Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - Annual Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC11R0

Western Australia in 2011: Wettest year on record

• Rainfall: Wettest year on record for WA, near average for southwest WA
• Maximum temperature: Near average for WA; 3rd warmest year on record for southwest WA.
• Minimum temperature: Near average for WA; warmest year on record for southwest WA.

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Annual rainfall in WA in 2011 was above average to very much above average over most of WA, with areas of highest on record in the Kimberley and in central and southeastern parts of the state. Below average rainfall was confined to the Southwest district, western parts of the Lower West and Central West, and eastern parts of the Southeast Coastal district (see the annual rainfall totals & deciles).

When averaged across the state, WA observed its wettest year on record in 2011 with a state-wide average of 601 mm, breaking the record of 596 mm observed in 2000 (comparable records commenced in 1900). The original release of the Annual Climate Summary for WA on 4 January 2011 indicated that 2011 was WA’s 2nd wettest year on record, with an annual total of 595 mm, however additional rainfall data has been received since then and has elevated 2011 to the wettest year on record in WA. Spatially averaged rainfall data showed that in the Lower Southwest (southwest of a line from Jurien Bay to Bremer Bay), annual rainfall was in the near average range, whilst in the Southwest Land Division (SWLD), annual rainfall in 2011 was above average.

The unusually wet conditions across most of WA in 2011 were primarily the result of a very active monsoon season during the first four months of 2011, aided by one of the strongest La Ninas on record and exceptionally warm Indian Ocean temperatures. Summer 2010-11 saw the second wettest summer on record for WA, and was followed by very much above average autumn rainfall. Although the La Nina weakened in late autumn, and winter rainfall for WA as a whole was near average, the La Nina redeveloped in early spring, with several middle level troughs bringing relatively frequent thunderstorms to much of the state in spring and early December. Significant rainfall events with resultant widespread crop damage occurred late in the season in the SWLD, and the second wettest spring on record in WA was registered.

A number of sites recorded their wettest day on record during 2011, most notably due to rainfall events in February and March in the Kimberley, Goldfields and Eucla. The highest daily fall in WA in 2011 was 388.6 mm at Kuri Bay on 11 January, the result of a very active monsoon trough, with the daily total probably higher than observed given that the rainfall gauge overflowed before the observer was able to check the final total. Kuri Bay went on to record the highest January rainfall total on record for WA, partly as a result of this event, with 1540.4 mm. The second highest daily fall during 2011 was 351.0 mm at Durack Range in the Kimberley on 14 March, the result of an intense monsoonal event that brought significant flooding to the region. Several sites registered their wettest year on record, mostly in the Kimberley, due to above average rainfall in the early part of the year, but also in the southern Gascoyne and Great Southern, due to the wet spring and wet December. The wettest location in the state in 2011 was Doongan with 2458.1 mm, which is more than double its annual average rainfall, and in fact this is the highest annual rainfall on record in WA, breaking the previous record of 2380.6 mm observed at Kimberly Coastal Camp in 2000. Gibb River in the Kimberley was also very wet during 2011, recording a total of 2136.2 mm, which is the 7th wettest year on record in WA, whilst Theda with 2114.5 mm observed the 9th wettest year on record in WA.

Maximum temperature

Maximum temperatures in WA during 2011 were above average to very much above average in western and southern parts of the state, with areas of hottest on record in western parts of the Central West, Lower West, and Southwest districts. In contrast, most of the Kimberley, central and eastern parts of the Pilbara, the northern and western Interior, and Goldfields were below to very much average in terms of daytime maximum temperature, with areas of lowest on record in the east Kimberley (see the annual mean maximum temperature averages & deciles).

Averaged across the state as a whole, the annual mean maximum temperature was 0.2 °C below the long-term average, and so in the close to normal range, however the Lower Southwest observed its third warmest year since comparable records commenced in 1910, with a mean 1.1 °C above the long-term average. The Lower Southwest experienced above average daytime temperatures for most months of the year, as well as the second hottest autumn, and the eighth warmest winter. To highlight the significance of the warm year in the Southwest district, a number of stations with over 100 years of record registered their warmest ever year.

The hottest day of the year in WA was 22 December when Roebourne in the Pilbara recorded 49.4 °C, a December record for WA, the 5th hottest temperature on record in WA, and the 2nd hottest December day on record for Australia.

Minimum temperature

Minimum temperatures in 2011 were above average to very much above average across western, cental, and southern WA, with areas of highest on record over much of the SWLD and adjacent Gascoyne and Eucla. Conversely, below to very much below average mean minima were observed in much of the Kimberley and neighbouring parts of the inland Pilbara and northern Interior, with areas of lowest on record in the east Kimberley (see the annual mean minimum temperature averages & deciles).

Averaged across the state as a whole, the annual mean minimum temperature was just 0.2 °C above the long-term average. However, the Lower Southwest observed its warmest year on record in terms of the mean minimum temperature, with a mean 1.2 °C above the long-term average, breaking the previous record set in 1963 by 0.3 °C. The Lower Southwest experienced above average night-time temperatures for most months of the year, including the equal warmest February, and fourth warmest December, as well as the seventh warmest autumn, and ninth warmest winter since comparable records commenced in 1950. Many sites in the SWLD registered their highest annual mean minimum temperature on record, whilst Cape Leeuwin, Bridgetown, Cape Naturaliste, and Donnybrook, all in the Southwest district, broke their annual record with more than 100 years of temperature observation.

