Wednesday, 1 June 2011 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC21R0

Western Australia in autumn 2011: Wet in the northeast; hot in the southwest

  • Rainfall: Very much above average for WA; below average in southwest WA.
  • Maximum temperature: 6th coolest on record for WA; 2nd hottest for southwest WA.
  • Minimum temperature: Below average for WA; 7th warmest for southwest WA.

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Autumn 2011 rainfall was above to very much above average in the Kimberley, Interior and parts of the Eucla, with areas of highest on record in the eastern Kimberley and southern Interior. In contrast, below to very much below average rainfall was observed over the autumn perion in much of western WA, including the Southwest Land Division (SWLD).

When averaged across the state autumn 2011 was very much above average and ranked as the 11th wettest autumn on record (comparable records commenced in 1900), mainly due to above average rainfall in the Kimberley, Interior and Eucla in March, along with above average rainfall in the Kimberley in April. The Lower Southwest (southwest of a line from Jurien Bay to Bremer Bay) observed below average rainfall as a result of the 10th driest March on record, an average April, and a below average May.

Extremely heavy rainfall was observed in the central and eastern Kimberley during March, with more than 700 mm falling during the month over the Kimberley Plateau, as the result of an active monsoon trough. A significant portion of this rainfall occurred between 8 and 14 March due to a slow moving tropical low, causing extensive flooding and infrastructure damage across the Fitzroy, Ord and Pentecost River catchments. Substantial damage to houses occurred in the community of Warmun, and the entire community had to evacuate, whilst the Great Northern Highway was impassable at times west and north of Halls Creek, isolating the town. A number of sites in the region, as well as in the adjacent Interior, broke their highest daily and total autumn rainfall records. Durack Range observed 636.8 mm in the seven day period from 8 to 14 March 2011, of which 563.4 mm fell over two days (212.4 mm in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th followed by 351.0 mm in the 24 hours to 9am on the 14th), which has an Average Return Interval of greater than 1 in 100 years. Durack Range also observed the highest autumn rainfall total for the state, largely due to this event, while Warmun, Gibb River and Yulmbu broke their highest autumn rainfall records. Moisture from the system moved southwards over the following days, with sites in the southern Interior and Eucla breaking their highest autumn daily rainfall records.

A tropical low in the Timor Sea formed into Tropical Cyclone Errol during the morning of 15 April, causing heavy rainfall in the far north Kimberley before moving northeast away from the Australian coastline.

Moderate to heavy rainfall was observed in the Pilbara, Gascoyne and northern Central West on 16 May, with Karratha Airport recording daily rainfall total of 77.0 mm, a May record.

Cold fronts crossed the southwest of the state during the middle and latter parts of May, resulting in moderate to heavy falls.

Maximum temperature

Autumn 2011 maximum temperatures were below to very much below average in northern, central, and eastern parts of WA, with areas of lowest on record in the Kimberley. In contrast, western and southern parts of WA saw above to very much above average daytime temperatures, with areas of highest on record near the SWLD west coast.

When averaged across the state, autumn 2011 was the 6th coolest on record, mostly due to cooler than normal temperatures over much of central, northern and eastern WA in March and May. The Lower Southwest (southwest of a line from Jurien Bay to Bremer Bay) observed their 2nd hottest autumn on record with a mean maximum temperature of 24.7°C (only behind the record of 25.4 °C set in 1994) as a result of the 3rd hottest March, 4th hottest April, and an above average May.

A number of sites in western parts of the Central West, Lower West and Southwest observed their hottest autumn on record, mainly due to very hot conditions through March and early April. Conversely, sites in the north and east Kimberley observed their coolest autumn in terms of daytime temperatures.

Minimum temperature

Mean minimum temperatures were below to very much below average in inland central and northeast WA in autumn 2011, while the southwest of the state saw above to very much above average overnight temperatures.

