Western Australia in October 2023

Rainfall

  • October 2023 area-averaged rainfall total was lowest on record (for Octobers since 1900) at 1.90 mm, 83.5% below the 1961–1990 average. The previous record lowest was in October 1946.
  • Rainfall was very much below average across southern and eastern parts of the state, tending to average towards its north-western coastline.

Temperature


Extremes in October 2023
Hottest day 44.6 °C at Mardie on the 21st
44.6 °C at Onslow Airport on the 21st
Warmest days on average 40.7 °C at Marble Bar
Coolest days on average 19.9 °C at Windy Harbour
Coldest day 12.5 °C at Shannon on the 2nd
Coldest night -0.7 °C at Eyre on the 5th
Coolest nights on average 6.0 °C at Wandering
Warmest nights on average 27.0 °C at Troughton Island
Warmest night 30.0 °C at Argyle Aerodrome on the 26th
Warmest on average overall 31.8 °C at Argyle Aerodrome
31.8 °C at Wyndham Aero
Coolest on average overall 14.9 °C at Bridgetown
Wettest overall 77.5 mm at Theda
Wettest day 41.0 mm at Theda on the 5th
Strongest wind gust 102 km/h at Cape Leeuwin on the 2nd

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 October temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Carnarvon Airport 43.9 on the 16th 42.4 on the 24th in 1958 78 26.1
Merredin 39.5 on the 17th 39.3 on the 30th in 2013 58 25.0
Denham 42.0 on the 15th 38.9 on the 28th in 1996 35 25.6
Rottnest Island 36.4 on the 16th 35.2 on the 17th in 2009 34 20.6
Jacup 37.4 on the 17th 36.4 on the 18th in 2009 31 21.9
Newdegate Research Station 37.7 on the 17th 37.5 on the 22nd in 2015 28 23.4
Thevenard Island 41.4 on the 20th 40.0 on the 19th in 1993 26 29.7
Barrow Island Airport 39.5 on the 20th 38.3 on the 11th in 2019 25 29.4
Katanning 36.9 on the 17th 36.0 on the 22nd in 2015 25 21.8
Shannon 31.5 on the 7th 30.4 on the 30th in 2020 25 18.7
Varanus Island 38.5 on the 20th 35.9 on the 18th in 2009 25 29.1
Shark Bay Airport 42.8 on the 15th 40.0 on the 20th in 2008 24 28.2
Mandurah 33.5 on the 16th 33.4 on the 30th in 2020 23 21.8
Collie East 33.7 on the 16th 33.6 on the 30th in 2020 21 21.6
North Walpole 31.6 on the 16th 30.6 on the 17th in 2018 20 18.9



Record highest October mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Cape Naturaliste 22.7 21.9 in 2015 119 18.9
Mullewa 32.5 31.5 in 2015 80 27.3
Perth Airport 27.3 27.0 in 2015 79 22.8
Carnarvon Airport 30.5 29.1 in 2010 77 26.1
Meekatharra Airport 34.3 = 34.3 in 2019 73 29.9
Mardie 40.0 39.1 in 2015 67 35.0
Bidyadanga 38.7 37.6 in 1988 63 34.4
Onslow Airport 38.6 37.2 in 2015 57 32.9
Emu Creek Station 39.7 37.9 in 2015 48 34.4
Learmonth Airport 38.6 36.2 in 2019 48 32.8
Denham 28.6 28.1 in 2010 34 25.6
Jandakot Aero 26.3 26.1 in 2015 33 22.9
Rottnest Island 22.7 22.6 in 2015 33 20.6
Swanbourne 25.0 = 25.0 in 2012 30 22.2
Bunbury 24.0 23.4 in 2015 27 21.1
Paraburdoo Aero 38.9 38.6 in 2019 27 35.9
Busselton Aero 23.9 = 23.9 in 2015 26 21.2
Dalwallinu 29.9 = 29.9 in 2015 26 26.4
Morawa Airport 32.0 31.5 in 2015 26 28.2
York 29.0 28.9 in 2015 26 25.0
Thevenard Island 33.9 32.5 in 2015 25 29.7
Barrow Island Airport 33.8 32.4 in 2015 24 29.4
Varanus Island 32.1 31.3 in 2015 24 29.1
Shark Bay Airport 32.3 30.7 in 2010 23 28.2
Garden Island HSF 23.6 23.0 in 2012 21 20.9