Despite observing its coolest year on record in terms of overnight temperature, Wyndham in the east Kimberley was still the warmest location overnight in WA in 2011 with a mean minimum of 21.4 °C

Notable events

• Severe Tropical Cyclone Bianca moved across the north Kimberley as a tropical low on 24 and 25 January then developed into a tropical cyclone and tracked along the Pilbara coast on 26 and 27 January before increasing to category 4 strength off the WA west coast then weakening as it approached Perth on 30 January. The tropical low brought significant rain to the Kimberley, whilst strong winds and siginificant rainfall was reported near the Pilbara coast though TC Bianca remained offshore.
• Severe thunderstorms formed on the afternoon of 28 January, tracked through the Kimberley, Pilbara, and Gascoyne, before becoming an organised squall line on the morning of the 29th and causing widespread damage due to severe wind gusts through the western Central Wheat Belt, and western Great Southern.
• Kuri Bay in the west Kimberley recorded 1540.4 mm of rainfall during January 2011, the highest total rainfall recorded in a month in WA.
• Strong and gusty easterly winds between 5 and 7 February drove fires to burn out of control to the east of Perth, near Red Hill, in the Swan Valley, and Roleystone and Kelmscott to Perth’s east. Over 100 homes were destroyed or partially damaged in the Kelmscott and Roleystone areas.
• Severe Tropical Cyclone Carlos, which formed over the Top End of the NT and caused very heavy rainfall in Darwin, moved through the Kimberley and reformed off the Kimberley west coast. TC Carlos brought heavy rainfall as it moved along the Pilbara coast, passing near Karratha on 22 February, and Onslow and Exmouth on 23 February, whilst a tornado in an outer rainband of the TC moved over Karratha CBD on 21 February and caused extensive damage.
• During the week ending 14 March, an intense monsoonal burst caused extensive flooding in the east Kimberley region of WA.
• The passage of a cold front across southwest WA on 29 May resulted in a tornado passing through in Bunbury and significant damage to several houses in the suburb of Usher.
• Heavy rainfall centred on the Great Southern district on the afternoon of 3 November brought widespread falls of over 40 mm, and some falls over 60 mm, causing significant crop damage in the region.
• Bushfires in the the Margaret River region from 23 to 26 November destroyed 41 homes and holiday chalets, and damaged a number of other homes whilst burning through over 3,000 hectares.
• Two significant rainfall events in the SWLD in December as a result of middle levels troughs over the region caused localised damage, particularly to grain crops, and some flash flooding. The events followed a very wet spring, which had already brought significant crop damage to some parts of the SWLD. Rainfall totals of just over 100 mm were recorded in the northeast Great Southern on 6 and 7 December and were some of the highest December falls on record for the SWLD. This was followed by an event on 12 and 13 December that brought widespread heavy rainfall to large parts of the SWLD. Williams in the northwest Great Southern recorded 125.6 mm, which is the highest one day rainfall total recorded in the SWLD in December. Signifcant local floooding was reported in the Williams and Narrogin region as a result of the severe thunderstorms. See the Special Climate Statement Very heavy rainfall in southern WA for more information.
• Extremely hot weather was observed in the Pilbara from 20 to 25 December, with numerous sites observing daily maxima over 47 °C. The December maximum temperature record for WA was broken on three consecutive days, with Roebourne (49.4 °C on the 21st), Roebourne Airport (49.0 °C on the 21st), Onslow (49.2 °C on the 22nd) and Learmonth (48.9 °C on the 23rd), all surpassing the previous December record of 48.8 °C set at Mardie on 26 December 1986. The 49.4 °C at Roebourne was also the 2nd hottest December day in Australia, just 0.1 °C behind the 49.5 °C recorded at Birdsville in Queensland on 24 December 1972, as well as the 5th hottest day on record in WA.

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Extremes in 2011
Hottest day	49.4 °C at Roebourne on 21 Dec
Warmest days on average	34.5 °C at Fitzroy Crossing Aero
Coolest days on average	20.4 °C at Albany
Coldest day	8.9 °C at Bulga Downs on 10 & 11 Jul
Coldest night	-4.1 °C at Eyre on 24 Sep
Coolest nights on average	9.5 °C at Jarrahwood 9.5 °C at Newdegate Research Station
Warmest nights on average	23.5 °C at Varanus Island 21.4 °C at Wyndham
Warmest night	33.2 °C at Wittenoom on 22 Dec
Wettest overall	2458.1 mm at Doongan
Driest overall	257.0 mm at Gascoyne Junction
Wettest day	388.6 mm at Kuri Bay 11 Jan
Highest wind gust	139 km/h at Varanus Island on 22 Feb

