Tuesday, 1 December 2020 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC21R0

Western Australia in spring 2020: very warm spring days and nights

Mean maximum and minimum temperatures were above average across almost all of Western Australia this spring. The mean maximum temperature was the fourth-highest on record and the mean minimum temperature was the third-highest on record for spring for WA as a whole. Spring rainfall was close to average for most of the state. Above average rainfall was recorded in a large part of the Kimberley, pockets in the Pilbara and along the Eucla coast, though some areas in the southern and central WA recorded below average spring rainfall.

Wet in the Kimberley

  • Spring rainfall was above average for much of the west and north Kimberley, due to moderate to heavy rainfall from thunderstorms in late November.
  • After little rain was recorded in September and October, thunderstorms in late spring produced isolated daily rainfall totals of 40–100 mm in the north and west Kimberley; Broome Airport,Theda and Cygnet Bay had their highest spring daily rainfall on record on the 21st or 23rd, and resulted in Broome Airport having its wettest spring.

Very warm at the start and end of spring

  • Both spring mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures were above average across almost all of WA.
  • The WA mean maximum temperature was 2.00 °C above average, the fourth-highest on record for spring, largely due to an equal second-warmest September on record (+2.75 °C) and a ninth-warmest November on record (+1.82 °C).
  • The WA mean minimum temperature was 1.44 °C above average, the third-highest on record for spring, largely due to a record warm September (+1.99 °C) and a third-warmest November on record (+1.38 °C)
  • Fitzroy Crossing Aero's maximum temperature of 46.5 °C on 13 November equalled its highest spring temperature on record.
  • Argyle Aerodrome had its hottest spring on record with a mean temperature of 32.8 °C as it broke both records for spring mean maximum temperature and spring mean minimum temperature.
  • Very hot days hit the Central Wheat Belt and Southeast Coast in late spring; Cunderdin Airfield recorded a daily maximum of 44.1 °C on 24 November, its highest spring temperature on record.
  • Western Australia's year-to-date mean maximum temperature was the second-highest on record, behind 2019.
  • Western Australia's year-to-date mean minimum temperature was the second-highest on record, behind 1998.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in spring 2020
Hottest day 46.5 °C at Fitzroy Crossing Aero on 13 Nov
Warmest days on average 40.5 °C at Fitzroy Crossing Aero
Coolest days on average 18.8 °C at Shannon
Coldest day 10.6 °C at Shannon on 20 Sep
Coldest night -2.2 °C at Salmon Gums Res.Stn. on 6 Oct
Coolest nights on average 7.1 °C at Wandering
Warmest nights on average 27.4 °C at Troughton Island
Warmest night 31.4 °C at Argyle Aerodrome on 12 Nov
Warmest on average overall 32.8 °C at Argyle Aerodrome
32.8 °C at Wyndham Aero
Coolest on average overall 13.7 °C at Shannon
Wettest overall 362.6 mm at Wereroa
Wettest day 103.5 mm at Theda on 23 Nov
Strongest wind gust 119 km/h at Kununurra Aero on 30 Sep

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall		 Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures		 Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures		 Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

Record highest spring daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record
Broome Airport 71.2 on 23 Nov 57.8 on 20 Nov 2010 82
Cygnet Bay 42.5 on 21 Nov 41.0 on 23 Nov 2013 57
Araluen 59.2 on 7 Sep 56.0 on 29 Sep 2001 55
Theda 103.5 on 23 Nov 87.6 on 2 Oct 1981 55
Mount Krauss 51.6 on 29 Nov 33.6 on 26 Nov 2010 20


Record highest spring total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
spring
Broome Airport 77.9 70.0 in 2010 81 12.6
Woodridge Estate 187.8 185.0 in 1999 22 120.5

Highest spring total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
spring
Eyre 147.3 155.9 in 1909* 65.1
Karragullen North 320.0 413.5 in 1971* 209.7
Gidgegannup 262.4 268.0 in 1983* 173.2

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported

 

Record highest spring temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
spring
Mount Elizabeth 41.5 on 4 Nov = 41.5 on 30 Nov 2009 27 35.5
Cunderdin Airfield 44.1 on 24 Nov 43.9 on 17 Nov 2019 25 25.8
Fitzroy Crossing Aero 46.5 on 13 Nov = 46.5 on 22 Nov 2019 24 39.5


