Thursday, 1 June 2023 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC21R0

Western Australia in autumn 2023

Rainfall

  • Autumn rainfall was below average near the west and south coasts. In contrast, autumn rainfall was above average in central WA.
  • A deep trough over the northwest WA in late March, and a strong cold front passing the state's southwest in late April, resulting in a number of sites registering their highest autumn daily rainfall on record.
  • Quariding in the Central Wheat Belt recorded 212.3 mm this autumn, which was more than twice (233%) of autumn average (91.1 mm), the highest autumn rainfall since 1974.
  • Autumn rainfall was 96.3 mm, which was 6% above the 1961–1990 average for WA as a whole, but the driest autumn since 2020.
  • Autumn rainfall was 85.4 mm, which was 23% below the 1961–1990 average for the South West Land Division as a whole, the driest autumn since 2020.

Temperature

  • The state's autumn mean maximum temperature was 0.47 °C above the 1961–1990 average, but was the lowest since 2015.
  • The state's autumn mean minimum temperature was 0.34 °C below the 1961–1990 average, and the lowest since 2012.
  • Several sites in the inland southwest had their lowest autumn temperature on record on 27 May, while a number of sites along the Kimberley and Pilbara coast had their records at the end of May.
  • A number of sites in the Great Southern District, and far west Pilbara coast had their lowest autumn mean minimum temperature on record.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in autumn 2023
Hottest day 44.5 °C at Karijini North on 16 Mar
Warmest days on average 35.1 °C at Fitzroy Crossing Aero
Coolest days on average 20.7 °C at Shannon
Coldest day 12.9 °C at Bickley on 6 May
Coldest night -2.6 °C at Newdegate Research Station on 27 May
-2.6 °C at Wandering on 27 May
Coolest nights on average 8.5 °C at Wandering
Warmest nights on average 25.3 °C at Varanus Island
Warmest night 31.6 °C at Karijini North on 19 Mar
Warmest on average overall 28.0 °C at Wyndham Aero
Coolest on average overall 15.7 °C at Shannon
Wettest overall 375.8 mm at Truscott
Driest overall 5.4 mm at Denham
Wettest day 194.8 mm at Bamboo Creek on 14 Apr
Strongest wind gust 126 km/h at Telfer Aero on 14 Apr

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 autumn daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record
Hillcroft 93.0 on 26 Mar 89.2 on 2 Apr 1964 109
Caernarvon Park 51.0 on 26 Mar 49.4 on 5 May 2021 48
Marymia 73.0 on 31 Mar 65.0 on 25 Apr 1985 45
Wagerup Refinery 68.4 on 26 Apr 63.0 on 16 May 1989 40
Mount William 85.6 on 26 Apr 78.2 on 2 May 2005 20


Highest autumn total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
autumn
Quairading 212.3 216.8 in 1974* 91.1

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



Record lowest autumn mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
Wandering 23.1 = 23.1 in 2016 24 24.4


Record lowest autumn temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
Pingelly 0.4 on 27 May = 0.4 on 25 May 2012 53 11.8
Derby Aero 8.2 on 30 May 9.1 on 30 May 2011 39 22.3
Karratha Aero 10.5 on 30 May 10.8 on 31 May 2012 30 22.5
Cunderdin Airfield -2.2 on 27 May -1.2 on 25 May 2012 27 11.9
Newdegate Research Station -2.6 on 27 May -2.3 on 25 May 2012 27 10.1
Lake Grace -0.7 on 27 May 0.2 on 25 May 2012 26 11.7
Norseman Aero -2.3 on 27 May -2.1 on 31 May 2016 24 10.8
Wyndham Aero 8.9 on 31 May 9.6 on 27 May 2012 23 22.8
Roebourne Aero 7.6 on 31 May 7.9 on 31 May 2012 22 21.4