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Record highest annual daily rainfall
	Highest daily rainfall in 2011 (mm)		Previous annual wettest		Years of record
Laverton	120.2	on 17 Feb	92.6	on 24 Jan 2000	111
Yundamindra	126.0	on 17 Feb	101.6	on 1 Jan 1955	110
Warmun	181.1	on 14 Mar	167.9	on 13 Apr 1910	104
Hyden	105.0	on 7 Dec	100.3	on 2 Jan 1966	83
Eyre	81.2	on 17 Mar	75.8	on 17 Mar 2000	67
Amrista Park	109.0	on 7 Dec	101.6	on 17 Feb 1970	56
Bedford Downs	257.0	on 14 Mar	212.5	on 4 Feb 1974	46
Beebyn	227.0	on 19 Feb	111.8	on 9 Mar 1926	44
Charnley River	233.0	on 5 Apr	202.0	on 21 Jan 1986	44
Tawarri West	102.0	on 19 Feb	82.6	on 27 May 1999	37
Mooloo Downs	86.0	on 11 Feb	=86.0	on 21 Jun 1980	32
Sophie Downs	160.0	on 14 Mar	134.2	on 20 Feb 2001	32
Kybo	102.0	on 24 Feb	94.6	on 1 Jan 2006	30

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Record highest total annual rainfall
	Total rainfall for 2011 (mm)	Previous annual wettest		Years of record	Annual average
Warmun	1540.2	1342.7	in 2000	101	722.4
Fossil Downs	1087.3	1048.8	in 1984	95	532.3
Gibb River	2136.2	1368.4	in 1974	81	785.0
Carnegie	524.4	455.0	in 1967	56	234.5
Amrista Park	521.9	503.4	in 1963	54	357.9
Paynes Find	579.6	539.2	in 1992	44	291.2
Mount Barnett	1547.4	1315.8	in 2007	41	908.3
Yulmbu	1752.8	994.4	in 2002	41	661.5
Kojonolokan Hills	607.5	518.8	in 2005	38	412.4
Theda	2114.5	1684.1	in 2008	37	1261.3
Mount Elizabeth	1928.4	1301.3	in 2007	36	990.6

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Record highest annual temperature
	Highest temperature in 2011 (°C)		Previous annual warmest		Years of record	Annual average
Salmon Gums Res.Stn.	46.3	on 28 Jan	45.7	on 6 Jan 2010	76	23.4
Giles Meteorological Office	44.8	on 28 Jan	= 44.8	on 27 Dec 1986	56	29.3
Roebourne	49.4	on 21 Dec	49.1	on 18 Feb 1998	55	34.0
Onslow Airport	49.2	on 22 Dec	48.9	on 11 Jan 2008	48	31.9
Learmonth Airport	48.9	on 23 Dec	= 48.9	on 2 Jan 2010	37	31.8

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Record highest annual mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for 2011 (°C)	Previous annual warmest		Years of record	Annual average
Cape Leeuwin	21.2	20.9	in 1983	114	19.7
Bridgetown Comparison	23.8	= 23.8	in 1930	109	22.4
Cape Naturaliste	22.8	22.6	in 1999	107	20.6
Donnybrook	24.6	24.5	in 1972	106	23.1
Manjimup	22.0	21.7	in 2010	70	20.3
Geraldton Airport Comparison	27.2	26.9	in 1988	66	25.9
Perth Airport	26.1	26.0	in 2010	66	24.4
Pemberton	22.1	21.5	in 2010	63	20.3

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Record lowest annual mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for 2011 (°C)	Previous annual coolest		Years of record	Annual average
Halls Creek Airport	31.6	31.9	in 1974	63	33.6
Mardie	32.6	32.9	in 1992	52	33.9
Warmun	33.0	33.2	in 1974	46	35.1
Wyndham	33.7	34.2	in 2006	40	35.6

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Record highest annual daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature in 2011 (°C)		Previous annual warmest		Years of record	Annual average
Eucla	30.7	on 30 Jan	30.2	on 26 Feb 2009	55	12.2

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Record lowest annual temperature
	Lowest temperature in 2011 (°C)		Previous annual coolest		Years of record	Annual average
Wyndham	8.3	on 14 Jun	8.6	on 29 Jun 2004	44	23.2
Telfer Aero	2.1	on 14 Jun	2.5	on 19 Jun 1976	38	19.4

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Record highest annual mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for 2011 (°C)	Previous annual warmest		Years of record	Annual average
Cape Leeuwin	15.3	14.9	in 1996	114	14.1
Onslow	20.5	20.4	in 1998	114	18.0
Bridgetown Comparison	9.7	9.5	in 1983	108	8.0
Cape Naturaliste	14.0	13.7	in 1983	107	12.7
Donnybrook	11.7	11.2	in 1983	105	9.7
Albany	13.1	12.8	in 2010	91	11.7
Balladonia	11.2	10.8	in 1999	80	9.8
Dwellingup	11.0	10.6	in 1963	70	9.5
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport	12.7	12.6	in 1991	68	11.7
Pemberton	11.7	11.2	in 1963	62	10.1
Mullewa	14.9	14.3	in 1963	60	13.1
Eucla	13.1	12.8	in 1961	51	12.2
Pearce RAAF	13.8	13.2	in 1967	48	12.2
Albany Airport	11.2	11.1	in 1978	45	10.5
Esperance	12.8	12.6	in 1983	41	12.0
Beverley	11.5	10.9	in 1992	40	10.2
Ongerup	10.5	= 10.5	in 1983	40	9.7
Badgingarra Research Stn	13.3	12.7	in 1999	38	11.8
Pingelly	11.4	11.1	in 1978	38	10.4
Wagin	10.5	= 10.5	in 1991	35	9.7
Hyden	11.5	10.4	in 2003	34	9.9
Kalbarri	16.2	15.5	in 1996	34	14.5

