Tuesday, 1 June 2021 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC21R0

Western Australia in autumn 2021: wet in the west and far north

Autumn rainfall was above average in western of Western Australia and for much of the Kimberley, while much of the state's central and south-east recorded below average autumn rainfall. Autumn mean maximum temperatures were above average in the southern half of WA, whilst seasonal mean maxima were generally close to average in the northern half. Mean minimum temperatures for autumn were warmer than normal in the southern half of WA, and extending north to the Gascoyne and west Pilbara. The Kimberley and Northern Interior districts observed cooler than normal minimum temperatures for autumn.

Above average rainfall in the west

• For Western Australia, autumn rainfall was 16% above average, and the wettest since 2015.
• March was wet (47% above March average), which was followed by a dry April (39% below April average) and a wet May (10% above May average).
• For the South West Land Division (SWLD), autumn rainfall was 52% above average and the wettest autumn since 2005.
• Many sites in the SWLD, the Central West and southern Gascoyne districts had their highest autumn rainfall on record or highest autumn rainfall for at least 20 years.
• Northam in the Central Wheat Belt District, about 100 km north-east of Perth, recorded a seasonal rainfall total of 270.1 mm, which is its second-wettest autumn in over 140 years of record, and the wettest for 87 years since 1934 (an autumn record of 319.3 mm).
• Albany (town) recorded a seasonal total of 327.6 mm, which is the town site's wettest autumn for 58 years since 1963 (372.1 mm); Albany Airport recorded an autumn total of 365.6 mm, which is the airport site's wettest autumn on record (combined observations commenced in 1964), and previous record was 346.6 mm in autumn 2005.
• A broad trough and a weak low pressure system produced thunderstorms and showers over western WA between 2 and 5 March; a number of sites in the SWLD recorded daily rainfall of 50 mm to 90 mm on the 4th, their highest autumn daily rainfall on record.
• Ex-tropical cyclone Seroja brought severe wind gusts and heavy daily rainfall in the Central West District and the SWLD on 11 and 12 April; a number of sites recorded their highest autumn daily rainfall.
• Thunderstorms produced isolated autumn daily rainfall records in the state's south coast on the 3rd of May; an extensive cloudband and associated low pressure troughs also produced a number of records in the SWLD on the 5th.
• The eastern parts of the SWLD received their autumn break rainfall in early May, whilst most of northern areas had their autumn break rainfall at the end of May (autumn break rainfall defines as 15 mm over 3 days after 25 April).

Above average daytime and night-time temperatures in the south

• The autumn mean maximum temperatures was 1.02 °C above average, although it is the coolest autumn since 2017 for Western Australia.
• The autumn mean minimum temperature was 0.32 °C above average, but it is coolest autumn since 2017 for Western Australia.
• Towards the end of March, the south-west of the state observed very hot days on the 29th and 30th, when temperatures reached the high 30s to low 40s; Lake Grace and Newdegate in the Great Southern District had their autumn highest temperature on record on the 29th.
• A very warm morning was observed in the state's south-west with minima in the mid-to-high 20s on the 30th, including a number of autumn highest daily minimum temperature records.

Severe tropical cyclone Seroja

• Severe tropical cyclone Seroja crossed the Central West District just south of Kalbarri on 11 April, and produced wind gusts over 100 km/h at locations between Carnavon in the Gascoyne coast to Dalwallinu in the Central Wheat Belt on the 11th or 12th.
• On the 11th, Geraldton Airport recorded a gust of 120 km/h; Meanarra Tower east of Kalbarri, a non-bureau site, recorded a gust of 170 km/h (92 knots).

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

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

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top