Record highest October daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Ravensthorpe 20.5 on the 22nd 20.2 on the 4th in 1963 60 9.1
Emu Creek Station 25.9 on the 12th 25.5 on the 31st in 2013 49 16.9
Denham 23.0 on the 9th = 23.0 on the 22nd in 2008 35 16.8
Rottnest Island 20.5 on the 17th 20.1 on the 20th in 2008 34 14.0
Swanbourne 21.1 on the 17th = 21.1 on the 20th in 2008 31 12.4
Barrow Island Airport 27.3 on the 23rd 26.3 on the 31st in 2015 25 21.7
Varanus Island 27.2 on the 27th 26.1 on the 31st in 2015 25 22.5
Mandurah 22.1 on the 17th 21.4 on the 20th in 2008 23 13.4



Record lowest October temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Windy Harbour 3.8 on the 28th = 3.8 on the 7th in 2010 36 10.4



Record highest October mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Carnarvon Airport 18.4 18.2 in 2015 77 16.4
Pearce RAAF 12.7 12.3 in 1967 62 10.2
Onslow Airport 21.3 20.9 in 2010 57 18.0
Badgingarra Research Stn 12.2 11.9 in 1969 56 9.4
Emu Creek Station 20.4 = 20.4 in 2010 48 16.9
Kalbarri 15.0 14.8 in 2018 48 12.7
Learmonth Airport 18.8 18.4 in 2010 48 16.4
Thevenard Island 22.8 22.6 in 2015 28 20.7
Paraburdoo Aero 20.9 20.2 in 2010 27 18.2
Varanus Island 24.7 24.5 in 2015 24 22.5



Record lowest October mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Kununurra Aero 20.3 21.2 in 2019 37 23.4
Doongan 19.5 20.1 in 2012 33 21.4

Lowest October mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
October
Fitzroy Crossing Aero 20.4 20.0 in 2003 23.1



Record highest October mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Perth Airport 19.7 19.6 in 2015 79 16.6
Carnarvon Airport 24.5 23.6 in 2015 77 21.3
Pearce RAAF 20.3 20.0 in 2015 62 16.8
Onslow Airport 29.9 29.0 in 2015 57 25.5
Emu Creek Station 30.0 28.7 in 2010 48 25.6
Learmonth Airport 28.7 26.9 in 2015 48 24.6
Jandakot Aero 19.0 18.9 in 2015 33 16.4
Swanbourne 19.6 = 19.6 in 2015 30 17.3
Gingin Aero 19.2 = 19.2 in 2015 27 16.7
Paraburdoo Aero 29.9 29.0 in 2019 27 27.0
Morawa Airport 22.5 = 22.5 in 2015 26 19.6
Thevenard Island 28.4 27.6 in 2015 25 25.2
Barrow Island Airport 28.6 28.1 in 2015 24 25.6
Hopetoun North 16.9 = 16.9 in 2006 24 15.8
Varanus Island 28.4 27.9 in 2015 24 25.8
Shark Bay Airport 24.5 23.6 in 2010 23 21.7

Highest October mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
October
Badgingarra Research Stn 20.3 20.5 in 1969* 17.0

