Tuesday, 31 August 2010 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Perth - Product code IDCKGC21L0

Perth in winter 2010: One of the driest winters on record

• Lowest rainfall on record for several sites.
• Near average mean daily maximum temperatures.
• Very much below average mean daily minimum temperatures for most sites.

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Rainfall in winter 2010 was very much below average across the Perth metropolitan area, and was the driest winter on record for several sites. The dry winter was a result of very much below average June rainfall, a slightly below average July, and a very much below average August.

Rainfall totals for winter ranged from 190.8 mm at Pearce RAAF to 312.4 mm at Jarrahdale, and both sites, along with several other mostly inland sites, registered their driest winter on record. The wettest day in winter 2010 was the 9th July when a strong cold front brought heavy rainfall to much of Perth, with 55.0 mm at Bickley on the 9th July being the highest daily fall recorded in the Perth Metropolitan area in winter.

Perth Metro recorded 256.4 mm on 30 days during winter 2010, which was the second driest winter on record, the driest being 230.0 mm on 35 days in 2006. Rainfall totals for individual months this winter were: June 51.4 mm (average 176.7 mm), July 142.0 mm (average 169.9 mm), August 63.0 mm (average 134.1 mm).

Perth Metro recorded its least number of rain days for winter on record with 30. The previous record was 35 rain days in 1902 and 2006.

Maximum temperature

Averaged over the three months of winter 2010, maximum temperatures were near average in the Perth region, ranging from about 16 to 19 °C. Most sites recorded mean maxima for winter within 0.5 °C of their long-term mean.

The coldest day for winter coincided with the wettest day, with the daily maximum temperature on the 9th July registering only 9.8 °C at Bickley. The warmest day for winter was the 13th June when Gosnells City recorded the highest daily maximum temperature of 25.0 °C.

Perth Metro's mean daily maximum temperature in winter 2010 was 18.8 °C, which equalled the average. Daily maxima across winter ranged from a cool 13.3 °C on the 9th of July, which was Perth Metro's coldest July day for seven years, since the 12.5 °C on the 14th July 2003, to a warm 24.6 °C on 13th June.

Minimum temperature

Averaged over the three months of winter 2010, minimum temperatures were very much below average for most sites. Perth Metro, Pearce RAAF and Gosnells City registered their lowest mean minimum temperature for winter on record. A significant run of cold nights (nights with minima less than 5 °C) occurred during June and July across the Perth metropolitan area. Perth Airport recorded 15 consecutive cold nights from the 24th June to the 8th July, its longest run of cold nights in 66 years of record, and easily passing the previous record of 11 consecutive cold nights in winter 1990.

The coldest night for winter was the 26th June when Jandakot Aerodrome registered -2.5 °C. The warmest night during winter was the 14th June as daily minima ranged from 11 to 14 °C across the Perth metropolitan area, and Rottnest Island recorded a minimum of 16.5 °C.

Perth Metro's mean daily minimum temperature in winter 2010 was 6.4 °C, well below the average of 8.2 °C. Daily minima across winter ranged from a cold -0.6°C on the 26th June, Perth Metro's second coldest night on record, and just above the record of -0.7 °C on the 17th June 2006, to a mild 14.0 °C on 15th June. Perth Metro recorded 37 cold nights (nights with minima less than 5 °C) during winter 2010, whch equals the record for the Perth Metro (Mt Lawley) site set in 2001. This includes a record run of 15 consecutive cold nights from the 24th June to the 8th July.

Wind & sunshine

Rottnest Island recorded the highest wind gust for winter with 104 km/h on the 11th July when a strong cold front crossed the Perth area.

Average daily winter sunshine at Perth was 7.2 hours, the equal sunniest winter on record, along with 2001, since records commenced in 1898. The previous record was 7.1 hours per day in 2006. The average for winter is of 6.4 hours per day.

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top