Record highest spring mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
spring
Argyle Aerodrome 39.4 39.1 in 2019 26 38.0
Mount Elizabeth 36.6 36.5 in 2019 25 35.5


Record highest spring daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
spring
Carnegie 29.4 on 28 Nov 29.0 on 7 Nov 2014 32 15.8
Warburton Airfield 29.4 on 18 Nov 29.1 on 6 Nov 2013 32 15.5
Murchison 28.0 on 24 Nov 26.3 on 25 Nov 1990 31 13.3


Record highest spring mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
spring
Telfer Aero 22.9 = 22.9 in 2006 44 20.5
Argyle Aerodrome 26.2 25.8 in 2005 26 24.6


Record highest spring mean temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
spring
Argyle Aerodrome 32.8 32.2 in 2018 26 31.3
Wyndham Aero 32.8 = 32.8 in 2005 20 31.7


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for spring 2020
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
spring
2020		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
spring
2020		 Mean for
spring
2020		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
spring
2020		 Total for
spring
2020		 Average
for
spring		 Rank of
spring
2020		 Fraction of
spring
average
North Kimberley (district 01)
Doongan 36.5 +0.1 41.0 12 Nov 21.9 +1.3 15.2 8 Oct 65.1 147.8 low 44%
Kalumburu 37.6 +0.9 41.8 14 Oct 23.4 +1.3 18.3 7 Sep 186.8 119.8 high 156%
Mount Elizabeth 36.6 +1.1 41.5 4 Nov 19.9 +1.4 11.8 15 Sep 214.1 119.9 high 179%
Troughton Island 32.7 +1.0 34.5 12 Nov 27.4 +1.3 24.3 10 Oct 40.0 14.1 high 284%
Truscott 34.4 +0.1 39.3 14 Oct 25.2 +1.0 21.2 8 Sep 164.2 53.8 high 305%
Wyndham Aero 39.9 +0.8 44.7 12 Nov 25.7 +1.4 18.6 13 Oct 68.0 78.5 average 87%
East Kimberley (district 02)
Argyle Aerodrome 39.4 +1.4 44.3 12 Nov 26.2 +1.6 22.4 13 Sep 88.6 95.2 average 93%
Halls Creek Airport 38.2   44.3 14 Nov 22.9   15.8 13 Sep 65.0
Kununurra Aero 38.7 +0.5 43.3 12 Nov 23.5 +0.7 17.3 9 Sep 187.4 82.1 v high 228%
West Kimberley (district 03)
Broome Airport 33.3 +0.5 41.2 5 Nov 23.1 +1.0 13.7 1 Sep 77.9 12.6 highest 618%
Curtin Aero 39.6 +1.0 44.6 4 Nov 21.6 +0.2 15.6 8 Sep 35.8 28.6 average 125%
Cygnet Bay 34.1 0.0 37.0 12 Oct 22.3 +1.1 15.0 1 Sep 42.9 8.7 v high 493%
Derby Aero 38.0 +1.0 44.6 4 Nov 23.2 +0.5 15.2 1 Sep 44.0 16.5 high 267%
Fitzroy Crossing Aero 40.5 +1.0 46.5 13 Nov 23.6 +1.2 15.8 5 Sep 39.4 45.7 average 86%
Yampi Sound (Defence) 39.3   44.7 4 Nov 21.8   13.8 1 Sep 81.0
De Grey (district 04)
Bedout Island 30.5 -0.4 34.2 15 Oct 24.3 +0.1 19.0 6 Oct
Karratha Aero 33.6 +0.2 41.2 17 Nov 21.4 +1.1 13.2 7 Oct 0 3.0 lowest 0%
