Greater Perth in August 2023

Rainfall

  • August was dry across the Greater Perth, with monthly rainfall being 40&ndsh;80% below average.
  • Pearce RAAF in the northeast of Perth, recorded the second-lowest August rainfall on record of 22.2 mm, behind the monthly total of 17.6 mm in August 2008.
  • Locations in the Perth Hills recorded higher totals in the 70&ndsh;90 mm range, with only Huntly recording over 100 mm (101.5 mm).
  • Perth Metro recorded a monthly rainfall total of 75 mm, which was 39% below the August average (123.8 mm).
  • A cold front brought widespread moderate falls during mid-August, with 2-day (the 15th and 16th) rainfall totals of 20&ndsh;70 mm.
  • Perth Metro recorded a 2-day (to the 16th) total of 60.8 mm, the highest 2-day total in August for 29 years since 67.4 mm in the 5th and 6th of August 1994.
  • Temperature

    • Mean maximum temperatures were 1–2 °C above average, whilst mean minimum temperatures were generally within 0.5 °C of their average.
    • Perth Metro recorded a mean maximum temperature of 20.0 °C, the warmest August since 2019 (20.2 °C) or since 2016 (21.6 °C).
    • The coldest day was on the 10th with temperatures capping in the low-to-mid 10s. Mandurah had its coldest August day on record.
    • The warmest day was on the 31st with temperatures reaching the high 20s to the low 30s. Perth Airport and a number of other sites had their highest August temperature on record.
    • Perth Metro recorded a maximum temperature of 29.7 °C on the 31st, which was the second-highest August temperature in 125 years of records, behind the daily maximum temperature of 30.0 °C on 28 August 2019.
    • Perth Metro recorded 3 consecutive cold nights with daily minimum temperatures below 5 °C between the 4th and 6th, the last of such a run in August was between 18 and 20 August 2019.

    Perth Metro

    • Total rainfall for Perth Metro was 75.0 mm, which is 61% of the long-term average of 122.2 mm.
    • The mean daily maximum temperature for Perth Metro was 20.4 °C, which is 1.3 °C above the long-term average of 19.1 °C.
    • The warmest day was 29.7 °C on the 31st, and the coolest day was on the 10th when the temperature reached 14.5 °C.
    • The mean daily minimum temperature for Perth Metro was 8.4 °C, equal to the long-term average.
    • The coldest morning was 3.7 °C on the 4th, and the warmest morning was on the 8th when the minimum temperature was 15.4 °C.

    Extremes in August 2023
    Hottest day 30.2 °C at Perth Airport on the 31st
    Warmest days on average 20.6 °C at Millendon (Swan Valley)
    20.6 °C at Perth Airport
    Coolest days on average 17.2 °C at Karnet
    Coldest day 11.2 °C at Karnet on the 10th
    Coldest night 1.0 °C at Jandakot Aero on the 4th
    1.0 °C at Karnet on the 4th
    Coolest nights on average 6.7 °C at Karnet
    Warmest nights on average 12.8 °C at Rottnest Island
    Warmest night 17.6 °C at Rottnest Island on the 8th
    Warmest on average overall 15.6 °C at Rottnest Island
    Coolest on average overall 11.8 °C at Karnet
    Wettest overall 101.5 mm at Huntly
    Wettest day 53.0 mm at Araluen on the 16th
    Strongest wind gust 128 km/h at Rottnest Island on the 2nd

    Record highest August temperature
    New record
    (°C)
    Old
    record
    Years of
    record
    Average for
    August
    Perth Airport 30.2 on the 31st 29.9 on the 28th in 2019 80 18.6
    Pearce RAAF 29.9 on the 31st 29.6 on the 30th in 1948 64 18.4
    Jandakot Aero 29.4 on the 31st = 29.4 on the 28th in 2019 34 18.7
    Rottnest Island 28.3 on the 31st 25.3 on the 15th in 2015 34 17.9



    Record lowest August daily maximum temperature
    New record
    (°C)
    Old
    record
    Years of
    record
    Average for
    August
    Mandurah 12.7 on the 10th 13.3 on the 9th in 2022 22 18.0