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Record lowest annual mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for 2011 (°C)	Previous annual coolest		Years of record	Annual average
Wyndham	21.4	21.9	in 1976	41	23.2

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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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

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Month by month
An active monsoon for much of the January 2011 over the Kimberley resulted in Kuri Bay observing 1540.4 mm of rainfall, the wettest month on record for WA. Elsewhere, rainfall was mostly above average and the Lower Southwest (southwest of a line from Jurien Bay to Bremer Bay) saw its 5th wettest January on record mainly the result of a cold front over the region interacting with tropical moisture on the 5th, and a line of storms moving through the region on the 29th. Severe Tropical Cyclone Bianca brought heavy rainfall to the Pilbara coast late in January. Monthly mean maximum temperatures were above to very much above average in much of the southern half of WA as well as through the Interior, where some sites recorded one of the hottest Januarys on record. Forrest in the Eucla recorded 48.4 °C on the 30th, the third highest temperature recorded in WA in January 2011. In contrast, northern coastal parts of the state observed below to very much below average daytime temperatures, the result of an active monsoon. The mean daily minimum temperature for WA during January 2011 was the highest on record, with numerous sites in WA recording their highest January mean minimum.
Rainfall rank	Maximum temperature rank	Minimum temperature rank
February 2011 was the second wettest February on record across WA as a whole, with areas of highest on record reported in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, Central West, Central Wheat Belt, Goldfields, Interior and Eucla. Tropical Cyclone Dianne formed off the northwest coast during the middle of the month and remained offshore but contributed to heavy rainfall in northwest and central parts of WA. Tropical Cyclone Carlos became the first TC to make landfall on the northwest coast of WA in the 2010/11 season when it formed near Darwin before crossing the Kimberley and moving parallel with the Pilbara coast. February 2011 ranked as the third coolest in terms of daytime temperature, with most of WA away from the west coast observing below to very much below average daytime temperatures. In contrast, the west coast of WA and adjacent inland parts saw above to very much above average daily maximum temperatures, with a few sites in western parts of the Lower West and Southwest observing their hottest month on record due to consistently hot days and a lack of cooling sea breezes. Western and southern WA experienced above to very much above average overnight minima with areas of record high mean monthly minimum temperature in the southwest Gascoyne and Southwest district. The Lower Southwest observed its equal warmest February on record for minimum temperatures when averaged across the region.
March rainfall was very much above average over much of the eastern half of the state, with extreme rainfall causing significant flooding in the east Kimberley during the middle of the month. Partly as a result of the rain and cloudy conditions over much of the east and north of the state, WA observed its fifth coolest March on record in terms of daytime maximum temperature. In contrast though, the Lower Southwest observed its third hottest March on record in terms of daytime temperature, as well as its fourth warmest March on record in terms of overnight temperatures.
April saw heavy rainfall in the north Kimberley during the first half of the month due to an active monsoon trough, whilst a tropical low brought heavy rainfall to the far north Kimberley as it developed into Tropical Cyclone Errol on the 15th, well off the WA coast. Rainfall for the Lower Southwest was near average, mainly due to cold fronts over the Easter period late in the month, whilst the Lower Southwest continued its warm start to the year, observing its fourth hottest April on record in terms of maximum temperature. Both the maximum and minimum temperature patterns across WA in April were similar with above average temperatures experienced in western and southern parts of the state, but below average temperatures recorded in the Kimberley and neighbouring districts.
Rain over WA during May 2011 was patchy, with areas of above and below average rainfall scattered across the state. A cold front brought the first significant rainfall to the SWLD on the 20th, followed by another front on the 29th and 30th, however, the fronts also brought severe winds with damage reported in southern parts of Perth and in parts of Bunbury. In the north, a cloudband brought significant rainfall to the Pilbara during the middle of the month. Both maximum and minimum temperatures were below average during May 2011 when averaged across the state as a whole. However, the Lower Southwest region experienced above average maximum temperatures and near average minimum temperatures.
Despite several strong cold fronts moving through southern Western Australia during June 2011, rainfall totals were generally near to or below average across the SWLD, with very much below average rainfall notable in the Southeast Coastal district. In contrast, wetter than normal conditions were experienced in the west Pilbara, Eucla, southern Interior and parts of the Goldfields, mainly due to cloudbands moving through the state during the early part of the month. When averaged across WA as a whole, rainfall was near average. Both maximum and minimum temperatures were below normal in the northeast of the state, with a particularly cool period during the middle of the month as relatively cool air moved over northern WA from the southeast. In contrast, southern and western parts of WA generally observed above average maximum and minimum temperatures.