Record lowest autumn mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
Hyden 9.3 9.6 in 1977 48 11.0
Learmonth Airport 18.6 = 18.6 in 2009 48 19.8
Cunderdin Airfield 10.3 10.5 in 2007 26 11.9
Dalwallinu 11.8 11.9 in 2006 25 13.1
Lake Grace 10.4 10.5 in 2019 25 11.7
Newdegate Research Station 8.6 = 8.6 in 2009 25 10.1
Barrow Island Airport 23.5 23.6 in 2001 24 24.2
Munglinup West 10.9 = 10.9 in 2015 20 11.9

Lowest autumn mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
lower		 Average for
autumn
Brookton 9.9 9.5 in 1982* 11.1

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



Record lowest autumn mean temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
Swanbourne 19.5 = 19.5 in 2006 29 20.3
Wandering 15.8 = 15.8 in 2015 24 17.0

Lowest autumn mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
lower		 Average for
autumn
Brookton 17.1 16.9 in 1986* 18.0
Cunderdin Airfield 18.0 17.9 in 2000 19.2

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



Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for autumn 2023
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
autumn
2023		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
autumn
2023		 Mean for
autumn
2023		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
autumn
2023		 Total for
autumn
2023		 Average
for
autumn		 Rank of
autumn
2023		 Fraction of
autumn
average
North Kimberley (district 01)
Wyndham Aero 34.6 -1.2 40.0 14 Mar 21.5 -1.3 8.9 31 May 116.0 174.2 average 67%
East Kimberley (district 02)
Argyle Aerodrome 33.3 -1.2 39.9 8 Mar 21.0 -1.4 10.5 22 May 123.4 168.8 average 73%
Halls Creek Airport 32.5   38.8 17 Mar 17.8   6.4 31 May 55.6
Kununurra Aero 33.6 -1.2 39.0 8 Mar 20.2 -1.3 9.8 28 May 147.2 178.3 average 83%
Warmun     39.5 18 Mar 19.3 -1.1 7.0 31 May 128.9 149.8 average 86%
West Kimberley (district 03)
Bidyadanga 33.5 -1.1 40.0 15 Mar 20.8 -1.1 10.3 20 May 46.4 142.3 low 33%
Broome Airport 32.4 -0.9 38.1 15 Mar 21.3 -0.9 8.5 29 May 191.4 150.4 high 127%
Curtin Aero 34.2 -1.2 39.7 15 Mar 21.1 -0.8 12.9 21 May 256.6 203.6 average 126%
Derby Aero 33.7 -1.0 39.6 15 Mar 20.9 -1.4 8.2 30 May 253.8 174.9 high 145%
Fitzroy Crossing Aero 35.1 -0.7 40.8 15 Mar 18.9 -1.4 6.6 30 May 27.0 142.2 v low 19%
De Grey (district 04)
Karratha Aero 32.8 -0.8 42.3 17 Mar 22.2 -0.3 10.5 30 May 72.4 95.6 average 76%
Legendre Island 30.7 -0.9 38.4 11 Mar     16.7 31 May
Mandora 34.6 -0.6 41.9 16 Mar 20.9 +0.3 7.6 24 May 47.6 117.4 average 41%