Mandora 36.5 +1.0 44.7 5 Nov 19.5 +0.6 11.4 7 Oct 28.4 8.7 high 326%
Pardoo Station 36.7 +1.3 43.5 13 Nov       0 6.7 lowest 0%
Port Hedland Airport 36.2 +1.6 43.9 5 Nov 20.2 +1.7 12.0 7 Oct 0.4 4.6 low 9%
Roebourne Aero 37.0 +0.3 44.2 17 Nov 19.9 +0.7 11.4 7 Oct 0 5.5 lowest 0%
Fortescue (district 05)
Barrow Island Airport 29.2 +0.1 35.9 24 Nov 21.8 +0.4 16.5 7 Oct 0.6 4.3 average 14%
Karijini North 36.9   42.7 17 Nov 21.1   11.0 9 Oct 6.8
Learmonth Airport 33.0 +0.7 42.8 22 Nov 17.0 +0.8 11.2 23 Sep 0.4 5.3 average 8%
Mardie 34.4 -0.2 43.0 22 Nov 18.9 +1.5 12.0 7 Oct 0 3.6 lowest 0%
Onslow Airport 32.9 +0.4 44.0 22 Nov 19.3 +1.4 12.1 7 Oct 0 4.7 lowest 0%
Thevenard Island 29.9 +0.5 39.3 22 Nov 21.3 +0.8 17.2 7 Oct 0.8 3.6 low 22%
West Gascoyne (district 06)
Carnarvon Airport 26.6 +0.5 36.2 23 Sep 17.2 +0.9 8.1 6 Oct 21.8 15.1 high 144%
Denham 25.5 -0.3 36.5 23 Sep     14.5 11 Nov 17.0 17.1 average 99%
Murchison 31.7 +1.2 43.0 23 Nov 14.4 +1.1 6.0 18 Sep 9.4 19.5 low 48%
Shark Bay Airport 27.7 -0.6 40.8 23 Nov 15.7 +0.4 8.1 8 Oct 15.0 15.6 average 96%
East Gascoyne (district 07)
Newman Aero 35.7 +1.2 42.2 22 Nov 18.2 +1.1 6.3 8 Oct 16.6 22.4 average 74%
Paraburdoo Aero 36.0 +0.7 43.2 22 Nov 18.4 +0.6 9.3 8 Oct 27.4 15.7 high 175%
Murchison (district 07A)
Meekatharra Airport 31.9 +2.2 41.9 26 Nov 16.9 +1.7 7.0 6 Oct 14.4 22.1 average 65%
Mount Magnet Aero 30.6 +1.5 41.7 24 Nov 15.3 +0.9 6.1 6 Oct 6.4 27.7 v low 23%
Paynes Find 29.2 +1.3 42.2 24 Nov 13.0 +1.3 4.3 6 Oct 20.4 35.7 low 57%
North Coast (district 08)
Dalwallinu 26.4 +0.3 42.4 24 Nov 10.6 +0.7 3.1 4 Sep 38.6 49.9 average 77%
Geraldton Airport 25.5   40.3 23 Nov 12.1   3.7 4 Oct 57.8
Kalbarri 26.4 +0.1 40.2 23 Nov 13.7 +0.8 8.4 30 Sep 30.1 43.8 average 69%
Morawa Airport 28.2 +0.2 43.8 24 Nov 11.4 +0.2 4.0 21 Sep 16.0 40.4 v low 40%
Mullewa 28.3 +1.0 43.0 24 Nov 12.2 +0.8 5.1 3 Sep 41.4 42.8 average 97%
North Island 24.0 +0.3 28.4 23 Nov 17.7 +0.5 13.0 3 Oct 49.0 32.1 average 153%
Wongan Hills 26.1 +1.0 42.0 24 Nov 10.7 +0.4 4.0 21 Sep 60.4 61.5 average 98%
Central Coast (district 09)
Badgingarra Research Stn 25.1 +0.6 39.2 24 Nov 10.8 +1.0 3.9 3 Oct        
Bickley 21.1 -0.2 33.5 24 Nov 10.2 +0.2 4.1 3 Oct 348.2 231.0 v high 151%
Garden Island HSF 21.3 0.0 33.2 30 Oct 14.3 +0.5 9.1 3 Oct
Gingin Aero 24.5 +0.1 37.1 30 Oct 10.0 +0.4 2.3 12 Sep 124.2 130.6 average 95%
Jandakot Aero 23.5 +0.3 35.4 30 Oct 11.4 +1.2 4.2 12 Sep 179.8 159.6 average 113%
Lancelin 23.2 +0.5 34.5 25 Oct 12.7 +0.4 6.3 19 Sep 127.1 105.2 high 121%
Millendon (Swan Valley) 24.5   36.4 24 Nov 11.0   4.0 3 Oct 191.4