    Summary statistics for August 2023
    Maximum temperatures
    (°C)
    Minimum temperatures
    (°C)
    Rainfall
    (millimetres)
    Mean for
    August
    2023
    Diff
    from
    average
    Highest for
    August
    2023
    Mean for
    August
    2023
    Diff
    from
    average
    Lowest for
    August
    2023
    Total for
    August
    2023
    Average
    for
    August
    Rank of
    August
    2023
    Fraction of
    August
    average
    Bickley 17.4 +1.4 26.0 31st 8.1 +0.5 2.7 4th 77.2 174.7 v low 44%
    Garden Island HSF 18.3 +0.2 21.1 30th 10.9 -0.3 6.3 4th 34.2 93.3 v low 37%
    Jandakot Aero 19.8 +1.1 29.4 31st 7.1 -0.2 1.0 4th 59.6 127.4 v low 47%
    Karnet 17.2 +1.2 24.0 25th 6.7 +0.3 1.0 4th 68.4 180.7 v low 38%
    Mandurah 18.3 +0.3 26.6 31st 10.8 -0.2 5.5 4th 62.4 93.2 low 67%
    Millendon (Swan Valley) 20.6   29.9 31st 7.5   2.4 4th 38.0
    Pearce RAAF 20.4 +2.0 29.9 31st 8.0 -0.2 3.6 4th 22.2 105.6 v low 21%
    Perth Airport 20.6 +2.0 30.2 31st 8.0 -0.1 2.9 4th 47.2 117.6 v low 40%
    Perth Metro 20.4 +1.3 29.7 31st 8.4 0.0 3.7 4th 75.0 122.2 low 61%
    Rottnest Island 18.4 +0.5 28.3 31st 12.8 +0.4 9.3 4th 24.8 85.5 lowest 29%
    Swanbourne 19.2 +0.4 29.9 31st 10.2 +0.1 4.9 4th 65.0 117.1 v low 56%

    Daily maximum temperatures for August 2023
    12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
    Bickley20.717.412.313.315.820.619.114.911.915.613.316.617.013.912.714.917.618.916.116.714.915.919.623.922.523.020.318.319.126.0
    Garden Island HSF20.818.713.516.118.418.120.920.217.313.817.017.217.219.319.415.317.217.917.217.717.918.520.720.519.620.619.921.1
    Jandakot Aero24.320.214.516.119.021.621.920.317.913.618.616.719.119.719.315.817.819.320.318.318.117.418.520.924.823.022.121.821.022.629.4
    Karnet21.518.612.514.517.120.920.717.515.511.216.017.316.513.215.417.318.015.516.414.116.219.624.021.019.016.519.5
    Mandurah18.617.914.015.317.518.819.518.017.112.717.917.617.719.319.115.816.918.618.617.917.416.817.819.120.420.419.720.519.021.826.6
    Millendon (Swan Valley)23.919.815.315.919.222.721.520.218.014.419.117.219.420.618.816.118.420.521.620.419.218.519.721.827.325.125.823.321.322.429.9
    Pearce RAAF24.219.914.915.618.722.521.520.518.313.918.516.019.220.519.615.917.920.121.820.219.018.319.121.426.825.525.322.921.322.529.9
    Perth Airport24.819.915.716.519.423.022.421.818.214.719.217.119.720.218.416.817.920.521.419.719.318.619.122.726.724.724.722.521.522.630.2
    Perth Metro25.020.215.116.819.322.122.022.118.914.519.216.619.520.419.016.118.319.720.719.918.917.619.321.925.024.323.722.621.222.729.7
    Rottnest Island20.719.613.314.617.518.520.520.616.914.016.416.417.219.819.115.416.817.817.318.816.416.418.117.920.921.321.020.917.719.528.3
    Swanbourne23.719.914.016.218.919.120.520.118.013.817.316.817.420.219.315.517.318.918.919.117.917.418.319.321.321.520.721.220.623.029.9
    Values are the maximum temperature, usually in the 24 hours from 9 am on the day indicated,
    and typically occurred in the afternoon of that day.
    Temperatures coloured according to their difference
    from the long-term average for the period
    -10.0 -9.0 -8.0 -7.0 -6.0 -5.0 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 +1.0 +2.0 +3.0 +4.0 +5.0 +6.0 +7.0 +8.0 +9.0 +10.0 °C Grey outline marks highest
    and lowest for the period

