Improving Australia's Climate Record
Daily rainfall data for Western Australia

Enhanced daily rainfall dataset for Western Australia

An enhanced daily rainfall dataset has been developed for Western Australia 1. This dataset includes 157 stations and dates back to 1900. This work was partially funded by the Indian Ocean Climate Initiative (IOCI).

Western Australia rainfall trend map, smallThe improved dataset

This dataset was developed to enable climate researchers to better understand the decline in rainfall in the southwest of Western Australia and the increased rainfall in the northwest. The dataset was extended back to 1900 and the spatial coverage was increased from 39 to 157 stations. 2

Data & network

Historical observing practice, small image.Methods & development

Creating an enhanced Australian rainfall record requires extensive scientific knowledge – such as understanding how changes in technology and station moves affect data consistency over time.

The Bureau of Meteorology's climate data experts have carefully analysed the data to create a consistent record of daily rainfall for Western Australia over the last 100 years.

Methods

Station data and network

This dataset was developed to enable climate researchers to better understand the decline in rainfall in the southwest of Western Australia and the increased rainfall in the northwest. The dataset was extended back to 1900 and the spatial coverage was increased from 39 to 157 stations.

Further information on these data is available from Climate Data Services.

Daily rainfall data for each station can be downloaded via the map, or the table below.