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




Summary statistics for October 2023
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
October
2023
Diff
from
average
Highest for
October
2023
Mean for
October
2023
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
October
2023
Total for
October
2023
Average
for
October
Rank of
October
2023
Fraction of
October
average
North Kimberley (district 01)
Doongan 37.7 +0.7 39.0 28th 19.5 -1.9 14.5 31st 1.4 37.6 low 4%
Kalumburu 38.3 +1.2 41.6 28th 22.3 -0.5 17.5 9th 0 34.6 lowest 0%
Troughton Island 32.6 +0.7 34.0 7th 27.0 +0.6 24.7 9th 0 3.7 lowest 0%
Truscott 35.0 +0.6 39.1 19th 23.6 -1.1 19.4 9th 0 18.3 lowest 0%
Wyndham Aero 40.1 +0.4 41.9 15th 23.4 -1.6 17.7 17th 0 19.7 lowest 0%
East Kimberley (district 02)
Argyle Aerodrome 39.1 +0.5 41.2 24th 24.7 -0.6 20.3 9th 0.2 33.2 v low 1%
Halls Creek Airport 37.6   41.0 25th 19.7   14.7 29th 0
Kununurra Aero 39.4 +0.5 41.2 25th 20.3 -3.1 14.5 20th 0 22.2 lowest 0%
Warmun 39.0 +0.2 41.0 31st     17.0 20th 0 23.2 lowest 0%
West Kimberley (district 03)
Bidyadanga 38.7 +4.3 42.2 26th     21.7 2nd 0 1.2 lowest 0%
Broome Airport 35.3 +2.3 40.8 16th 22.3 -0.2 16.0 10th 0.8 1.4 high 57%
Curtin Aero 39.5 +0.4 42.6 20th 22.1 +0.4 16.8 20th 0 9.6 lowest 0%
Derby Aero 38.0 +0.7 42.3 16th 21.9 -1.3 17.4 11th 0 3.4 lowest 0%
Fitzroy Crossing Aero 40.5 +0.3 42.6 22nd 20.4 -2.7 15.7 10th 1.6 14.5 average 11%
Yampi Sound (Defence) 40.0   42.4 16th 19.8   12.8 9th 5.4
De Grey (district 04)
Karratha Aero 37.3 +3.3 40.9 22nd 21.8 +1.0 18.7 3rd 0 0.4 lowest 0%
Legendre Island 32.6 +1.9 38.1 19th 24.7 +1.6 22.2 2nd
Mandora 38.9 +2.9 44.4 21st 19.1 0.0 14.0 18th 0.2 1.2 high 17%
Marble Bar 40.7 +1.9 42.6 27th 21.4 -0.2 16.8 5th 0 2.8 lowest 0%
Port Hedland Airport 38.7 +3.6 43.3 20th 20.5 +1.9 17.6 11th 0 0.9 lowest 0%
Roebourne Aero 39.8 +2.5 43.6 20th 19.7 +0.1 15.4 18th 0 1.3 lowest 0%
Fortescue (district 05)
Barrow Island Airport 33.8 +4.4 39.5 20th 23.3 +1.6 19.8 2nd 0.8 1.6 high 50%
Karijini North 38.8   42.4 22nd 22.4   18.4 11th 0
Learmonth Airport 38.6 +5.8 42.6 14th 18.8 +2.4 13.5 4th 0 1.5 lowest 0%
Mardie 40.0 +5.0 44.6 21st 19.7 +2.1 16.1 4th 0 0.8 lowest 0%
Onslow Airport 38.6 +5.7 44.6 21st 21.3 +3.3 17.9 2nd 0 0.7 lowest 0%
Thevenard Island 33.9 +4.2 41.4 20th 22.8 +2.1 18.5 2nd 0.6 1.0 high 60%
West Gascoyne (district 06)
Carnarvon Airport 30.5 +4.4 43.9 16th 18.4 +2.0 14.2 3rd 0 4.9 lowest 0%
Denham 28.6 +3.0 42.0 15th     18.0 3rd 0 5.9 lowest 0%
Emu Creek Station 39.7 +5.3 42.9 21st 20.4 +3.5 14.9 2nd 0 2.1 lowest 0%
Shark Bay Airport 32.3 +4.1 42.8 15th 16.7 +1.4 12.5 4th 0.2 4.6 v low 4%
East Gascoyne (district 07)
Newman Aero 37.4 +2.3 40.6 30th 18.2 +0.5 13.0 5th 0 5.6 lowest 0%
Paraburdoo Aero 38.9 +3.0 41.8 21st 20.9 +2.7 16.5 31st 0 3.8 lowest 0%
Murchison (district 07A)