    Daily minimum temperatures for August 2023
    12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
    Bickley7.712.23.62.72.96.510.014.56.27.07.97.47.98.89.97.66.78.27.88.78.56.96.97.88.99.911.412.28.96.28.6
    Garden Island HSF10.114.98.76.37.18.710.516.49.910.810.59.510.59.314.512.110.99.610.110.79.011.311.58.312.111.016.812.210.513.5
    Jandakot Aero4.613.55.81.01.74.39.015.24.76.29.25.27.95.911.19.97.54.55.35.47.45.47.96.35.27.87.98.79.06.69.7
    Karnet5.712.24.51.02.64.99.714.03.34.97.55.411.47.65.55.45.35.27.53.55.95.16.97.39.68.56.010.0
    Mandurah11.214.97.95.56.99.111.516.28.810.69.58.59.611.113.510.510.310.39.610.212.18.110.511.810.912.013.215.812.29.812.4
    Millendon (Swan Valley)5.913.34.12.43.84.310.914.26.17.89.15.69.16.09.19.95.54.56.05.48.04.94.43.88.27.49.310.910.410.112.4
    Pearce RAAF7.611.94.33.64.26.010.915.75.57.29.77.210.76.47.69.77.13.95.45.97.75.04.33.811.48.610.811.910.710.414.0
    Perth Airport9.513.25.32.95.43.411.414.85.57.310.15.09.06.510.110.16.44.55.96.07.34.86.14.510.68.010.811.211.210.012.1
    Perth Metro6.613.46.53.73.94.510.415.47.48.210.15.69.97.610.710.07.85.66.07.09.56.67.66.07.29.510.311.611.38.011.0
    Rottnest Island13.915.59.69.39.511.413.817.612.412.611.011.411.313.414.111.812.713.012.712.712.312.212.513.814.014.215.015.312.711.513.7
    Swanbourne9.414.77.04.96.07.611.616.39.89.89.48.410.69.612.510.29.48.48.910.210.99.29.78.610.912.012.314.611.49.312.9
    Values are the minimum temperature, usually in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated,
    and typically occurred that morning.
    Temperatures coloured according to their difference
    from the long-term average for the period
    -10.0 -9.0 -8.0 -7.0 -6.0 -5.0 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 +1.0 +2.0 +3.0 +4.0 +5.0 +6.0 +7.0 +8.0 +9.0 +10.0 °C Grey outline marks highest
    and lowest for the period

    Daily rainfall for August 2023
    12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
    Anketell 0.1 0.2 11.4 - - - - 1.0 2.3 0.1 5.1 0.2 - 0.2 11.8 19.2 0.8 0.8 - - 0.4 - - - - - - - - -
    Araluen - - 11.0 - - - - - 14.1 - - - - - 6.0 53.0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Bickley - 0.2 9.8 - - 0.2 - -
    - 7.8 0.2 - - 17.8 39.0 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.0 - - 0.2 - - - - - - -
    Bungendore 0.2 - 9.4 0.2 - 0.2 0.2 0.8 13.4 0.2 6.8 0.2 - 0.2 9.2 27.8 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.2 - 0.2 - - - - - 0.2 -
    Chidlow - - 2.1 - - - - 0.2 13.3 - 8.0 0.2 - - 1.6 24.8 0.2 - - - - 0.2 - - - - - - - - -
    Garden Island HSF - 0.2 11.2 - - - - 0.2 2.0 - 3.4 0.2 - 1.0 4.4 9.6 0.8 0.8 0.2 -

    - 0.2 - - - - - - -
    Gidgegannup 3.6 - 0.6 0.8 - - - 0.2 6.2 7.8 2.2 2.2 1.2 2.4 0.2 11.8 12.6





    - - - 0.2 - - - -
    Huntly 0.8 - 24.0 0.4 - - - - 16.0 0.4 5.8 - - - 23.0 28.5 - - 0.4 - 1.8 - - - - - - 0.4 - - -
    Jandakot Aero - - 6.4 - - 0.2 - 0.8 10.4
    8.0 - - 1.6 10.4 19.8 0.4 - - - 1.6 - - - - - - - - - -
    Jarrahdale 0.4 - 12.4 - 0.4 - 0.2 1.8 12.0 - 6.2 0.2 - - 10.8 20.4 0.2 0.4 0.2 - 0.6 0.2 - - 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 - - -
    Karnet - - 13.1 0.1 - - - 1.4 17.8 0.5 5.6 0.3 8.1 17.3 1.2 0.1 1.0 - 1.9 - - - - - - - - - -
    Karragullen North - - 8.2 - - - - 0.8 11.0 - 8.2 - - - 17.0 30.2 0.6