When averaged across the state, autumn 2011 was below average for WA. The Lower Southwest (southwest of a line from Jurien Bay to Bremer Bay) observed its 7th warmest autumn on record with a mean minimum temperature of 12.3°C, as a result of the 4th hottest March, an above average April, and a near average May.

Kalbarri in the Central West, Hyden in the Great Southern, and Rottnest Island all observed their warmest autumn on record in terms of mean overnight temperature.

Other phenomena

A severe thunderstorm affected Toodyay during the evening of 21 March, causing very heavy rainfall, flash flooding and damage to housing and roads.

A strong cold front crossed the Perth region during the morning of 20 May with reports of roof and power line damage in Canning Vale at approximately 0800 WST. The passage of a cold front across the SW corner was accompanied by a tornado in Bunbury at around 2100 WST on 29 May with house and tree damage confined to two streets in the Bunbury suburb of Usher.

Notable events

  • Extremely heavy rainfall was observed in the central and eastern Kimberley during March, with more than 700 mm falling during the month over the Kimberley Plateau, as the result of an active monsoon trough, with a number of sites breaking their March daily and monthly records. Extensive flooding and isolation of communities resulted, with Warmun being completely evacuated. Please refer to the Special Climate Statement for further information.
  • Tropical Cyclone Errol caused heavy rainfall in the far north Kimberley on 14 and 15 April before moving northwest away from the WA coastline. Errol was the only tropical cyclone in the WA region during autumn 2011.

Further information

Western Australia Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 9263 2222
Email climate.wa@bom.gov.au
Extremes in autumn 2011
Hottest day 41.1 °C at Roebourne on 19 Mar
Warmest days on average 34.1 °C at Emu Creek Station
Coolest days on average 22.1 °C at Albany
Coldest day 14.0 °C at Shannon on 20 May
Coldest night -2.4 °C at Eyre on 28 May
Coolest nights on average 9.5 °C at Jarrahwood
Warmest nights on average 25.4 °C at Varanus Island
22.3 °C at Onslow
Warmest night 30.0 °C at Bedout Island on 14 Mar
Wettest overall 960.8 mm at Durack Range
Wettest day 351.0 mm at Durack Range on 14 Mar
Highest wind gust 111 km/h at Cape Leeuwin on 7 Apr

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record highest autumn daily rainfall
Highest daily rainfall
in autumn 2011 (mm) 		Previous wettest
for autumn		 Years of
record
Warmun 181.1 on 14 Mar 167.9 on 13 Apr 1910 95
Halls Creek Airport 141.2 on 14 Mar 120.0 on 7 Mar 1996 68
Glen-Ayle 106.4 on 2 Mar 93.0 on 19 Apr 1980 62
Eyre 81.2 on 17 Mar 75.8 on 17 Mar 2000 61
Yulmbu 141.0 on 8 Mar 86.4 on 17 Mar 1960 43
Prenti Downs 74.8 on 4 Mar 74.2 on 18 Mar 1973 36
Sophie Downs 160.0 on 14 Mar 126.4 on 2 Mar 1982 31
Kybo 58.0 on 17 Mar 57.0 on 20 Mar 2000 30


Record highest total autumn rainfall
Total rainfall
for autumn 2011 (mm) 		Previous wettest
for autumn		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
Warmun 762.7 534.7 in 1960 103 156.8
Gibb River 872.2 502.8 in 1960 81 176.3
Yulmbu 890.2 373.0 in 1960 44 134.9


Record highest autumn mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for autumn 2011 (°C) 		Previous warmest
for autumn		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
Cape Leeuwin 23.1 22.7 in 1983 114 21.0
Bridgetown Comparison 25.7 25.4 in 1994 109 23.2
Dwellingup 25.4 24.9 in 1994 72 22.6
Manjimup 23.7 23.2 in 2003 71 21.1
Geraldton Airport 29.9 29.4 in 1994 68 27.5
Pemberton 23.8 23.4 in 1994 66 21.2
Perth Airport 28.1 27.6 in 1994 66 25.6
Rottnest Island 25.2 25.1 in 1890 129 23.5
Perth Metro* 27.5 27.2 in 1978 114 25.8
Lancelin 28.3 27.9 in 1978 42 25.5
Jurien Bay 28.6 28.2 in 2002 41 26.2
Kalbarri 31.5 30.8 in 2006 36 29.3


