Monday, 5 February 2024 - Monthly Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC11R0

Western Australia in January 2024

Rainfall

• January rainfall was mixed, with below average rainfall observed in the north-west and west coast areas. In contrast, rainfall was above average in the central and eastern Western Australia.
• Areas along the west coast either recorded zero rainfall or less than 10 mm for the month, whilst the north and east Kimberley recorded monthly rainfall of 200-550 mm. The highest monthly rainfall was 555.6 mm at Kalumburu.
• Statewide, January rainfall total was 21.2% above the 1961-1990 average.
• A slow moving tropical low (03U) tracked across the Kimberley, inland Pilbara then the Goldfield region. Some sites had their highest January daily rainfall on record.
• Yulmbu (northwest of Halls Creek in the Kimberley) recorded 392.2 mm, which was its highest total January rainfall since 1986.

Temperature

• Mean maximum temperatures were above to very much above average for large parts of inland and southwest coast of Western Australia, as well as the west Kimberley. Mean maximum temperatures were below average in the coastal Pilbara and the South East Coastal districts
• Western Australia's mean maximum temperature was 1.35 °C above the 1961-1990 average, the warmest January since 2019.
• Mean minimum temperatures were above average to very much above average for most of Western Australia.
• The inland Pilbara endured persistent hot days with temperatures of 40 °C or above in January. Daily temperatures exceeded 48 °C at Onslow, Emu Creek Station and Paraburdoo on the 21st, and Paraburdoo Aero had its highest January temperature on record.
• Western Australia's mean minimum temperature was 1.18 °C above the 1961-1990 average, the third-highest on record, and highest since 2011.
• Marble Bar and Paraburdoo in the Pilbara were the hottest places of the state and the country, with mean maximum temperatures over 43 °C at both sites.
• Curtin Aero in the west Kimberley had highest January mean daily maximum temperature on record.
• Large parts of the Kimberley and Northern Interior districts experienced a severe heatwave at the end of December 2023 to the start of January, reaching extreme intensity in and around Derby.
• The second heatwave of the month soon hit the southern Kimberley and the Pilbara from the 6th, then gradually eased and expanded to the central, southeast and southwest of the state till mid-January.
• The third heatwave emerged in the south Pilbara and the Southern Interior from the 19th to the 23rd, reaching extreme intensity in and around Paraburdoo.
• The fourth heatwave hit the north and west of the state towards the end of January and is spanning to the start of February. Daily maximum temperatures climbed to the low to mid 40s in the Gascoyne and most of the South West Land Division away from the coast on the 31st.
• Some sites had their warmest January night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
• Some sites had their highest January mean daily minimum temperature on record.
• Derby Aero and Curtin Aero had their highest January mean temperature on record.
• Karnet had its highest January mean temperature for at least 20 years.
• Some sites had their lowest January mean temperature on record.

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