Wednesday, 27 February 2013 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Perth - Product code IDCKGC11L0

Perth in summer 2012/2013: One of hottest summer

• Rainfall: near average to above average
• Maximum temperature: very-much-above-average, hottest summer for Perth Metro
• Minimum temperature: above average

Rainfall

Above average rainfall in December, an average January and February resulted in near average to above average rainfall totals across the Perth metropolitan area during summer 2012/2013. Rainfall totals were in the 30 mm to 70 mm range, grading to 90 mm in the Perth hills.

The daily rainfall on the 12 December 2012 at Garden Island was their wettest December day in 13 years of record. Please refer to the individual Perth monthly climate summaries for further details.

Perth Metro recorded 28.2 mm of rainfall on 13 rain days during summer 2012/2013, which was near the average of 35.7 mm. Rainfall totals at Perth Metro for the individual months in summer 2012/2013 were: December: 20.2 mm (average 13.3 mm), January: 7.2 mm (average 9.7 mm), and February: 0.8 mm (average 12.7 mm).

Maximum temperature

Day-time temperatures for summer 2012/2013 were very much above average across the Perth metropolitan area, with Perth Metro and Swanbourne are being one of the hottest summer on record. The above average summer was the result of an above average December, a near average January and a very-much-above-average February. Mean daily maxima in the high twenties in islands to low thirties in the coastal plains and hills.

During summer 202/2013, coastal plain sites generally experienced daily maxima temperatures over 35.0 °C one in every three days, whilst hot days with daily maxima over 35 °C across the whole Perth area occurred only on five occasions, notable on 25 December(Christmas Day), 10,12, 20 and 21 February as the result of troughs off the west coast directing northeasterly winds over the city. The highest temperature recorded in the metropolitan area during summer 2013 was 43.2 °C at Pearce RAAF on 21 February. The cool to mild days with daily maxima in twenties across the Perth area were 12 in December, halve in January and down to 3 in February. Bickley recorded the lowest maximum in the metropolitan area on 7 December with 19.7 °C.

Perth Metro's mean daily maximum temperature for summer 2012/2013 was 32.3 °C, which was the hottest summer on record since record commenced in 1897, exceeding the previous record of 32.0°C set on summers of 2010/2011, 2009/2010, and 1977/1978. Daily maxima during summer ranged from a mild 23.6 °C on 7 December to a very hot 42.1°C on 31 December. Perth Metro recorded 21 days with daily maximum temperature of 37 °C or higher, the highest number of such days on record. The previous record was 19 days in summers of 1961/1962 and 1971/1972. The average of 37 °C or higher days was about 10 days.

Minimum temperature

Mean daily minimum temperatures during summer 2012/2013 were above average across the Perth region, with mean daily minima mostly in mid to high teens. The above average summer was the result of an above average December and January, near average February.

During summer 2012/2013,cold nights with daily minima below 10 °C were observed twice in early summer in coastal plains and hills: 1 and 8 December. A daily minimum of 6.2 °C at Perth Airport on 1 December was the lowest overnight temperature of the season. Coastal plain sites generally experienced warm nights with daily minima over 20 °C one in every three days, though warm nights across the whole Perth area were down to 13 occasions: 26 December (Boxing Day), 28 December to 1 January, 6-8 January,15 January, 12-13 February. The warmest summer night saw a minimum of 29.0 °C recorded at Gosnells City on 15 January 2013.

Perth Metro's mean daily minimum temperature for summer 2012/2013 was 18.8 °C, which is above the average of 17.5 °C. Daily minima at Perth Metro in summer ranged from a cool 9.4 °C on 7 December to a hot 27.3 on 29 December 2012 and 15 January 2013.

Wind and Sunshine

Perth’s mean daily sunshine was 11.0 hours per day in summer 2012/2013, which is close to the long term average of 11.3 hours per day.

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top