Record lowest autumn mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for autumn 2011 (°C) 		Previous coolest
for autumn		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
Halls Creek Airport 29.3 29.9 in 1983 63 33.1
Warmun 31.0 31.8 in 2000 48 34.5
Wyndham 31.9 32.5 in 2000 42 35.2
Troughton Island 30.1 30.5 in 1960 31 32.0


Record highest autumn mean daily minimum temperature
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for autumn 2011 (°C) 		Previous warmest
for autumn		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
Rottnest Island 18.3 18.1 in 1994 129 17.0
Hyden 13.5 13.0 in 2005 36 10.9
Kalbarri 18.0 17.5 in 1998 36 16.2


Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for autumn 2011
Maximum temperatures
for autumn
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for autumn
(°C)		 Rainfall
for autumn
(millimetres)
Mean for
autumn
2011		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
autumn
2011		 Mean for
autumn
2011		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
autumn
2011		 Total for
autumn
2011		 Average
for
autumn		 Rank of
autumn
2011		 Fraction of
autumn
average
North Kimberley (district 01)
Doongan 29.7 -2.9 35.5 26 Mar 17.6 -1.0 5.9 29 May 713.5 271.6 v high 263%
Kalumburu 31.5 -2.5 35.3 30 Mar 19.8 -0.7 8.9 30 May 348.2 282.5 average 123%
Troughton Island 30.1 -1.9 32.3 12 Apr 25.3 -0.9 22.4 28 May 580.6 204.9 v high 283%
Truscott 30.5   33.9 30 Mar 22.1   13.4 28 May  
Wyndham 31.9 -3.3 35.7 30 Mar 21.2 -2.1 11.0 29 May 665.0 203.4 v high 327%
Wyndham Aero 32.2 -3.4 35.8 30 Mar 21.3 -1.5 10.1 29 May 607.6 194.5 v high 312%
East Kimberley (district 02)
Argyle Aerodrome 30.8 -3.3 35.0 30 Mar 20.2 -2.0 10.1 27 May
Halls Creek Airport 29.3 -3.8 34.6 3 Mar 18.4 -1.6 9.6 28 May 442.4 114.7 v high 386%
Kununurra Aero 31.2 -3.5 34.9 30 Mar 20.1 -1.6 10.4 29 May 429.2 186.1 v high 231%
Warmun 31.0 -3.5 35.2 20 Mar 18.9 -1.5 7.0 28 May 762.7 156.8 highest 486%
West Kimberley (district 03)
Bidyadanga 33.4 -1.1 38.0 13 Mar         151.7 146.6 average 103%
Broome Airport 32.1 -1.2 36.4 30 Mar 21.5 -0.6 10.8 28 May 106.2 153.9 average 69%
Curtin Aero 32.8 -2.5 37.6 30 Mar 21.2 -0.7 13.1 19 May 371.0 227.5 high 163%
Derby Aero 32.2 -2.3 36.3 30 Mar 21.2 -1.1 9.1 30 May 152.2 177.7 average 86%
Fitzroy Crossing Aero 32.7 -2.9 37.2 30 Mar 19.6 -0.6 8.8 28 May 229.6 162.3 high 141%