Marble Bar 34.4 -0.8 43.7 16 Mar 20.8 -0.7 9.1 30 May 155.2 111.4 average 139%
Port Hedland Airport 33.9 -0.4 42.7 11 Mar 22.0 +0.8 11.0 30 May 58.2 103.1 average 56%
Roebourne Aero 34.7 -0.5 43.6 19 Mar 20.9 -0.5 7.6 31 May 33.0 90.2 average 37%
Fortescue (district 05)
Barrow Island Airport 30.1 -0.7 37.9 23 Mar 23.5 -0.7 15.8 23 May 59.6 150.7 average 40%
Karijini North 33.4   44.5 16 Mar     8.8 24 May 50.2
Learmonth Airport 33.0 +0.2 43.0 16 Mar 18.6 -1.2 9.3 23 May 18.0 103.7 low 17%
Mardie 34.4 -0.6 43.9 17 Mar 20.8 -0.1 10.4 23 May 52.6 105.9 average 50%
Onslow Airport 33.5 +0.3 43.4 6 Mar 21.2 +0.1 11.5 30 May 8.8 133.3 v low 7%
Thevenard Island 31.5 -0.2 39.6 6 Mar 23.7 -0.3 15.8 26 May 22.4 99.4 average 23%
West Gascoyne (district 06)
Carnarvon Airport 29.3 +0.2 39.0 1 Mar 17.9 -0.8 8.9 16 Apr 43.0 64.5 average 67%
Murchison 31.0 +0.2 43.5 15 Mar 15.2 -0.8 5.1 22 May 103.7 69.5 high 149%
Shark Bay Airport 30.3 -0.6 40.8 1 Mar 17.4 -0.7 9.7 22 May 6.2 49.7 low 12%
East Gascoyne (district 07)
Newman Aero 31.4 -0.2 42.4 16 Mar 16.6 -0.7 3.9 23 May 137.4 81.0 high 170%
Paraburdoo Aero 33.6 +0.3 43.6 16 Mar 19.4 0.0 7.8 22 May 88.2 92.9 average 95%
Murchison (district 07A)
Meekatharra Airport 28.9 -0.3 42.9 16 Mar 16.6 -0.3 6.5 27 May 161.6 71.8 v high 225%
Mount Magnet Aero 28.9 +0.2 42.2 21 Mar 15.4 -0.7 4.0 28 May 40.2 71.1 low 57%
Paynes Find 28.5 +0.3 41.7 20 Mar 12.6 -1.4 1.5 28 May 58.9 87.3 average 67%
North Coast (district 08)
Dalwallinu 26.7 -0.2 40.3 20 Mar 11.8 -1.3 3.1 27 May 52.4 76.3 low 69%
Geraldton Airport 28.1 -0.5 40.1 1 Mar 14.5 -1.0 5.8 28 May 38.0 81.8 low 46%
Kalbarri 29.1 -0.3 40.5 1 Mar 16.1 -0.3 6.2 28 May 17.3 84.3 low 21%
Morawa Airport 28.7 -0.1 40.6 8 Mar 13.1 -1.3 1.8 28 May 30.8 72.5 low 42%
Mullewa 28.9 +0.1 40.5 15 Mar 14.5 -0.5 5.4 25 May 89.6 85.0 average 105%
North Island 26.2 -0.1 33.7 2 Mar 20.2 -0.1 14.0 23 Apr 29.0 60.9 low 48%
Central Coast (district 09)
Badgingarra Research Stn 26.9 -0.3 38.9 20 Mar 13.1 -0.5 5.2 25 Apr 59.0 107.6 low 55%
Bickley 22.5 -1.1 34.7 2 Mar 11.9 -0.6 5.0 26 May 209.0 211.4 average 99%
Garden Island HSF 23.8 -0.3 36.8 2 Mar 15.3 -0.8 7.7 27 May 119.6 129.9 average 92%
Gingin Aero 26.1 -0.6 38.1 2 Mar 10.8 -1.3 -0.8 27 May 81.4 119.1 low 68%
Jandakot Aero 25.1 -0.7 37.3 1 Mar 12.4 -0.1 3.2 27 May 139.6 163.3 average 85%
Millendon (Swan Valley) 26.0   37.9 2 Mar 12.3   1.3 27 May 83.4
Pearce RAAF 26.5 +0.1 38.6 2 Mar 12.9 -0.5 2.8 28 May 70.4 132.6 low 53%
