 28.5 3rd 10.1 -0.3 1.1 27th 28.2 96.7 v low 29%
Perth Metro 22.4 +0.1 28.8 3rd 10.2 -0.3 2.7 27th 26.4 86.5 v low 31%
Rottnest Island 21.0 -0.1 26.7 18th 15.0 -0.2 11.2 26th 14.8 71.3 v low 21%
Swanbourne 21.9 -0.2 27.7 18th 12.3 -0.2 6.9 27th 24.4 88.0 v low 28%
South Coast (district 09A)
Albany     25.1 9th 11.6 +0.8 7.8 21st 49.7 114.5 v low 43%
Albany Airport 19.6 +0.1 24.9 23rd 9.2 -0.1 3.7 21st 23.2 77.7 v low 30%
Bridgetown 19.8 +0.3 24.4 18th 6.0 -0.7 -1.3 27th 28.4 95.3 v low 30%
Bunbury 20.7 -0.3 24.9 18th 9.9 +0.7 2.1 27th 37.0 97.2 v low 38%
Busselton Aero 20.4 0.0 25.0 18th 8.3 -0.7 0.2 27th 28.2 98.2 v low 29%
Cape Leeuwin 19.9 +0.7 24.7 9th 14.0 +0.3 10.6 26th 31.6 135.4 lowest 23%
Cape Naturaliste 20.3 +1.0 24.1 22nd 12.2 -0.4 7.4 26th 31.8 113.6 v low 28%
Collie East 20.4 +0.4 24.8 9th 5.7 -0.3 -2.2 27th 42.0 92.2 low 46%
Dwellingup 19.4 +0.8 24.7 3rd 7.5 -0.2 0.4 27th 48.4 154.8 v low 31%
Esperance 20.6 +0.1 28.0 10th 10.6 -0.5 7.3 7th 17.0 70.1 lowest 24%
Esperance Aero 20.3 +0.1 26.2 10th 9.6 -0.9 5.7 27th 30.2 64.0 low 47%
Hopetoun North 20.5 -0.5 26.4 23rd 10.1 -0.3 6.3 17th 5.6 44.8 lowest 13%
Jarrahwood 20.6 +0.6 25.2 18th 6.3 -0.4 -1.8 26th 28.0 122.1 lowest 23%
Mandurah 21.0 0.0 26.4 18th 13.1 -0.3 7.2 27th 21.8 83.2 lowest 26%
Manjimup 18.7 +1.0 23.8 18th 8.7 -0.2 4.9 27th 42.6 127.1 v low 34%
North Walpole 19.0 -0.1 24.1 9th 11.1 -0.1 7.2 12th 55.0 116.9 v low 47%
Rocky Gully 18.4 -0.1 23.1 9th 8.6 -0.5 3.8 27th 34.8 76.1 v low 46%
Shannon 18.2 +0.2 23.1 9th 8.9 +0.1 4.9 2nd 39.8 116.5 lowest 34%
Windy Harbour 19.8 -0.1 24.2 9th 10.9 +0.2 5.0 21st 67.4 144.1 lowest 47%
Witchcliffe West 19.4   24.3 18th 9.7   2.9 27th 55.0
North Central (district 10)
Bencubbin 22.6 +1.7 27.5 4th 8.5 -0.6 2.5 27th 6.3 36.1 low 17%
Cunderdin Airfield 22.2 +0.3 28.0 3rd 6.1 -2.1 -2.2 27th 18.0 30.2 average 60%
Merredin 21.9 +1.1 28.0 9th 8.4 -0.5 0.0 27th 11.5 40.2 low 29%
Northam 21.8 +0.5 28.1 3rd 6.9 -1.5 0.5 27th 21.8 54.5 low 40%
York 21.7 -0.2 28.0 3rd 5.4 -1.5 -1.0 27th 20.4 46.3 low 44%
South Central (district 10A)
Beverley 22.0 +0.5 27.4 3rd 6.5 -1.3 -0.6 27th 15.2 53.0 low 29%
Brookton 20.8 +0.3 26.4 9th 6.7 -1.0 -0.1 27th 11.3 56.0 v low 20%
Hyden 22.0 +1.2 27.0 9th 5.8 -1.7 -1.5 26th 5.2 38.6 v low 13%
Jacup 19.8 +0.1 25.8 9th 7.6 -0.8 1.8 27th 6.2 34.6 v low 18%