July saw a number of strong cold fronts cross southwest WA, particularly in the latter part of the month, bringing heavy rainfall and severe winds. Despite this, rainfall totals for the month were generally close to average throughout the Lower Southwest. For WA as a whole, rainfall was above average, with central parts of the state experiencing wetter than normal conditions due to a number of cloudbands moving through the region. The coldest day of 2011 was observed during mid-July, with Bulga Downs in the southern Gascoyne observing 8.9 °C on both the 10th and 11th due to a thick mid-level cloudband. Mean minima were above average across most of WA, except in parts of the Southwest and Kimberley. WA observed its fourth warmest July in terms of overnight minima, mainly as a result of persistent cloud cover over much of the state during the month.
August rainfall across WA as a whole was near average, but areas of above average rainfall in central parts of the state contrasted with areas of below average rainfall in the east and south. Widespread rainfall was evident over much of southern WA in the first few days of August due to a strong westerly flow, while strong cold fronts during the middle of the month brought strong winds and moderate to heavy rainfall to southwest and central WA. A strong cold front crossed the SWLD on the 21st and 22nd, with a number of locations in the Southwest district breaking their highest daily rainfall records for August. Maximum temperatures were above to very much above average across most of WA during August 2011, with the month ranking as the 4th warmest on record for the state, as well as equal 3rd warmest on record for the Lower Southwest. Overnight temperatures were above to very much above average across much of western, central and southern WA, but below to very much below average in most of the Kimberley.
Rainfall across WA during September 2011 was mixed with areas of above average rainfall in the central and northern SWLD, Goldfields, Gascoyne, west Pilbara and west Kimberley, and below average rainfall in the Interior, southeast Pilbara, northeast Gascoyne, and South and Southeast Coastal districts. A number of cold fronts moved through the south of the state during the month, the most significant of these occurring on the 18th with heavy rainfall observed in the SWLD and severe wind gusts causing damage in the Lower West and Goldfields. Overnight temperatures were below average across large parts of central and northern WA, with particularly cool nights occurring in the north of the state during the middle of the month due to a very strong slow moving high to the south. Above average overnight minima were restricted to parts of the SWLD coast and the Eucla.
October was a wet month across most of the state, but particularly in the Goldfields and parts of the SWLD where numerous October monthly rainfall records were broken. The month was the 3rd wettest October for WA as a whole, whilst only parts of the Eucla, Southwest and Lower West, northern Gascoyne, and Pilbara, recorded below average rainfall for the month. Maximum temperatures were near average across most of WA, although areas of above to very much above average maxima were observed in the western coastal strip south of Shark Bay. Below average maxima were experienced in southern parts of the Kimberley, the northern Interior, parts of the Pilbara coast, southern Gascoyne, and Goldfields. Minimum temperatures were above average across most of southern and central WA, with a number of sites in the SWLD recording their warmest October on record, and the Lower Southwest registering its 3rd warmest October since comparable records commenced in 1950. Only in the Kimberley were below average minima recorded.
November rainfall was above to very much above average for most of WA and a number of sites in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, Central Wheat Belt, Great Southern, Southeast Coastal, and Goldfields registered their wettest November on record. Below average rainfall was mainly confined to the Eucla, and small areas of the southern Goldfields, northern Central West, and west Kimberley. When averaged across the state, November 2011 was the fifth wettest November on record for WA, whilst November rainfall for the Lower Southwest ranked as tenth wettest on record. Maximum temperatures were above average in parts of coastal WA, however most central and northern parts saw below average maxima and a similar pattern was evidint in mean minimum temperatures across the state.
Rainfall in WA during December was above to very much above average for most of the SWLD, adjacent parts of the Goldfields, and the southeast Gascoyne, with numerous sites in the SWLD registering their wettest December on record, mainly due to extremely heavy rainfall events on the 6th and 12th. Above to very much above average rainfall was also observed in the Interior, inland Kimberley, where the highest rainfall totals for December in WA were recorded, and the coastal Eucla. Below to very much below average rainfall was evident through much of the Pilbara and northwest Gascoyne, the coastal Kimberley, and inland Eucla. Mean daily maximum temperatures in WA during December 2011 were below to very much below average over eastern parts of the SWLD, the Goldfields, western Eucla, southern Interior, and coastal parts of the Pilbara. Above to very much above average maxima were observed along the west coast of WA, extending into the northern Gascoyne and inland Pilbara, and in western and northern parts of the Kimberley. Mean daily minimum temperatures in WA in December 2011 were above to very much above average over large parts of western and southern WA, as well as in the west Kimberley, and several sites in western parts of the SWLD registered record high December mean minima. Below to very much below average overnight temperatures were reported in the central and southeast Kimberley, and northern and central Interior, and when averaged across the state, overnight temperatures in WA in December 2011 were below average. However, the Lower Southwest observed its 4th warmest December on record.
Rainfall rank	Maximum temperature rank	Minimum temperature rank