Perth Airport 25.7 -0.1 37.9 1 Mar 12.8 -0.3 1.1 27 May 106.8 152.9 low 70%
Perth Metro 25.3 -0.7 36.9 2 Mar 13.1 -0.6 2.7 27 May 113.6 144.2 average 79%
Rottnest Island 23.2 -0.5 36.1 2 Mar 16.6 -0.5 10.7 25 Apr 89.2 124.1 low 72%
Swanbourne 24.4 -1.0 37.4 1 Mar 14.5 -0.6 6.9 27 May 115.4 150.5 average 77%
South Coast (district 09A)
Albany     28.2 16 Mar 13.5 +0.7 7.8 21 May 214.7 222.3 average 97%
Albany Airport 21.9 0.0 34.7 12 Mar 11.3 -0.4 3.7 21 May 197.0 185.8 average 106%
Bridgetown 23.0 -0.4 33.9 20 Mar 8.9 -0.5 -1.3 27 May 125.6 168.9 average 74%
Bunbury 23.6 -0.7 35.3 1 Mar 12.2 +0.4 2.1 27 May 165.2 158.5 average 104%
Busselton Aero 23.6 -0.5 35.1 1 Mar 10.7 -0.6 0.2 27 May 126.8 158.7 low 80%
Cape Leeuwin 21.5 +0.4 24.9 10 Mar 15.7 +0.4 10.5 25 Apr 165.4 223.4 average 74%
Cape Naturaliste 23.0 +1.1 33.9 21 Mar 13.7 -0.2 7.4 26 May 179.0 180.8 average 99%
Collie East 23.6 -0.4 35.0 2 Mar 8.6 -0.5 -2.2 27 May 107.6 153.2 average 70%
Dwellingup 22.9 +0.2 35.0 2 Mar 10.3 -0.1 0.4 27 May 276.0 248.0 average 111%
Esperance 22.8 -0.2 36.0 3 Mar 13.1 -0.1 7.3 7 May 90.6 144.2 low 63%
Esperance Aero 23.3 0.0 36.6 15 Mar 12.0 -0.6 5.7 27 May 111.6 138.0 average 81%
Hopetoun North 22.5 -0.6 36.0 3 Mar 12.5 -0.1 6.0 20 Apr 67.6 114.5 low 59%
Jarrahwood 23.8 -0.1 34.5 20 Mar 8.8 -0.3 -1.8 26 May 114.6 194.5 low 59%
Mandurah 23.8 -0.5 35.9 1 Mar 15.3 -0.5 7.2 27 May 92.2 138.0 low 67%
Manjimup 21.6 +0.3 33.1 1 Mar 10.8 0.0 4.9 27 May 176.4 217.1 average 81%
North Walpole 21.2 -0.3 30.5 15 Mar 12.7 -0.1 7.2 19 Apr 320.2 251.2 high 127%
Rocky Gully 21.2 -0.6 32.5 12 Mar 10.4 -0.5 3.7 19 Apr 132.8 167.4 average 79%
Shannon 20.7 -0.7 31.4 1 Mar 10.7 -0.1 4.9 2 May 260.0 229.0 high 114%
Windy Harbour 21.2 -0.6 26.0 12 Mar 12.2 0.0 5.0 21 May 251.2 244.8 average 103%
Witchcliffe West 21.9   33.1 1 Mar 11.6   2.9 27 May 182.4
North Central (district 10)
Bencubbin 26.0 +0.1 39.0 21 Mar 12.0 -0.8 2.5 27 May 80.0 82.4 average 97%
Cunderdin Airfield 25.7 -0.8 37.9 3 Mar 10.3 -1.6 -2.2 27 May 104.4 76.5 high 136%
Merredin 25.3 -0.3 39.0 21 Mar 11.8 -0.9 0.0 27 May 64.9 84.5 average 77%
Northam 25.6 -0.5 38.0 2 Mar 10.9 -1.0 0.5 27 May 105.7 97.2 average 109%
York 25.4 -0.9 38.0 15 Mar 9.6 -1.2 -1.0 27 May 133.0 90.4 high 147%
South Central (district 10A)
Beverley 25.8 -0.4 37.2 21 Mar 10.3 -1.0 -0.6 27 May 124.8 93.3 high 134%
Brookton 24.4 -0.6 36.4 2 Mar 9.9 -1.2 -0.1 27 May 143.1 100.9 high 142%
Hyden 25.2 -0.4 38.0 3 Mar 9.3 -1.7 -1.5 26 May 77.6 83.3 average 93%