Pearce RAAF 24.5 +0.8 36.8 30 Oct 11.5 +1.0 4.7 3 Oct
Perth Airport 24.1 +1.1 36.1 23 Nov 11.4 +0.7 3.7 3 Oct 183.2 141.2 high 130%
Perth Metro 23.9 +0.4 36.6 30 Oct 12.4 +0.6 5.6 12 Sep 182.4 147.4 high 124%
Rottnest Island 21.1 +0.3 32.0 25 Oct 14.7 +0.4 7.7 3 Oct 111.8 100.0 average 112%
Swanbourne 22.3 -0.3 35.3 30 Oct 13.5 +0.8 6.8 3 Oct
South Coast (district 09A)
Albany     28.0 24 Nov 11.8 +1.0 6.4 20 Sep 224.9 224.0 average 100%
Albany Airport 20.1   31.1 24 Nov 9.3   3.3 6 Oct 194.2
Bridgetown 20.4 -0.5 32.1 23 Nov 7.7 +0.2 1.3 12 Sep 247.6 161.0 v high 154%
Busselton Aero 21.3 -0.3 32.1 30 Oct 9.3 +0.2 3.2 3 Oct 197.0 130.3 v high 151%
Cape Leeuwin 19.3 +0.8 24.3 23 Nov 13.5 +0.6 8.6 3 Oct 155.6 189.5 low 82%
Cape Naturaliste 21.0 +1.7 30.4 23 Nov 11.8 +0.5 6.7 3 Oct 148.6 149.7 average 99%
Collie East 21.8 -0.1 33.7 23 Nov 7.9 +0.2 0.7 3 Oct 206.4 157.0 high 131%
Donnybrook 22.2 +0.5 34.0 30 Oct       260.8 197.7 high 132%
Dwellingup 21.2 +0.8 33.0 23 Nov 9.4 +1.1 2.3 3 Oct 308.5 254.5 high 121%
Esperance 22.0 +0.7 40.5 24 Nov 11.6 +0.5 6.4 13 Sep 164.0 142.8 high 115%
Esperance Aero 22.3 +0.6 39.9 24 Nov 10.4 +0.4 4.5 6 Oct 146.4 139.9 average 105%
Hopetoun North 21.6 0.0 42.4 24 Nov 11.0 +0.6 5.8 8 Sep 64.4 123.4 v low 52%
Jarrahwood 21.3 +0.3 33.2 30 Oct 7.9 +0.2 0.7 5 Oct 250.0 201.3 high 124%
Mandurah 22.3 +0.3 33.4 30 Oct 14.1 +0.5 8.1 3 Oct 144.8 117.4 high 123%
Rocky Gully 19.6 -0.1 32.6 30 Oct 8.3 -0.1 3.3 3 Oct 240.2 187.2 high 128%
Shannon 18.8 -0.3 30.4 30 Oct 8.6 0.0 3.7 23 Sep 297.0 245.3 high 121%
Windy Harbour 19.4 +0.3 27.5 23 Nov 10.2 -0.3 4.7 6 Oct 249.2 224.9 average 111%
Witchcliffe 20.0 +0.1 30.5 30 Oct 9.8 +0.2 5.2 18 Sep 254.4 206.9 high 123%
North Central (district 10)
Bencubbin 26.1 +1.0 40.5 24 Nov 11.5 +1.4 4.4 21 Sep
Cunderdin Airfield 26.6 +0.8 44.1 24 Nov 8.7 +0.2 0.1 11 Sep 44.4 57.4 average 77%
Merredin 25.8 +1.0 41.3 24 Nov 10.8 +0.8 3.0 3 Sep 69.3 59.0 average 117%
Northam 25.6 +1.2 41.7 24 Nov 10.0 +0.6 2.1 11 Sep 70.7 73.8 average 96%
York 25.4 +0.4 41.6 24 Nov 7.6 -0.1 -1.2 5 Oct 96.7 73.9 high 131%
South Central (district 10A)
Beverley 25.8 +1.2 40.5 24 Nov 8.7 +0.2 0.2 5 Oct 74.6 74.1 average 101%
Brookton 24.5 +1.0 39.4 24 Nov 8.5 +0.5 1.2 3 Sep 79.4 77.6 average 102%
Hyden 26.0 +1.3 42.0 24 Nov 9.4 +0.8 1.9 18 Sep 32.5 68.5 low 47%
Jacup 22.3 +0.4 40.9 24 Nov 8.1 +0.1 1.1 6 Oct 128.4 111.2 average 115%
Katanning 22.1 +0.2 38.3 24 Nov 8.2 +0.2 1.8 3 Oct 100.4 103.7 average 97%
Narembeen 26.2 +1.3 37.0 26 Nov     3.1 3 Sep 58.3 61.6 average 95%