Number Station name Latitude
°S		 Longitude
°E		 Elevation
m		 Start
year		 Data
001013 Wyndham 15.4872 128.1247 11 1900 Data
001019 Kalumburu 14.2964 126.6453 23 1942 Data
002012 Halls Creek Airport 18.2292 127.6636 422 1900 Data
002014 Kimberley Res.Station 15.6547 128.7092 31 1907 Data
002064 Argyle Aerodrome 16.6381 128.4517 164 1907 Data
003003 Broome Airport 17.9475 122.2353 7 1900 Data
003009 Jubilee Downs 18.355 125.3033 100 1938 Data
003027 Fossil Downs 18.1386 125.7764 120 1921 Data
003030 Bidyadanga 18.6844 121.7803 11 1907 Data
003057 Cygnet Bay 16.4514 123.0086 7 1918 Data
004016 Indee 20.7867 118.5972 80 1911 Data
004032 Port Hedland Airport 20.3725 118.6317 6 1911 Data
004035 Roebourne 20.7767 117.1456 12 1908 Data
005008 Mardie 21.1906 115.9797 11 1908 Data
005020 Ningaloo 22.6975 113.6747 10 1907 Data
006011 Carnarvon Airport 24.8878 113.67 4 1907 Data
006027 Jimba Jimba 25.0442 115.1331 180 1916 Data
006048 Twin Peaks 27.3853 115.9664 260 1923 Data
006055 Woolgorong 27.7456 115.8286 300 1907 Data
006059 Yaringa Station 25.9436 114.3222 13 1947 Data
006060 Carbla Station 26.2011 114.2869 30 1914 Data
007007 Boolardy 26.9844 116.5361 300 1907 Data
007017 Cue 27.4233 117.8994 453 1907 Data
007045 Meekathara Airport 26.6136 118.5372 517 1945 Data
007057 Mount Magnet 28.0619 117.8503 426 1907 Data
007064 Murgoo 27.3636 116.4261 303 1908 Data
007067 Narndee 28.9464 118.1867 442 1923 Data
007095 Yoweragabbie 28.2322 117.6556 400 1909 Data
007101 Munarra 26.2822 118.6933 500 1929 Data
008004 Balline 28.0058 114.2206 100 1931 Data
008005 Barberton 30.7294 116.02 200 1912 Data
008010 Binnu 28.0403 114.675 260 1930 Data
008013 Bowgada 29.3303 116.1433 300 1907 Data
008025 Carnamah 29.6889 115.8869 268 1927 Data
008028 Nabawa 28.5008 114.7897 145 1907 Data
008038 Moora West 30.6392 115.9883 205 1907 Data
008039 Dalwallinu Comparison 30.2772 116.6619 335 1913 Data
008051 Geraldton Airport 28.7953 114.6975 33 1942 Data
008060 Sout Holmwood 29.0364 115.5536 240 1921 Data
008066 Kokardine 30.7008 117.0608 310 1908 Data
008067 Koobabbie 29.9414 116.2003 280 1911 Data
008070 Lake Hinds 30.7819 116.5058 260 1925 Data
008085 Miling 30.4919 116.3628 250 1931 Data
008096 Mumby 28.1525 114.5689 200 1907 Data
008104 Ogilvie 28.1544 114.6692 280 1911 Data
008106 Perangery 29.3692 116.4061 280 1913 Data
008113 Riverside 27.8325 114.7364 200 1930 Data
008128 Tenindewa Bindu 28.5536 115.2456 180 1916 Data
008137 Wongan Hills 30.8917 116.7186 283 1907 Data
008143 Yandanooka 29.2872 115.6331 210 1907 Data
008157 Canna 28.8978 115.8628 340 1916 Data
008233 Five Gums 29.4847 116.0703 330 1945 Data
009009 Lower Chittering 31.605 116.1108 100 1916 Data
009021 Perth Airport 31.9275 115.9764 15.4 1945 Data
009031 Mundaring Weir 31.9564 116.1642 190 1907 Data
009044 Wungong Dam 32.1983 116.0622 200 1948 Data
009500 Albany 35.0289 117.8808 3 1907 Data
009501 Arundel 34.4769 117.4811 260 1913 Data
009506 Bangalup 34.4678 116.9169 180 1920 Data
009507 Bannister 32.6836 116.5194 350 1907 Data
009518 Cape Leeuwin 34.3728 115.1358 13 1907 Data
009519 Cape Naturaliste 33.5372 115.0189 109 1907 Data
009520 Cape Riche 34.6086 118.7511 40 1907 Data
009527 Dardanup East 33.3969 115.7833 40 1936 Data
009534 Donnybrook 33.5719 115.8247 63 1907 Data
009538 Dwellingup 32.7103 116.0594 267 1916 Data
009547 Forest Grove 34.0717 115.0986 60 1926 Data
009551 Grassmere 35.0151 117.7577 10 1907 Data
009556 Aldervale 33.9781 116.3336 200 1925 Data
009557 Hopetoun 33.9497 120.1258 15 1907 Data
009559 Kalgan River 34.9097 117.9942 50 1913 Data
009564 King River 34.9431 117.9242 12 1907 Data
009573 Manjimup 34.2508 116.145 286 1916 Data
009575 Marradong 32.8556 116.45 250 1908 Data
009587 Newbicup 33.9967 116.4253 240 1919 Data
009591 Pardelup 34.6361 117.3822 230 1907 Data
009592 Pemberton 34.4478 116.0433 174 1942 Data
009594 Peppermint Grove 34.435 119.3628 60 1907 Data
009615 Warriup 34.715 118.4692 20 1920 Data
009619 Wilgarrup 34.1519 116.2042 240 1907 Data
009626 Peasant Valley 33.7106 121.5619 60 1949 Data
009636 Cowaramup 33.8358 115.0747 120 1941 Data
009657 Roelands 33.2964 115.7789 15 1943 Data
010007 Bencubbin 30.8081 117.8603 359 1925 Data
010011 Bonnie Rock 30.4731 118.3819 430 1936 Data
010012 Boodjerakine 31.5278 117.4361 260 1914 Data
010019 Burracoppin 31.3958 118.4808 346 1907 Data
010030 Wattoning 30.7767 118.1992 330 1928 Data
010032 Cowcowing 30.9964 117.3953 300 1907 Data
010037 Cuttening 31.7264 117.7644 300 1907 Data
010039 Doodarding Well 31.0072 117.2042 295 1914 Data
010041 Doongin Peak 31.6192 117.4372 250 1908 Data
010052 Aleppo 31.4453 117.2219 300 1910 Data
010061 Happy Valley 31.1417 116.9558 300 1937 Data
010073 Kellerberrin 31.6183 117.7217 250 1907 Data
010092 Merredin 31.4756 118.2789 315 1914 Data
010093 Merredin Research Station 31.4994 118.2242 318 1912 Data
010097 Moningarin 30.6569 117.2625 375 1911 Data
010108 Nokaning 31.3261 118.2464 300 1915 Data
010111 Northam 31.6508 116.6586 170 1907 Data
010123 The Granites 31.9925 117.9325 250 1911 Data
010124 Nangeenan 31.5136 118.1753 280 1907 Data
010126 Trayning 31.1153 117.7942 290 1911 Data
010133 Walk Walkin 30.8256 117.3228 320 1909 Data
010137 Wialki North 30.3294 118.0872 410 1930 Data
010143 Ygnattering 31.415 117.2664 295 1929 Data
010149 Codg Codgen 31.3361 117.8164 320 1909 Data
010150 Grass Valley 31.6358 116.7961 200 1908 Data
010510 Barooga 33.1642 116.7992 280 1911 Data
010515 Beverley 32.1083 116.9247 199 1907 Data
010524 Brookton 32.3728 117.0075 250 1909 Data
010534 Colorado 32.4825 117.5647 270 1914 Data
010536 Corrigin 32.3292 117.8733 295 1910 Data
010541 Nyerilup 33.8594 118.8158 280 1912 Data
010542 Darkan 33.3347 116.7425 280 1913 Data
010546 Dumbleyung 33.3142 117.74 270 1910 Data
010547 Duranillin 33.5167 116.8028 230 1911 Data
010561 Rushy Pool 33.0272 117.3878 315 1911 Data
010564 Hillcroft 32.3472 116.8553 265 1915 Data
010566 Horseshoe 33.5714 117.2111 270 1924 Data
010579 Katanning Comparison 33.6886 117.5553 310 1907 Data
010586 Kumminin 32.0083 118.2322 270 1910 Data
010589 Kwobrup 33.61 117.9878 295 1917 Data
010592 Lake Grace Comparison 33.1006 118.4625 286 1914 Data
010595 Pingrup South 33.6514 118.5517 290 1936 Data
010600 Nanda Downs 33.6067 118.4292 300 1914 Data
010603 Hartwood 32.4231 118.2003 260 1914 Data
010612 Narembeen 32.0656 118.3956 276 1928 Data
010614 Narrogin 32.9342 117.1797 338 1907 Data
010622 Ongerup 33.9644 118.4889 286 1915 Data
010626 Pingelly 32.5336 117.0831 297 1907 Data
010633 Ravensthorpe 33.5803 120.0458 232 1907 Data
010636 The Oaks 33.1567 117.6706 340 1907 Data
010638 St Albans 32.5228 118.3047 300 1914 Data
010644 Bathurst 33.1256 118.1961 350 1914 Data
010647 Wagin 33.3075 117.3403 256 1907 Data
010654 Wickepin 32.7822 117.4992 350 1912 Data
010658 Wonnaminta 32.8331 116.9911 300 1907 Data
010670 Lake Carmody 32.4436 119.3442 310 1935 Data
012011 Bullfinch 30.9869 119.1142 362 1912 Data
012038 Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport 30.7847 121.4533 365 1907 Data
012046 Leonora 28.8836 121.3303 376 1907 Data
012052 Menzies 29.6939 121.0297 426 1907 Data
012054 Dobra Scritia 31.4161 119.0467 370 1925 Data
012056 Moree 31.5939 119.1419 410 1930 Data
012064 Noongaar 31.3356 118.98 440 1928 Data
012065 Norseman 32.1981 121.7794 277 1907 Data
012071 Salmon Gums Research Station1 32.9869 121.6239 249 1934 Data
012074 Southern Cross 31.2319 119.3281 355 1907 Data
012077 I Dunno 32.8606 121.7081 270 1926 Data
012083 Westonia 31.3011 118.6922 350 1917 Data
012090 Yeelirrie 27.2842 120.0931 487 1929 Data
012092 Yuinmery 28.5606 119.0161 500 1922 Data
012093 Yundamindra 29.2472 122.1022 450 1907 Data
012108 Wonganoo 27.1397 121.3397 500 1929 Data
013012 Wiluna 26.5914 120.225 521 1907 Data
013017 Giles Meteorological Office 25.0341 128.301 598 1957 Data