    Maida Vale - - 4.4 - - - - 0.6 - 4.0 5.4 - - - 19.0 23.6 - - - 0.6 1.8 - - - - - - - - - -
    Mandurah 1.6 - 21.4 -
    - - 0.8 9.0 0.4 4.4 - - - 13.0 8.2 1.4 1.4 - - 0.8 - - - - - - - - - -
    Millendon (Swan Valley) 0.2 - 1.2 - - 0.2 - 0.2 4.6 0.2 6.0 0.2 - 0.4 1.6 21.4 - - 0.2 - 1.4 0.2 - - - - - - - - -
    Mount Solus 0.2 0.2 18.6 0.2 0.2 - - 1.6 14.4 0.2 5.8 0.4 - 0.4 12.4 16.2 0.6 0.6 0.2 0.2 1.6 0.2 - - - 0.2 - - - 0.2 -
    Muchea - - 4.6 - 0.2 - - 0.2 6.0 - 6.4 - 0.2 - - 9.6 - - 0.2 - 1.4 - - - - - - - - 0.2 -
    Mundaring - - 3.6 - - - - 0.6 9.0 0.2 8.2 - 0.4 - 1.0 29.8 0.6 1.4 - - - - - - - - - -
    Pearce RAAF - - 3.0 - - - - - 3.8 - 6.6 - - - 0.2 7.0 - - - - 1.2 0.2 - - - - - - - 0.2 -
    Perth Airport - - 2.4 - - - - 0.2 5.4 - 4.4 0.2 - - 10.8 22.6 - - - - 1.0 0.2 - - - - - - - - -
    Perth Metro - 0.2 3.2 - - - - 0.2 2.0 - 5.4 - - 0.2 22.8 38.0 0.4 - - - 2.2 - - - - - - - 0.4 - -
    Pinjarra South 1.2 - 21.4 - 0.2 - - 0.8 17.4 1.2 3.6 - - - 27.8 10.6 1.4 - 0.2 - 1.6 - - - - - - - - - -
    Roleystone - - 11.6 - - - - 0.6 8.8 - 9.0 - - - 6.6 36.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Rottnest Island 0.2 - 8.6 - - - - - 0.6 - 3.8 - - 0.4 4.2 2.0 - 4.0 - - 0.6 0.2 - 0.2 - - - - - - -
    Serpentine 0.2 - 12.4 - - - - 0.8 7.4 - 4.4 - - - 10.4 11.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 - 0.2 - - - - - - - - - -
    Swanbourne - - 8.0 - - - - 0.6 3.2 - 7.8 0.2 - - 17.0 20.0 2.2 0.2 0.2 - 5.4 - - - - 0.2 - - - - -
    Tamala Park (Mindarie) - - 8.2 - - - - 0.4 1.5 - 5.4 0.2 - - 6.2 18.4 0.8 0.2 - - 1.8 - - - - - - - - - -
    Wanneroo 52.4 - 8.0 - - - - 1.4 2.0 - 5.4 - - - 7.2 19.4 0.8 - 1.6 - - - - - - - 0.1 - -
    Werribee - 0.2 2.2 0.2 - 0.2 - 0.2 7.6 - 6.4 0.2 - - 0.2 12.4 - - 0.2 0.2 0.2 - - 0.2 - - - - - - -
    Most values are the precipitation in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated. Days marked with → are part of a longer accumulation, which is shown on the final day.
    Values over 100 mm have been rounded to the nearest whole millimetre.
    Days marked with - have a rainfall report of zero; days left blank have no rainfall report (which often indicates no rain fell).
    Rainfalls coloured
    according to the amount
    0 1.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 25.0 50.0 100 150 200 300 400 600 millimetres

    Notes

    The Monthly climate summary, usually published in the first week of the following month, lists the main features of the weather in Greater Perth using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated.

    This summary includes data from observing sites in or near the Greater Perth “Greater Capital City Statistical Area” (GCCSA). The Australian Bureau of Statistics designed the GCCSAs to represent a socio-economic definition of each capital city. This means the greater capital city boundary includes people who regularly socialise, shop or work within the capital city, but live in the small towns and rural areas surrounding the capital city. It does not define the built up edge of the capital city.

    This statement has been prepared based on information available at 12 pm on Monday 4 September 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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