Product Code: IDCKGC21L0

Perth Seasonal Climate Summary: Spring 2006

Perth's second warmest spring on record

Friday 1 December, 2006

Rainfall: This spring the rainfall in Perth was below average. From September to November, Perth received 121.2 mm over 32 days compared with the average of 156 mm over 30 days. It was Perth's driest spring since 2004, then 105.8 mm on 33 days. Last spring, Perth recorded 157.2 mm over 40 days. Rainfall totals for individual months this spring were: September 86.4 mm (average 81 mm), October 18.6 (average 53 mm) and November 16.2 mm (average 22 mm). The wettest day was on 11 September when 22.0 mm of rain was recorded.

Mean daily maximum temperature: The mean daily maximum temperature for Perth this spring of 24.0°C was well above the average of 22.9°C. This was the second highest spring mean maximum temperature on record, the highest being 24.1°C in 1969. Last spring the mean daily maximum temperature was 21.6°C. Daily values this spring ranged from a cool 16.4°C on 1 September to a hot 35.7°C on 26 November.

Mean daily minimum temperature: The mean daily minimum temperature for Perth this spring was 12.5°C, compared to the average of 11.5°C. This was the highest spring mean daily minimum temperature since 1991. Daily minima ranged from a cold 3.7 degrees on 2 September to a warm 20.2°C on 21 October. Last spring the mean minimum temperature was 10.4°C.

Spring monthly mean temperature and sunshine
Element

2006

Long- term Average

Highest

Year

Lowest

YearRecords Commence
Maximum
Temperature (°C)
24.0
22.9
24.1
1969
20.0
1971
1897
Minimum
Temperature (°C)
12.5
11.5
13.8
1982
10.4
1952/2005
1897
Sunshine
(hours per day)
9.2
9.3
9.8
1978/2002
6.6
1965
1898
Spring rainfall and rain days
Element2006Long-term AverageHighestYearLowestYearRecords Commence
Rainfall (mm)
121.2
156
364.0
1890
34.5
1877
1876
Rain days
32
30
48
1898/1926
12
1969
1876

Spring daily extremes
Element2006DateExtremeDate

Records Commence

Highest daily maximum (°C)
35.7
26/11/2006
40.3
* Twice
1897
Lowest daily maximum (°C)
16.4
01/09/2006
11.4
17/09/1917
1897
Highest daily minimum (°C)
20.2
21/10/2006
25.1
24/11/1920
1897
Lowest daily minimum (°C)
3.7
02/09/2006
1.5
** Twice
1897
Wettest 24 hours to 9am (mm)
22.0
11/09/2006
68.2
18/10/1995
1876

* Denotes the highest daily maximum temperature recorded on 24 November 1913 and 11 November 2003.

** Denotes the lowest daily minimum temperature recorded on 1 September and 10 September 2005.

Recent springs in Perth
Season
Mean Maximum(°C)
Mean Minimum(°C)
Total Rainfall (mm)
Rain Days
Mean Sunshine (hours per day)
1994
23.8
11.8
101.6
19
9.7
1995
22.8
11.8
208.0
36
9.2
1996
22.8
12.0
222.2
36
9.1
1997
23.1
11.5
158.6
26
9.0
1998
22.6
11.5
161.8
35
9.4
1999
23.0
11.4
206.8
20
9.7
2000
23.7
11.8
78.4
29
9.7
2001
23.0
11.3
173.4
32
9.0
2002
22.9
11.4
153.6
24
9.8
2003
23.2
11.8
168.2
31
9.6
2004
22.8
11.4
105.8
33
9.3
2005
21.6
10.4
157.2
40
9.2
2006
24.0
12.5
121.2
32
9.2

Note: Official Perth observations have been recorded at several different sites with varying instrumentation over the years, and these changes can affect the continuity of the climate record. For the current MT Lawley site, the most significant changes of this kind relate to temperature and rain days. For that reason, current mean temperature and rain-day data quoted here are based only on readings from the MT Lawley site, which commenced observations in 1993. Sunshine recordings are from Perth Airport and for similar reasons current means use only Perth Airport data, which commenced in 1993.

Further information:
John Relf (JR), or Glenn Cook tel: (08) 9263 2222 on weekdays.