Background information

Long-term datasets present a range of challenges, such as the identification of inconsistencies created by weather station site moves, changes in the surroundings, technology development and errors.

Observational data

The enhanced daily rainfall dataset for Western Australia consists of 157 sites carefully chosen to maximise both length of record and network coverage.

Consistency

While considerable effort is made to keep observational practices consistent – and to keep a careful log of changes at each site – each change in methodology or technology can leave its mark on the record.

These include artificial changes in the record due to:

  • relocation of weather stations;
  • changes in the surroundings.

Artificial changes were identified using statistical tests and records about a station's history. Such changes were confirmed for eight stations in the enhanced dataset.

Station name Station number Date
Albany 9500 Feb-68
Aleppo 10052 Dec-55
Aleppo 10052 Dec-57
Aleppo 10052 Mar-69
Bangalup 9506 Oct-49
Bowgada 8013 Mar-65
King River 9564 Dec-58
Mumby 8096 Jun-62
Ongerup 10622 May-94
Wilgarrup 9619 Oct-89

Errors

Among the hundreds of thousands of climate observations recorded in the Bureau of Meteorology's database each day, it is unavoidable that some records will contain errors. These can be due to automated equipment faults, human error in manual observations and a range of other glitches.

The Bureau maintains a layered approach to correcting data errors. Automated and semi-automated quality control systems are used to identify observational errors.

The data for the enhanced dataset went through additional quality checks to identify rainfall that had been accumulated over more than one day or ascribed to the wrong day. Where possible, estimates of daily rainfall were derived based on nearby sites.


A technician checks a pluviograph used to measure rainfall. (1950)

Documentation

Marinelli, M., Braganza, K., Collins, D., Jones, D. Maguire, S, and Cook, G, (2011): Defining an enhanced daily rainfall candidate network for Western Australia, submitted to Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal.

Lavery, B., Kariko, A. and Nicholls, N. 1992. A historical rainfall data set for Australia. Australian Meteorological Magazine, 40, 33-39.

Lavery, B., Joung, G. and Nicholls, N. 1997. An extended high-quality historical rainfall dataset for Australia. Australian Meteorological Magazine, 46, 27-38.

This project has been sponsored by the Indian Ocean Climate Initiative (IOCI), a partnership of the Western Australian Government, CSIRO, and the Bureau of Meteorology.

(1) It is expected that this enhanced daily rainfall dataset will be extended to the whole of Australia in the future. The data and information in these pages will be updated when this occurs.

(2) See 'Documentation' in Background Information section.

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