Katanning 19.6 +0.5 24.9 9th 8.0 -0.6 3.4 27th 17.0 47.2 v low 36%
Lake Grace 20.3 +0.3 25.8 9th 7.1 -1.5 -0.7 27th 5.6 31.1 low 18%
Narrogin 19.7 +1.1 25.0 3rd 6.6 -1.2 -1.0 27th 14.4 61.7 v low 23%
Newdegate Research Station 20.5 +0.6 26.0 9th 5.0 -2.0 -2.6 27th 8.8 41.5 v low 21%
Pingelly 20.1 +0.4 24.9 3rd 7.8 -0.9 0.4 27th 10.5 57.1 v low 18%
Ravensthorpe 20.6 +0.5 26.0 3rd 8.8 -0.9 4.0 27th 3.3 43.4 lowest 8%
Wagin 19.8 +0.3 24.5 9th 6.8 -1.2 0.8 27th 12.2 53.4 v low 23%
Wandering 19.4 -0.6 25.0 3rd 4.8 -1.4 -2.6 27th 14.4 56.3 v low 26%
Eucla (district 11)
Eucla 21.3 +0.2 28.3 31st 9.6 -1.0 5.0 10th 11.2 30.6 low 37%
Eyre 22.0 +0.5 28.5 13th 6.8 -2.1 -0.8 28th 16.4 37.9 low 43%
Forrest 21.8 -0.5 27.3 31st 7.7 -0.9 2.2 10th 0.6 15.3 v low 4%
South East (district 12)
Bulga Downs 24.7 +0.9 30.0 4th 8.5 -0.5 2.2 28th 1.2 24.3 low 5%
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport 21.4 +0.7 27.4 4th 8.6 -0.1 1.2 27th 2.8 24.3 low 12%
Laverton Aero 23.1 +0.8 27.8 31st 10.5 +0.1 4.3 28th 0.2 13.4 low 1%
Leinster Aero 23.7 +0.5 28.6 5th 9.8 -0.6 3.3 28th 0.2 14.1 low 1%
Leonora Aero 23.4 +0.3 29.0 4th 9.5 -0.3 3.0 28th 1.0 9.6 average 10%
Munglinup West 20.5 0.0 25.8 3rd 8.5 -1.1 3.0 27th 9.6 37.8 v low 25%
Norseman Aero 21.1 +0.1 27.5 10th 6.2 -0.8 -2.3 27th 1.4 17.8 v low 8%
Salmon Gums Res.Stn. 21.0 +1.1 26.9 10th 5.5 -1.6 -2.1 27th 6.6 33.4 low 20%
Southern Cross Airfield 21.9 +0.5 27.5 4th 6.5 -0.9 -1.7 27th 4.8 27.1 v low 18%
North East (district 13)
Carnegie 24.7 -0.6 28.4 3rd 8.5 -2.3 4.0 24th 0 16.5 lowest 0%
Giles Meteorological Office 23.4 -0.4 26.1 15th 8.6 -2.7 2.8 28th 0 20.1 lowest 0%
Telfer Aero 27.9 -1.2 31.3 3rd 13.1 -2.4 8.0 31st 0 19.1 lowest 0%
Warburton Airfield 24.4 0.0 27.6 5th 9.7 -0.8 3.6 29th 0 14.9 lowest 0%
Wiluna Aero 24.3   29.3 5th 9.8   4.3 27th 0
Offshore Islands
Adele Island 28.8   31.3 7th 24.9   21.9 22nd
Varanus Island 27.3 -0.7 31.2 4th 23.2 -0.4 20.6 31st 0 44.8 lowest 0%

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, usually published in the first week of the following 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.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 1 pm on Thursday 1 June 2023. 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.

Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.


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