Jacup 22.3 -0.5 35.2 15 Mar 9.8 -0.8 1.8 27 May 83.2 111.4 average 75%
Katanning 22.5 -0.6 33.4 15 Mar 10.2 -0.7 3.4 27 May 66.4 101.2 low 66%
Lake Grace 23.4 -0.7 35.8 15 Mar 10.4 -1.3 -0.7 27 May 75.4 75.8 average 99%
Narrogin 23.0 -0.1 34.5 12 Mar 10.0 -0.5 -1.0 27 May 127.4 112.5 average 113%
Newdegate Research Station 23.4 -0.6 35.9 3 Mar 8.6 -1.5 -2.6 27 May 100.2 90.8 average 110%
Ravensthorpe 23.1 -0.4 37.0 15 Mar 11.0 -0.8 4.0 27 May 46.5 107.9 low 43%
Wandering 23.1 -1.3 36.7 2 Mar 8.5 -1.0 -2.6 27 May 202.2 109.8 v high 184%
Eucla (district 11)
Eucla 23.8 +0.5 39.9 17 Mar 13.3 0.0 5.0 10 May
Eyre 24.6 +0.7 37.4 13 Apr 10.4 -1.2 -0.8 28 May 54.8 89.1 low 62%
Forrest 25.8 -0.2 40.6 17 Mar 11.7 0.0 2.2 10 May 38.2 52.1 average 73%
South East (district 12)
Bulga Downs 28.8 +0.2 43.0 16 Mar 13.3 -0.7 2.2 28 May 29.4 71.2 low 41%
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport 25.4 +0.2 41.4 16 Mar 12.5 0.0 1.2 27 May 49.4 69.4 average 71%
Laverton Aero 27.1 +0.4 42.8 16 Mar 14.7 +0.1 4.3 28 May 55.2 69.4 average 80%
Leinster Aero 27.5 -0.2 42.7 16 Mar 14.7 -0.3 3.3 28 May 67.6 73.1 average 92%
Leonora Aero 27.5 -0.2 43.4 16 Mar 14.4 -0.4 3.0 28 May 36.0 63.4 average 57%
Munglinup West 23.6 -0.3 37.9 3 Mar 10.9 -1.0 3.0 27 May 60.2 107.2 low 56%
Norseman Aero 24.6 -0.4 40.2 16 Mar 10.0 -0.8 -2.3 27 May 82.2 73.5 high 112%
Salmon Gums Res.Stn. 24.3 +0.6 38.1 16 Mar 8.9 -1.1 -2.1 27 May 60.8 86.6 average 70%
Southern Cross Airfield 25.6 -0.5 40.1 21 Mar 10.9 -0.7 -1.7 27 May 77.0 87.4 average 88%
North East (district 13)
Carnegie     42.3 17 Mar 15.0 -0.8 4.0 24 May 186.0 72.4 v high 257%
Giles Meteorological Office 29.6 +0.5 41.9 18 Mar 15.5 -0.7 2.8 28 May 60.6 71.7 average 85%
Telfer Aero 33.4 -0.4 44.3 16 Mar 19.8 -0.4 8.0 31 May 187.8 110.0 high 171%
Warburton Airfield 29.3 -0.1 44.4 17 Mar 15.9 +0.5 3.6 29 May 38.4 62.1 average 62%
Wiluna Aero 28.6   43.5 16 Mar 15.2   4.3 27 May 196.2
Offshore Islands
Varanus Island 30.1 -0.6 35.9 11 Mar 25.3 -0.4 20.6 31 May 21.2 109.9 low 19%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

The Seasonal climate summary, usually published in the first week of the following 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.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 1 pm on Thursday 1 June 2023. 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.

Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.

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