Wednesday, 30 November 2011 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Perth - Product code IDCKGC21L0

Perth in spring 2011: Above average rainfall

• Rainfall: Above average.
• Maximum temperature: Near average for most sites.
• Minimum temperature: Above average for most sites.

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Rainfall across the Perth metropolitan area during spring 2011 was generally above average, with cold fronts and middle level disturbances bringing consistent rainfall during September, October and early November. Perth Metro and Jandakot Aerodrome observed their wettest spring for 12 years whilst it was Perth Airport's wettest spring for 15 years, since 1996.

Significant rainfall events for spring 2011 in Perth:

• A strong westerly flow with embedded cold fronts produced moderate rainfall across the Perth area, with daily rainfall totals in the range of 10 to 30 mm recorded on 2 September. The daily rainfall of 35.4 mm at Mundaring in the Perth hills was the highest daily rainfall of spring 2011 in the Perth metropolitan area.
• A number of cold fronts moved through the Perth area in the second half of September resulting in seven consecutive rain days between 16 and 22 September, the longest wet spell for spring 2011.
• A thunderstorm with hail estimated to 3cm in diameter and heavy rainfall was reported from Lynwood in the southern suburbs of Perth on 9 October, whilst Jandakot reported 24.6 mm of rainfall between 0551 WST and 0816 WST on the morning of the 9th.
• A number of cold fronts and an unstable onshore flow produced six consecutive rain days between the 4th and 9th November, the second longest wet spell for spring 2011. The daily rainfall of 34.0 mm at Mundaring during this spell was the second highest daily rainfall of the spring in the Perth area.

Perth Metro recorded 202.4 on 33 rain days during spring 2011, which was the wettest spring for 12 years, since 206.6 mm was recorded on 20 rain days in 1999. Last spring (2010), Perth Metro recorded 75.8 mm on 14 rain days, which was the driest spring for 41 years.

Maximum temperature

Mean daily maximum temperatures were near average for most sites during spring 2011, with mean maxima typically between 21 and 24 °C. The hottest day of spring 2011 came on 24 November when hot northeastely winds caused many sites to record maxima in the 36 to 38 °C range, and Medina Research Centre recorded 38.7 °C, the highest temperature for spring in the Perth Metro area.

Perth Metro's mean daily maximum temperature in spring 2011 was 23.6 °C, which was close to the average of 23.2 °C. Last spring (2010) was Perth Metro's warmest spring on record with a mean daily maximum temperature of 25.3°C. Daily maxima across spring ranged from a cool 17.1°C on 2 and 27 September to a very hot 37.2°C on 24 November.

Minimum temperature

Mean daily minimum temperatures during spring 2011 were above average for most sites, with all sites between 0.8 °C and 1.6°C above average. Mean minima were generally between 11 and 14 °C across the Perth metropolitan area.

Pearce RAAF observed its warmest spring nights for 29 years, whilst Medina in the southern suburbs observed its warmest spring in 24 years of record, and Bickley in the hills recorded its warmest spring nights in 17 years of record.

Perth Metro's mean daily minimum temperature in spring 2011 was 12.4 °C, which was above the average of 11.6 °C, and Perth Metro's warmest spring for 5 years, since a mean of 12.5 °C was recorded in 2006. Daily minima across spring ranged from a cold 4.9°C on 29 September to a warm 20.5°C on 3 November.

Wind and Sunshine

There was only one occurrence of severe wind gusts during spring 2011. A cold front crossed the Perth region on 18 September as Bickley observed the strongest wind gust for the season with 100 km/h. Severe gusts were also reported at Rottnest Island and Garden Island, and minor damage was reported in the Perth area, with the most serious damage in the southeast suburbs of Maddington and Westfield where trees fell on houses.

Perth's average sunshine hours in spring 2011 was 8.7 hours per day, the least sunniest spring for 18 years since a mean of 8.5 hours per day was recorded in 1993. The long-term average sunshine for spring is 9.3 hours per day. Last year (2010), Perth experienced its sunniest spring since records commenced in 1898 with an average of 10.1 hours sunshine per day.

ls Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top