West Roebuck 33.2   37.4 12 Mar 20.5   10.4 27 May 135.2 215.2 average 63%
De Grey (district 04)
Bedout Island 30.3   36.0 13 Mar 25.2   19.0 7 May
Karratha Aero 31.9 -1.6 38.7 19 Mar 21.8 -0.4 11.3 26 May        
Legendre Island 30.7   37.4 19 Mar 24.3   16.8 16 May
Port Hedland Airport 32.6 -1.6 39.3 13 Mar 21.3 +0.2 11.5 29 May 58.6 98.4 average 60%
Roebourne 33.5 -0.9 41.1 19 Mar 20.6 -1.4 11.5 31 May 79.1 120.9 average 65%
Roebourne Aero 32.8   39.3 19 Mar 21.1   10.0 30 May 98.6 65.7 high 150%
Fortescue (district 05)
Barrow Island Airport 29.9 -0.7 35.5 13 Mar 24.1 0.0 16.6 27 May 133.8 171.9 average 78%
Learmonth Airport         20.1 +0.3 11.7 26 May 27.2 99.0 low 27%
Mardie 33.4 -1.6 39.7 13 Mar 21.2 +0.5 11.5 29 May 76.2 106.9 average 71%
Onslow 32.5 0.0 40.0 6 Mar 22.3 +2.3 13.8 28 May 96.6 113.9 average 85%
Onslow Airport 32.4 -0.6 38.4 13 Mar 21.7 +0.9 13.7 26 May 117.6 138.8 average 85%
Wittenoom 30.5 -2.0 36.5 20 Mar 19.6 -1.0 10.4 31 May 120.9 126.8 average 95%
West Gascoyne (district 06)
Carnarvon Airport 30.7 +1.8 38.1 1 Apr 19.3 +0.6 9.7 28 May 87.6 65.8 high 133%
Denham 29.9 +1.5 39.0 1 Mar 21.0 +1.8 12.5 23 May 19.4 66.0 low 29%
Emu Creek Station 34.1 -0.3 40.5 13 Mar 20.9 +0.7 11.5 27 May 65.6 96.0 average 68%
Gascoyne Junction 32.6 -0.1 39.5 9 Mar 19.7 +1.4 10.9 23 May 57.6 72.1 average 80%
Murchison 31.1 +0.5 38.9 9 Mar 16.7 +0.9 6.4 27 May 39.2 77.8 average 50%
Shark Bay Airport 31.2 +0.5 38.3 5 Apr 18.8 +0.9 9.8 29 May 25.6 51.8 average 49%
East Gascoyne (district 07)
Newman Aero 29.3 -2.0 36.1 6 Mar 16.8 0.0 6.2 30 May        
Paraburdoo Aero 32.0 -1.1 38.6 18 Mar 19.8 +0.7 10.1 30 May 75.6 89.6 average 84%
Murchison (district 07A)
Meekatharra Airport 28.0 -1.1 36.0 19 Mar 16.4 -0.4 7.0 22 May 40.8 72.3 average 56%
Mount Magnet Aero 28.3 -0.2 35.5 21 Apr 16.3 +0.3 5.1 22 May 30.0 74.5 low 40%
North Coast (district 08)
Carnamah 29.2 +1.6 38.5 10 Mar 15.8 +1.8 6.3 22 May 104.8 94.3 average 111%
Dalwallinu 27.5 +0.5 37.5 10 Mar 13.9 +0.8 5.5 22 May 56.0 73.9 low 76%
Dalwallinu Comparison 28.0 +1.3 36.9 10 Mar 14.8 +1.3 6.3 22 May 59.5 90.7 low 66%
Geraldton Airport 29.9 +2.4 40.6 1 Mar 16.7 +1.3 6.8 22 May 110.4 109.7 average 101%
Kalbarri 31.5 +2.2 40.6 1 Mar 18.0 +1.8 8.4 27 May 86.5 89.0 average 97%
Morawa Airport 29.5 +0.8 38.5 10 Mar 15.0 +0.8 5.0 22 May 85.6 69.5 average 123%
Mullewa 29.9 +1.2 37.6 10 Mar 16.8 +2.0 7.0 22 May 71.9 84.5 average 85%