Narrogin 22.8 +1.2 37.8 24 Nov 8.9 +1.0 1.4 5 Oct 103.6 95.6 average 108%
Newdegate Research Station 24.1 +0.8 41.0 24 Nov 8.1 +0.8 0.1 6 Oct 53.0 77.0 average 69%
Ravensthorpe 23.1 +0.7 40.8 24 Nov 10.0 +0.8 4.0 23 Sep 106.2 109.3 average 97%
Wandering 22.8 0.0 37.3 24 Nov 7.1 +0.2 -1.8 5 Oct 120.0 105.2 average 114%
Eucla (district 11)
Balladonia 25.4 +0.3 38.9 14 Oct 9.5 +0.5 0.1 21 Sep 83.4 67.4 high 124%
Eucla 25.5 +2.6 40.9 2 Nov 12.8 +1.5 4.4 8 Oct 75.8 58.7 high 129%
Eyre 24.2 +1.1 41.5 14 Oct 10.5 +0.6 -0.1 4 Sep 147.3 65.1 v high 226%
Forrest 28.8 +1.4 44.8 27 Nov 11.8 +1.2 3.4 26 Sep 36.2 46.2 average 78%
Red Rocks Point 24.8 +2.1 41.4 14 Oct 12.9 +0.6 4.9 24 Sep
South East (district 12)
Bulga Downs 30.8 +1.0 41.5 26 Nov 14.3 +0.8 3.0 7 Oct 12.6 26.6 average 47%
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport 27.2 +1.4 39.3 24 Nov 12.3 +1.1 2.9 5 Oct 37.8 48.1 average 79%
Laverton Aero 30.6 +2.3 41.5 27 Nov 15.3 +1.2 5.2 3 Sep 18.4 39.6 low 46%
Leinster Aero 31.3 +1.8 41.7 26 Nov 16.1 +1.4 2.8 4 Oct 1.2 31.1 low 4%
Leonora Aero 30.5 +1.0 42.3 25 Nov 15.2 +0.6 4.1 4 Oct 8.6 37.3 low 23%
Munglinup West 23.5 +0.3 40.9 24 Nov 9.3 0.0 3.3 6 Oct 90.6 106.6 average 85%
Norseman Aero 26.3 +0.5 40.4 24 Nov 10.1 +0.7 1.6 4 Oct 56.4 70.9 average 80%
Salmon Gums Res.Stn. 25.0 +1.5 40.1 24 Nov 8.4 +0.5 -2.2 6 Oct 76.4 85.6 average 89%
Southern Cross Airfield 26.6 +0.4 41.3 24 Nov 10.4 +1.0 1.7 22 Sep 46.4 52.4 average 89%
North East (district 13)
Carnegie 34.7 +2.1 43.5 17 Nov 17.5 +1.7 3.8 7 Oct 10.5 22.9 average 46%
Giles Meteorological Office 33.3 +2.0 42.7 28 Nov 18.8 +2.0 4.2 7 Oct 36.4 53.8 average 68%
Telfer Aero 38.2 +1.6 44.0 13 Nov 22.9 +2.4 10.2 7 Oct
Warburton Airfield 33.9 +2.3 43.2 27 Nov 18.2 +2.7 2.2 7 Oct 23.6 43.6 low 54%
Wiluna Aero 33.0   42.0 17 Nov 16.2   5.4 7 Oct 15.2
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Adele Island 30.7   33.5 26 Nov 26.3   23.6 1 Sep

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

The Seasonal climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists 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. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11 am on Tuesday 1 December 2020. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites 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, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
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.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

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