Meekatharra Airport 34.3 +4.4 40.0 22nd 18.6 +3.3 10.8 3rd 0 5.9 lowest 0%
Mount Magnet Aero 32.8 +3.3 38.2 22nd 16.6 +2.1 8.7 3rd 0 7.2 lowest 0%
Paynes Find 32.2 +4.3 39.3 17th 14.4 +2.8 5.5 3rd 1.0 10.5 low 10%
North Coast (district 08)
Dalwallinu 29.9 +3.5 36.7 17th 10.9 +1.2 4.0 11th 1.8 13.4 low 13%
Geraldton Airport 29.3 +3.6 41.3 16th 12.1 +0.5 7.3 12th 1.2 17.6 v low 7%
Kalbarri     40.3 15th 15.0 +2.3 10.5 3rd 0.8 13.8 v low 6%
Morawa Airport 32.0 +3.8 37.9 16th 13.1 +2.0 5.3 3rd 0.6 9.0 v low 7%
Mullewa 32.5 +5.2 38.5 16th 14.0 +2.7 8.0 3rd 1.4 12.8 v low 11%
Wongan Hills 29.5 +4.2 36.9 7th 11.4 +1.4 5.8 11th 3.4 19.7 v low 17%
Central Coast (district 09)
Badgingarra Research Stn 28.4 +3.9 37.4 16th 12.2 +2.8 5.0 3rd 3.8 26.2 v low 15%
Bickley 24.4 +3.3 33.4 16th 10.7 +1.0 6.5 11th 18.2 66.0 v low 28%
Garden Island HSF 23.6 +2.7 35.9 16th 14.4 +0.8 11.5 30th 4.6 27.9 v low 16%
Gingin Aero 27.7 +3.4 37.4 16th 10.7 +1.6 2.9 4th 9.0 33.7 v low 27%
Jandakot Aero 26.3 +3.4 36.4 16th 11.8 +2.0 5.2 4th 6.8 46.1 v low 15%
Karnet 24.0 +3.2 33.5 16th 10.7 +1.7 4.4 3rd 22.8 73.8 low 31%
Millendon (Swan Valley) 27.6   36.7 16th 12.0   5.5 4th 12.8
Pearce RAAF 27.9 +4.4 37.0 16th 12.7 +2.5 5.0 4th 8.6 36.6 v low 23%
Perth Airport 27.3 +4.5 36.9 16th 12.1 +1.8 5.4 4th 6.4 42.7 v low 15%
Perth Metro 26.2 +2.9 36.5 16th 13.4 +1.8 7.2 4th 8.2 39.3 v low 21%
Rottnest Island 22.7 +2.1 36.4 16th 15.3 +1.3 12.0 2nd 3.4 27.3 lowest 12%
Swanbourne 25.0 +2.8 36.5 16th 14.2 +1.8 9.8 4th 5.0 43.1 lowest 12%
South Coast (district 09A)
Albany 20.4 +1.9 33.5 8th 12.7 +2.2 7.2 28th 23.2 78.0 v low 30%
Albany Airport 21.7 +1.7 33.0 8th 10.1 +0.6 3.0 28th 33.2 63.0 v low 53%
Bridgetown 22.4 +2.0 32.3 7th 7.2 +0.1 0.8 24th 13.6 43.7 v low 31%
Bunbury 24.0 +2.9 32.6 16th 10.9 +1.3 6.0 4th 11.8 35.5 low 33%
Busselton Aero 23.9 +2.7 32.0 7th 8.9 +0.3 3.3 28th 9.0 32.0 low 28%
Cape Leeuwin 20.3 +2.0 30.6 25th 14.1 +1.5 9.8 3rd 12.8 63.2 v low 20%
Cape Naturaliste 22.7 +3.8 29.9 7th 12.3 +1.3 7.8 28th 11.0 48.6 v low 23%
Collie East 24.6 +3.0 33.7 16th 7.4 -0.1 2.3 24th 2.4 39.0 lowest 6%
Dwellingup 24.3 +4.2 33.8 16th 9.4 +1.3 5.0 4th 23.0 78.1 v low 29%
Esperance 22.3 +1.1 36.2 17th 12.1 +1.2 7.1 25th 33.6 48.4 average 69%
Esperance Aero 22.8 +1.3 35.9 17th 10.5 +0.7 6.3 3rd 21.6 47.5 low 45%
Hopetoun North 22.8 +1.5 37.8 17th 11.1 +0.8 5.6 25th 10.6 41.7 v low 25%
Jarrahwood 24.1 +3.3 33.0 16th 7.6 +0.1 1.0 24th 15.2 55.1 v low 28%
Mandurah 23.9 +2.1 33.5 16th 14.6 +1.2 11.1 28th 4.6 31.2 v low 15%
Manjimup 21.9 +2.9 32.3 7th 9.6 +1.3 4.2 28th 25.8 73.9 v low 35%
North Walpole 20.3 +1.4 31.6 16th 11.1 +0.8 5.0 28th 30.0 73.1 low 41%
Rocky Gully 21.8 +2.6 33.1 17th 9.3 +1.2 1.9 28th 28.8 55.4 low 52%
Shannon 20.7 +2.0 31.5 7th 9.3 +1.0 2.8 28th 30.0 76.3 lowest 39%
Windy Harbour 19.9 +1.0 30.0 16th 10.7 +0.3 3.8 28th 41.4 68.5 low 60%
Witchcliffe West 21.5   31.2 16th 10.4   2.7 28th 16.8