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Summary statistics for 2011
	Maximum temperatures (°C)				Minimum temperatures (°C)				Rainfall (millimetres)
	Mean for 2011	Diff from average	Highest for 2011		Mean for 2011	Diff from average	Lowest for 2011		Total for 2011	Average annual total	Rank of 2011	Fraction of annual average
North Kimberley (district 01)
Doongan	31.4	-1.7	40.2	12 Oct	17.2	-1.3	2.4	15 Jun	2458.1	1205.1	v high	204%
Kalumburu	32.7	-1.6	38.5	26 Dec	19.2	-1.2	4.5	14 Jun	1827.0	1218.8	v high	150%
Wyndham	33.7	-1.9	42.5	12 Oct	21.4	-1.8	8.3	14 Jun	1548.8	832.0	v high	186%
Wyndham Aero	34.2	-1.7	44.0	12 Oct	21.1	-1.3	6.9	15 Jun	1397.4	839.7	v high	166%
East Kimberley (district 02)
Argyle Aerodrome	32.8	-1.9	42.3	12 Oct	20.7	-1.5	8.3	14 Jun
Halls Creek Airport	31.6	-2.0	40.9	26 Dec	18.8	-1.2	5.3	14 Jun	1006.0	566.0	v high	178%
Warmun	33.0	-2.1	42.0	12 Oct	19.2	-1.1	4.7	14 Jun	1540.2	722.4	highest	213%
West Kimberley (district 03)
Bidyadanga									674.6	509.8	high	132%
Broome Airport	32.0	-0.2	41.0	26 Nov	20.7	-0.5	5.9	15 Jun	831.8	606.2	high	137%
Curtin Aero	34.3	-1.2	45.1	1 Dec	20.1	-1.0	8.9	3 Jun	1294.2	846.4	v high	153%
Derby Aero	33.5	-1.0	44.9	1 Dec	20.4	-1.2	6.5	16 Jun	1018.6	686.9	v high	148%
Fitzroy Crossing Aero	34.5	-1.6	44.2	1 Dec	19.0	-1.2	4.7	13 Jun	975.4	720.4	high	135%
West Roebuck	33.5		42.3	26 Nov	19.4		4.3	14 Jun	967.4	859.4	high	113%
De Grey (district 04)
Karratha Aero									765.8	296.2	v high	259%
Legendre Island	29.5		37.4	19 Mar	22.7		13.9	15 Jun
Mandora									513.9	374.7	high	137%
Port Hedland Airport	32.5	-0.7	43.0	20 Dec	19.6	+0.2	6.5	15 Jun	551.8	313.3	v high	176%
Roebourne	33.6	-0.4	49.4	21 Dec					489.8	312.0	high	157%
Roebourne Aero	33.2		49.0	21 Dec	19.4		6.1	15 Jun	557.0	256.7	high	217%
Fortescue (district 05)
Learmonth Airport			48.9	23 Dec					402.8	253.8	high	159%
Mardie	32.6	-1.3	48.5	21 Dec	19.2	+0.5	7.3	15 Jun	855.4	275.8	v high	310%
Onslow	31.4	+0.1	48.7	22 Dec	20.5	+2.5	11.1	22 Jun	557.9	272.6	v high	205%
Onslow Airport	31.7	-0.2	49.2	22 Dec	20.1	+1.2	10.6	17 Jun	624.2	324.9	v high	192%
Wittenoom	32.2	-0.7	46.0	21 Dec	19.2	-0.5	5.8	15 Jun	566.0	459.4	high	123%
West Gascoyne (district 06)
Carnarvon Airport	28.6	+1.4	42.4	27 Dec	18.0	+0.8	6.5	5 Aug	398.8	231.3	v high	172%
Denham	27.8	+1.2	41.0	27 Dec	19.5	+1.9	9.3	7 Jul	341.0	224.9	high	152%
Emu Creek Station	33.6	-0.1	48.2	24 Dec					298.2	299.1	average	100%
Shark Bay Airport	29.3	+0.4	43.1	1 Jan	17.2	+1.0	7.3	7 Jul	406.6	212.1	v high	192%
East Gascoyne (district 07)
Newman Aero									408.0	322.0	average	127%
Paraburdoo Aero	32.9	-0.5	46.9	25 Dec	18.6	+0.6	5.9	3 Jul	393.0	319.0	high	123%
Murchison (district 07A)
Meekatharra Airport	28.7	-0.2	43.4	23 Dec	16.1	+0.2	2.7	3 Jul	367.6	238.1	v high	154%
Mount Magnet Aero	27.8	-0.6	44.0	1 Jan	15.5	+0.5	1.7	6 Jul	434.2	263.9	v high	165%
North Coast (district 08)
Dalwallinu	26.2	0.0	42.9	2 Jan	12.6	+1.0	1.9	28 Sep	395.4	294.2	v high	134%
Dalwallinu Comparison	26.4	+0.4	42.7	2 Jan					424.6	357.5	high	119%