North Island 28.2 +2.2 35.1 1 Mar 21.8 +1.7 13.9 19 May 74.8 65.8 average 114%
Wongan Hills 27.8 +1.5 38.2 10 Mar 14.2 +1.0 5.0 22 May 91.6 95.7 average 96%
Central Coast (district 09)
Badgingarra Research Stn 28.2 +1.0 36.1 15 Mar 15.1 +1.7 5.5 22 May 96.2 114.0 average 84%
Bickley 25.3 +1.7 34.2 25 Mar 13.4 +1.0 6.0 21 May 142.2 209.3 low 68%
Champion Lakes 27.0   35.1 25 Mar 16.2   6.0 21 May 114.6
Garden Island HSF 25.8   36.2 1 Mar 17.2   11.0 21 May 99.6 131.3 average 76%
Gingin Aero 28.0 +1.4 36.0 25 Mar 13.5 +1.5 3.1 22 May        
Gooseberry Hill 26.9 +1.4 36.3 25 Mar 15.3 +1.0 7.6 21 May
Jandakot Aero 27.8 +2.1 36.1 25 Mar 13.8 +1.5 1.6 21 May 119.8 165.8 low 72%
Jurien Bay 28.6 +2.4 39.5 15 Mar 15.4 +1.3 6.5 22 May 107.3 122.1 average 88%
Karnet 25.7 +2.3 36.0 1 Mar         141.3 231.8 low 61%
Lancelin 28.3 +2.8 38.5 15 Mar 15.5 +1.0 7.0 22 May 51.5 129.4 v low 40%
Medina Research Centre 27.7 +2.1 36.5 16 Apr         106.9 159.7 low 67%
Pearce RAAF 28.3 +2.1 37.0 4 Mar 14.9 +1.5 3.4 21 May 59.2 134.8 v low 44%
Perth Airport 28.1 +2.5 37.0 25 Mar 14.6 +1.5 3.1 21 May 82.0 157.0 low 52%
Perth Metro* 27.5 +1.7 36.4 25 Mar 14.8 +1.2 4.5 21 May 104.4 181.1 low 58%
Rottnest Island 25.2 +1.7 34.4 1 Mar 18.3 +1.3 11.8 21 May 100.0 156.7 low 64%
Swanbourne 27.4 +2.0 37.0 1 Mar 16.0 +1.0 7.3 21 May 114.4 147.6 average 78%
South Coast (district 09A)
Albany 22.1 +1.6 34.3 5 Apr 14.4 +1.7 8.4 28 May 165.7 224.8 low 74%
Albany Airport 22.7 +1.1 34.5 4 Mar 11.8 +0.2 4.3 28 May 176.6 187.5 average 94%
Bridgetown 24.5 +0.9 34.6 27 Mar 9.9 +0.7 0.9 28 May 154.4 170.5 average 91%
Bridgetown Comparison 25.7 +2.5 35.5 27 Mar 9.8 +1.2 0.9 29 May 142.5 181.7 low 78%
Bunbury 25.7 +1.5 34.5 1 Mar 12.6 +0.9 3.6 28 May 120.6 142.5 average 85%
Busselton 25.1 +1.4 33.6 15 Mar 12.6 +0.5 5.2 27 May 108.2 145.5 average 74%
Busselton Aero 25.5 +1.3 33.7 15 Mar 11.8 +0.7 4.4 29 May 128.8 155.5 average 83%
Cape Leeuwin 23.1 +2.1 31.0 4 Apr 16.5 +1.2 10.6 27 May 159.6 226.6 low 70%
Cape Naturaliste 24.3 +2.5 32.9 15 Mar 15.1 +1.3 9.7 21 May 130.2 182.1 low 71%
Collie East 25.4   34.3 27 Mar 9.6   1.2 28 May 127.6
Donnybrook                 192.6 207.1 average 93%
Dwellingup 25.4 +2.8 34.1 25 Mar 11.6 +1.3 3.8 28 May 132.2 250.0 v low 53%
Esperance 23.7 +0.8 36.1 23 Apr 13.7 +0.6 6.9 8 May 118.0 144.7 average 82%
Esperance Aero 23.7 +0.6 35.6 10 Mar 13.0 +0.4 6.4 8 May 129.6 141.4 average 92%
