Monday, 3 September 2007 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Perth - Product Code: IDCKGC21L0

Another warm and dry winter for Perth

Rainfall - below average: This winter, the rainfall in Perth was below average. From June to August, Perth received 370.2 mm over 50 days compared with the average of 483 mm over about 49 days. Last winter, Perth recorded 230.4 mm on 35 days, Perth's driest winter on record. Rainfall totals for individual months this winter were: June 60.0 mm (average 178 mm), July 179.4 mm (average 170 mm) and August 130.8 mm (average 135 mm). The wettest day this winter was 2 July 2007 when 27.8 mm of rain was recorded.

Mean daily maximum temperature - very much above average: The mean daily maximum temperature for Perth this winter was 19.5°C, making it the equal fifth highest mean daily maximum temperatue for winter on record (see Table 1). The average for winter is 18.7°C. Last winter (2006) the mean daily maximum temperature was 19.7°C, the equal highest for winter on record together with the winters of 1976 and 1983. Daily values this winter ranged from a cold 14.5°C on 10 August 2007 to a warm 24.5°C on 12 June 2007.

Table 1
Perth's top 10 warmest winters
Season
Mean Max°C
Ranking
1976
19.7
1
1983
19.7
1
2006
19.7
1
1977
19.6
4
1949
19.5
5
1959
19.5
5
2007
19.5
5
1987
19.3
8
1988
19.2
9
1991
19.2
9
1999
19.2
9

Mean daily minimum temperature - above average: The mean daily minimum temperature for Perth this winter was 9.1°C, making it the highest daily mean minimum temperature for winter since the 9.7°C in 1996. The average for winter is 8.3°C. Daily minima ranged from a cold 3.1°C on 12 and 13 August 2007 to a mild 14.5°C on 23 August 2007.

Winter mean temperature and sunshine
Element

Winter 2007

Long- term Average

Highest

Year

Lowest

YearRecords Commence
Maximum
Temperature (°C)
19.5
18.7
19.7
3 years *
16.5
1916/1956
1897
Minimum Temperature (°C)
9.1
8.3
11.0
1964/1983
6.6
2001
1897
Sunshine
(hours per day)
6.2
6.3
7.2
2001
4.1
1926
1898
Winter rainfall and rain days
ElementWinter 2007Long-term AverageHighestYearLowestYearRecords Commence
Rainfall (mm)
370.2
483
957.1
1945
230.4
2006
1876
Rain days
50
49.2
68
1915/1926
35
1902/2006
1876

* Denotes the highest daily mean maximum temperatue for winter in the following years; 1976, 1983 and 2006.

Winter daily extremes
ElementWinter 2007DateExtremeDate

Records Commence

Highest daily maximum (°C)
24.5
12/06/2007
28.1
05/06/1975
1897
Lowest daily maximum (°C)
14.5
10/08/2007
8.8
26/06/1956
1897
Highest daily minimum (°C)
14.5
23/08/2007
18.7
12/06/1988
1897
Lowest daily minimum (°C)
3.1
12 & 13/08/2007
−0.7
17/06/2006
1897
Wettest 24 hours to 9am (mm)
27.8
02/07/2007
99.1
10/06/1920
1876

Past winters in Perth 1994−2007
Season
Mean Maximum (°C)
Mean Minimum (°C)
Total Rainfall (mm)
Rain Days
Mean Sunshine (hours)
1994
18.9
8.7
535.0
51
6.3
1995
18.3
8.6
512.4
52
6.1
1996
18.6
9.7
555.8
63
5.6
1997
18.8
7.6
361.6
41
6.9
1998
18.2
8.5
414.8
57
5.7
1999
19.2
8.6
401.6
48
6.7
2000
18.5
9.0
497.2
58
6.0
2001
19.1
6.6
382.2
42
7.2
2002
18.8
8.7
384.8
51
6.3
2003
18.3
7.8
494.4
50
6.1
2004
18.4
8.4
411.4
52
6.3
2005
18.3
7.9
438.4
45
6.2
2006
19.7
7.4
230.4
35
7.1
2007
19.5
9.1
370.2
50
6.2

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 Perth (Mount 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 Perth (Mount 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) and Glenn Cook Western Australia Climate Services Centre
on, tel: (08) 9263 2222, office hours.