Geraldton Airport Comparison	27.2	+1.3	43.6	10 Feb	14.8	+1.2	3.0	26 Aug
Kalbarri	29.0	+1.4	42.0	27 Dec	16.2	+1.7	3.8	5 Aug	415.8	352.5	high	118%
Morawa Airport	28.0	-0.1	44.8	27 Jan	13.8	+1.2	1.3	6 Jul	460.0	289.2	v high	159%
Mullewa	28.3	+0.4	44.0	1 Jan	14.9	+1.8	3.4	7 Jul	499.5	335.5	v high	149%
North Island	25.9	+1.4	35.7	14 Feb	19.6	+1.2	10.2	12 Aug	477.0
Wongan Hills	26.3	+0.7	42.5	28 Jan	12.8	+0.9	2.5	4 Jul	504.1	388.9	high	130%
Central Coast (district 09)
Badgingarra Research Stn	26.2	+0.4	42.9	27 Jan	13.3	+1.5	2.0	14 Oct
Bickley	23.2	+0.7	38.1	28 Jan	12.2	+1.1	3.0	5 Aug	1204.6	1079.9	high	112%
Champion Lakes	25.0		39.5	29 Jan	14.9		3.8	4 Jul
Garden Island HSF	23.9		37.9	28 Dec	15.9		7.4	4 Jul
Gingin Aero	26.2	+0.8	41.2	29 Jan	12.8	+2.0	0.0	4 Jul	757.0	638.5	high	119%
Jandakot Aero	25.8	+1.4	40.6	29 Jan	12.9	+1.7	-0.4	4 Jul	915.6	831.6	average	110%
Jurien Bay	26.5	+1.7	42.0	28 Dec
Karnet	23.4	+0.9	38.0	2 Jan			1.2	4 Jul	1188.4	1171.2	average	101%
Lancelin	26.0	+1.9	41.8	28 Dec
Medina Research Centre	25.7	+1.5	40.0	16 Feb	14.0	+1.8	1.3	4 Jul	750.0	762.2	average	98%
Pearce RAAF	26.1	+1.0	41.8	28 Jan	13.8	+1.6	0.7	4 Jul	637.2	658.1	average	97%
Perth Airport	26.1	+1.7	41.8	29 Jan	13.6	+1.5	0.2	4 Jul	834.2	775.1	average	108%
Perth Metro	25.7	+1.2	40.4	29 Jan	14.0	+1.4	1.3	4 Jul	860.8	850.0	average	101%
Rottnest Island	23.2	+1.1	36.3	28 Dec	16.7	+1.1	9.2	3 Jul	712.4	682.7	average	104%
Swanbourne	25.5	+1.6	40.1	28 Dec	14.9	+1.1	4.7	4 Jul	822.6	725.7	high	113%
South Coast (district 09A)
Albany	20.4	+0.9	37.9	5 Jan	13.1	+1.4	1.8	18 Jul	966.3	931.4	average	104%
Albany Airport	20.8	+0.6	38.9	5 Jan	11.2	+0.7	0.4	18 Jul	955.8	798.0	high	120%
Bridgetown Comparison	23.8	+1.4	39.2	29 Dec	9.7	+1.7	-1.2	18 Jul	831.6	823.8	average	101%
Bunbury	24.0	+1.0	37.7	2 Jan	12.2	+1.3	1.0	28 Sep	757.6	726.9	average	104%
Busselton Aero	24.1	+1.2	37.7	29 Dec	11.3	+1.2	1.5	5 Aug	635.8	698.4	low	90%
Cape Leeuwin	21.2	+1.5	33.9	4 Dec	15.3	+1.2	6.7	6 Aug	869.6	969.1	low	90%
Cape Naturaliste	22.8	+2.2	35.4	16 Feb	14.0	+1.3	6.4	9 Jul	653.6	810.6	low	81%
Collie East	23.7		39.2	26 Feb	9.6		-1.9	18 Jul
Donnybrook	24.6	+1.5	39.8	28 Jan	11.7	+2.0	0.6	5 Jul	1039.0	976.5	average	106%
Dwellingup	23.5	+1.7	38.1	29 Jan	11.0	+1.5	-0.6	4 Jul	1187.6	1244.4	average	95%
Esperance	22.6	+0.8	42.6	22 Jan	12.8	+0.8	5.1	10 Jul	656.4	616.6	average	106%
Esperance Aero	22.6	+0.6	44.6	28 Jan	11.8	+0.6	4.2	17 Jul	602.0	565.7	high	106%
Harvey	24.5	+0.9	39.0	28 Jan	11.8	+0.6	2.0	5 Jun	1048.5	854.4	high	123%
Hopetoun North	22.3	+0.1	41.7	22 Jan	12.3	+0.8	3.7	13 Jun	690.6	501.4	v high	138%
Jarrahwood	23.9	+1.5	39.5	25 Feb	9.5	+0.9	-2.6	18 Jul	876.6	928.0	average	94%
Mandurah	24.2		38.4	2 Jan	15.7		6.3	4 Jul
Manjimup	22.0	+1.7	39.0	29 Dec	10.6	+1.0	1.7	5 Aug
Pemberton	22.1	+1.8	38.2	29 Dec	11.7	+1.6	2.4	18 Jul
Rocky Gully	21.4	+0.6	38.2	29 Dec	10.4	+0.9	1.3	5 Aug
Shannon	21.0	+0.6	38.2	29 Dec	10.4	+0.8	0.6	18 Jul
Witchcliffe	22.4	+1.2	38.0	29 Dec	11.3	+0.8	1.1	6 Aug
North Central (district 10)
Cunderdin Airfield	26.2	+0.4	44.2	28 Jan	11.7	+1.4	-1.4	28 Sep