Harvey 26.6 +1.5 35.2 25 Mar 12.8 +0.3 4.0 21 May 174.2 173.1 average 101%
Hopetoun North 23.8 +0.5 38.3 10 Mar 13.3 +0.8 5.5 8 May 164.4 114.9 high 143%
Jarrahwood 25.6 +1.9 35.7 25 Mar 9.5 +0.5 1.0 28 May 150.2 192.3 low 78%
Mandurah 25.8   35.3 1 Mar 16.8   9.5 21 May 111.8 155.6 average 72%
Manjimup 23.7 +2.6 34.4 4 Mar 11.6 +0.9 4.8 27 May 136.8 221.7 low 62%
North Walpole 22.9   34.5 4 Mar 13.4   6.6 27 May
Pemberton 23.8 +2.6 34.4 4 Mar 12.2 +1.2 5.5 29 May 182.5 262.7 low 69%
Rocky Gully 23.1 +1.2 34.7 4 Mar 11.3 +0.4 4.1 12 May 142.8 163.7 average 87%
Shannon 22.7 +1.1 34.3 4 Mar 11.2 +0.4 4.1 28 May 199.4 226.9 average 88%
Witchcliffe 24.0 +1.4 34.0 26 Mar 11.6 +0.5 4.5 27 May 246.8 214.3 average 115%
North Central (district 10)
Cunderdin Airfield 27.6 +1.2 39.0 10 Mar 13.0 +1.2 3.6 30 Apr 52.2 71.3 low 73%
Northam 27.9 +1.9 39.0 10 Mar 12.8 +0.9 4.2 23 May 63.0 97.1 low 65%
York 27.6 +1.4 38.5 10 Mar 11.7 +1.0 3.5 28 May 47.7 78.8 low 61%
South Central (district 10A)
Beverley 27.9 +1.8 38.6 10 Mar 12.4 +1.2 4.0 21 May 61.8 93.3 average 66%
Brookton 26.4 +1.5 37.8 10 Mar 12.5 +1.5 5.1 28 May 53.7 101.0 low 53%
Corrigin 25.8 +1.6 37.5 10 Mar 12.2 +1.2 4.8 12 May 42.8 91.5 low 47%
Hyden 27.1 +1.6 39.0 10 Mar 13.5 +2.6 4.5 23 May 39.2 82.1 low 48%
Katanning 24.2 +0.9 36.0 10 Mar 11.5 +0.6 5.2 27 May 78.6 95.4 average 82%
Katanning Comparison 24.5 +1.8 35.6 10 Mar 10.9 +0.6 2.4 27 May 71.8 113.0 low 64%
Lake Grace 24.9 +0.7 37.4 10 Mar 12.4 +0.8 5.8 7 May 48.2 69.2 low 70%
Lake Grace Comparison                 46.8 88.6 low 53%
Narembeen 27.1 +1.5 37.5 10 Mar 13.0 +1.4 4.9 29 Apr 59.9 82.2 average 73%
Narrogin 24.9 +2.0 36.5 10 Mar 11.8 +1.4 3.6 27 May 46.2 113.3 v low 41%
Newdegate Research Station 25.0 +1.0 37.9 10 Mar 10.3 +0.2 2.4 12 May 43.4 91.0 low 48%
Ongerup 24.0 +1.5 36.8 10 Mar 11.5 +0.6 5.0 12 May 60.0 92.3 low 65%
Pingelly 25.8 +1.8 37.0 10 Mar 12.8 +1.1 5.7 21 May 57.6 102.0 low 56%
Ravensthorpe         12.3 +0.7 4.5 27 May 69.5 108.6 low 64%
Wagin 25.0 +1.4 36.5 10 Mar 11.1 +0.5 3.0 27 May 48.9 103.4 low 47%
Wandering 25.8 +1.3 37.3 10 Mar 10.3 +1.0 2.1 28 May 82.2 93.8 average 88%
Eucla (district 11)
Balladonia 24.9 +0.2 36.6 24 Apr 11.4 +0.6 2.9 28 May 46.3 73.8 low 63%
Eucla 22.3 -1.0 36.2 6 Mar 13.3 0.0 4.3 29 May 104.6 80.2 high 130%
Eyre 23.5 -0.1 35.5 7 Apr 10.8 -1.0 -2.4 28 May 176.9 91.3 v high 194%
Forrest         11.0 -0.7 1.4 28 May        