North Central (district 10)
Cunderdin Airfield 29.5 +3.5 39.1 17th 9.6 +1.5 1.5 4th 2.2 17.8 low 12%
Merredin 28.9 +3.9 39.5 17th 12.4 +2.6 4.6 3rd 1.6 18.6 v low 9%
Northam 28.7 +4.6 36.9 17th 10.5 +1.5 4.5 3rd 2.9 24.5 v low 12%
York 29.0 +4.0 37.5 17th 8.2 +1.0 1.8 4th 1.2 22.1 v low 5%
South Central (district 10A)
Beverley 28.8 +4.2 37.0 17th 9.1 +1.1 3.0 3rd 1.8 23.1 v low 8%
Brookton 27.2 +3.8 37.2 17th 8.4 +0.9 1.5 11th 2.3 25.0 v low 9%
Hyden 28.6 +3.7 38.3 17th 9.7 +1.3 4.0 3rd 2.4 21.7 v low 11%
Jacup 24.6 +2.7 37.4 17th 8.4 +0.7 1.6 28th 8.0 40.4 v low 20%
Katanning 24.6 +2.8 36.9 17th 8.4 +0.8 3.1 28th 4.4 30.9 lowest 14%
Lake Grace 26.5 +3.3 37.4 17th 9.6 +0.6 4.6 4th 0.6 25.6 v low 2%
Narrogin 25.8 +4.6 36.5 17th 9.0 +1.5 4.2 4th 4.4 30.8 v low 14%
Newdegate Research Station 26.4 +3.0 37.7 17th 7.4 +0.4 2.1 4th 4.4 23.9 v low 18%
Pingelly 26.1 +3.7 36.2 17th 9.1 +0.7 3.5 3rd 4.0 24.7 v low 16%
Ravensthorpe 24.8 +2.3 37.0 17th 10.3 +1.2 4.0 28th 7.0 38.2 v low 18%
Wagin 25.5 +3.5 36.6 17th 8.3 +0.4 2.4 24th 0.8 29.1 lowest 3%
Wandering 25.6 +3.3 35.5 17th 6.0 -0.3 1.6 24th 7.2 29.2 low 25%
Eucla (district 11)
Eucla 24.0 +0.9 37.0 18th 12.0 +0.6 5.5 29th 1.8 18.4 v low 10%
Eyre 24.6 +1.3 40.3 10th 10.5 +0.4 -0.7 5th 1.4 20.5 v low 7%
Forrest 27.4 -0.1 36.9 18th 10.2 -0.6 6.0 4th 0 10.6 lowest 0%
Red Rocks Point 22.9 0.0 37.2 18th 12.9 +0.5 7.4 29th 1.6 20.6 v low 8%
South East (district 12)
Bulga Downs 32.1 +1.8 38.8 10th 15.6 +1.8 8.3 3rd 0 8.1 lowest 0%
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport 28.2 +2.2 36.9 10th 13.3 +2.1 7.3 3rd 0.6 15.6 v low 4%
Laverton Aero 30.4 +1.7 38.5 10th 15.9 +1.5 10.8 3rd 0 13.1 lowest 0%
Leinster Aero 31.9 +1.9 40.0 22nd 16.5 +1.5 10.0 4th 0.2 11.3 low 2%
Leonora Aero 30.9 +0.9 39.5 10th 16.1 +1.0 9.5 3rd 0 10.2 v low 0%
Munglinup West 24.9 +1.7 36.9 17th 9.4 +0.2 3.7 28th 7.8 42.2 v low 18%
Norseman Aero 27.2 +1.3 34.8 9th 9.8 +0.2 2.1 4th 5.4 22.5 v low 24%
Salmon Gums Res.Stn. 26.3 +2.7 35.6 17th 7.6 0.0 0.4 28th 6.4 27.6 low 23%
Southern Cross Airfield 29.1 +2.6 37.0 17th 11.9 +2.4 3.6 3rd 1.4 17.8 low 8%
North East (district 13)
Carnegie 34.7 +1.6 40.5 18th 17.0 +0.5 9.0 4th 0 7.1 lowest 0%
Giles Meteorological Office 33.5 +1.6 39.5 23rd 17.2 -0.1 9.7 4th 0 15.9 lowest 0%
Telfer Aero 39.3 +2.0 41.8 23rd 21.6 +0.5 16.0 5th 0 2.9 lowest 0%
Warburton Airfield 33.4 +1.4 39.0 23rd 17.7 +1.7 11.6 4th 0 15.3 lowest 0%
Wiluna Aero 33.9   39.4 22nd 16.8   9.4 4th 0
Offshore Islands
Adele Island 30.7   33.0 5th 26.5   25.0 10th
Varanus Island 32.1 +3.0 38.5 20th 24.7 +2.2 20.4 2nd 0.4 0.8 high 50%

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 12 pm on Wednesday 1 November 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.


Creative Commons By Attribution logo Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

Climate