Northam	26.2	+0.9	43.9	28 Jan	11.8	+0.9	0.3	4 Jul	466.3	428.9	average	109%
York	25.8	+0.4	43.0	28 Jan	10.8	+1.4	-1.5	5 Aug	457.6	380.9	v high	120%
South Central (district 10A)
Beverley	25.9	+0.6	42.4	28 Jan	11.5	+1.3	0.2	4 Jul	520.1	419.5	high	124%
Brookton	24.7	+0.5	42.4	28 Jan					466.3	452.0	average	103%
Corrigin	24.4	+0.7	43.6	28 Jan	11.2	+1.3	-1.1	5 Aug	405.8	373.2	average	109%
Hyden	25.6	+0.6	45.5	28 Jan	11.5	+1.6	-2.0	26 Aug	472.4	340.2	v high	139%
Katanning	22.5	+0.1	43.5	28 Jan					668.4	453.9	v high	147%
Katanning Comparison	22.8	+0.7	41.8	28 Jan	10.2	+0.9	-1.5	18 Jul	660.3	479.2	v high	138%
Lake Grace	23.5	+0.1	44.4	28 Jan	11.2	+1.0	0.4	5 Aug	458.6	334.6	high	137%
Lake Grace Comparison									444.6	351.1	high	127%
Narembeen									469.7	332.4	v high	141%
Narrogin	23.1	+0.7	42.0	28 Jan	10.8	+1.4	-0.6	5 Aug	619.5	496.1	high	125%
Newdegate Research Station	23.5	+0.3	45.1	28 Jan	9.5	+0.8	-1.8	10 Sep	503.4	370.4	high	136%
Ongerup	22.2	+0.5	41.6	28 Jan	10.5	+0.8	1.4	5 Jun	491.0	386.0	high	127%
Pingelly	24.1	+0.8	42.1	28 Jan	11.4	+1.0	0.8	4 Jul	562.6	446.9	high	126%
Wagin	23.4	+0.5	42.2	28 Jan	10.5	+0.8	0.0	5 Aug	611.2	434.9	v high	141%
Wandering	23.9	+0.2	42.4	28 Jan	9.9	+1.6	-1.0	4 Jul	725.0	507.1	v high	143%
Eucla (district 11)
Balladonia	24.5	-0.1	45.9	29 Jan	11.2	+1.4	1.0	17 Jul	335.4	262.6	high	128%
Eucla	23.1	+0.3	47.1	29 Jan	13.1	+0.9	3.0	8 Aug	405.4	272.5	v high	149%
Eyre	23.4	+0.6	45.9	29 Jan	10.8	0.0	-4.1	24 Sep	603.8	310.5	v high	194%
Forrest	25.3	-0.9	48.4	30 Jan	11.4	+0.5	1.2	15 Jun
Red Rocks Point	22.2		45.3	29 Jan	13.7		3.4	2 Jul	544.8
South East (district 12)
Bulga Downs	28.0		43.5	23 Jan	13.7		-0.1	6 Aug	499.7	234.3	v high	213%
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport	24.8	-0.5	44.9	28 Jan	12.7	+1.0	0.4	6 Jul	390.0	264.5	high	147%
Laverton Aero	26.3	-0.5	45.8	28 Jan	14.0	+0.1	0.0	4 Jul
Leinster Aero	27.5	-0.6	43.6	23 Jan
Leonora	27.0	-0.9	46.2	28 Jan	14.3	+0.4	2.2	9 Jul	515.2	236.1	v high	218%
Leonora Aero	26.8		45.9	28 Jan	14.5		1.7	4 Jul	450.4
Munglinup West	23.2		45.3	28 Jan	11.0		2.8	17 Aug	534.6
Norseman Aero	24.9	-0.2	45.6	28 Jan	10.8	+1.0	-1.1	25 Aug	280.2	292.9	average	96%
Salmon Gums Res.Stn.	24.2	+0.8	46.3	28 Jan	9.9	+0.9	-3.4	11 Sep	372.2	353.6	average	105%
Southern Cross Airfield	25.5	-0.3	44.5	28 Jan	11.7	+1.6	-1.2	5 Aug	451.8	313.5	high	144%
North East (district 13)
Carnegie									524.4	234.5	highest	224%
Giles Meteorological Office	28.9	-0.4	44.8	28 Jan	15.5	-0.4	0.9	13 Jun
Telfer Aero	33.0	-1.1	46.4	21 Dec	18.8	-0.6	2.1	14 Jun	634.0	366.8	v high	173%
Warburton Airfield	29.3	-0.5	46.5	28 Jan	14.8	+0.1	-0.3	15 Jun	515.2	246.0	v high	209%
Wiluna	29.0	-0.1	44.5	24 Dec	15.2	+0.9	1.1	15 Jun	426.2	256.5	v high	166%
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Christmas Island Aero	26.9	-0.4	29.9	27 Dec	22.8	0.0	19.0	11 Jul	2387.2	2099.3	average	114%
Cocos Island Airport	29.2	+0.2	31.6	22 Jan	24.9	+0.4	21.2	11 Oct	1857.2	1982.7	average	94%

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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