Red Rocks Point 22.4   34.5 7 Apr 14.3   5.5 28 May 101.0
South East (district 12)
Bulga Downs 28.1   37.0 18 Mar 13.9   4.8 25 May 64.6 71.0 average 91%
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport 24.6 -0.5 34.5 24 Apr 13.1 +0.7 5.8 12 May 63.2 71.5 average 88%
Laverton Aero 25.3 -1.1 33.2 24 Apr 14.0 -0.6 3.3 22 May 29.2 69.6 low 42%
Leinster Aero 26.6 -1.0 35.2 12 Mar 14.5 -0.6 4.5 23 May 17.8 73.4 low 24%
Leonora 26.4 -1.4 35.2 11 Mar 14.4 -0.1 6.0 23 May 30.0 73.2 low 41%
Leonora Aero 26.2   34.7 24 Apr 14.8   5.8 22 May 29.0
Munglinup West 24.4   35.5 6 Apr 12.1   6.5 12 May 140.8
Norseman Aero 24.7 -0.4 35.1 11 Mar 11.2 +0.6 1.3 12 May 77.4 74.6 average 104%
Salmon Gums Res.Stn. 24.6 +1.0 35.6 23 Apr 10.1 +0.2 -0.9 8 May 63.8 86.3 average 74%
Southern Cross Airfield 26.2 +0.1 35.5 10 Mar 12.4 +1.1 3.1 27 May 41.0 94.0 low 44%
North East (district 13)
Carnegie                 196.0 72.6 v high 270%
Giles Meteorological Office 26.8 -2.1 35.4 7 Mar 14.3 -1.8 4.9 24 May 115.6 72.1 high 160%
Telfer Aero 30.7 -3.0 37.9 13 Mar 18.9 -1.1 7.5 29 May 324.4 119.1 v high 272%
Warburton Airfield 26.6 -2.6 34.4 12 Mar 13.9 -1.2 1.6 29 May        
Wiluna 27.3 -1.7 35.5 12 Mar 15.1 +0.2 5.4 22 May 70.7 89.5 average 79%
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Christmas Island Aero 27.8 -0.3 29.2 30 Mar 23.1 -0.3 21.0 19 Apr 567.0 688.9 average 82%
Cocos Island Airport 29.6 0.0 30.9 6 Mar 25.2 +0.1 23.4 27 Mar 740.6 680.7 average 109%
Varanus Island 29.9 -0.7 34.6 13 Mar 25.4 -0.1 17.8 13 May        

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

A Seasonal Climate Summary is prepared to list the main features of the weather in Western Australia using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review, usually published in the fourth week of the month.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Wednesday 1 June 2011. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Averages 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.
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.

Records in this summary are based on sites with at least 30 years of data.

For PDF files of Perth Metro climate statistics for other months, please click here for extremes and here for averages.

Further information

Western Australia Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 9263 2222
Email climate.wa@bom.gov.au