Equal sunniest March on record in Perth

Mean daily sunshine hours, an equal record: Perth's mean daily sunshine hours this March was 10.6 hours compared with the long-term average of 9.4 hours. This was an equal record with March 2001.

Rainfall - near average: The city received 6.2 mm of rainfall over 5 days in March compared with the average of 20 mm over 5 days. Historically, March rainfall has ranged from 0.0 mm on 6 occasions, to 145.2 mm in 1934. Last March Perth registered 4.6 mm rainfall. The wettest day in March 2007 was the 2nd when 2.2 mm was recorded.
Mean daily maximum temperature - near average: Perth's mean daily maximum temperature in March was 30.2°C, compared with the average of 29.4°C. Daily maxima ranged from a mild 20.2°C on the 27th to a very hot 42.4°C on the 7th, which was the hottest daily maximum temperature in Perth for March on record. The previous record being 42.3°C on 5 March 1990.

During a three day heatwave from 5 to 7 March, daily maximum temperature readings were; 40.4°C (5th), 42.0°C (6th) and 42.4°C (7th). This is only the third time since 1897that Perth has experienced three consecutive 40-degree days in March, previous occasions being 1922 and 2003.

Mean daily minimum temperature - near average: Perth's mean daily minimum temperature in March was 15.8°C, compared with the average of 16.5°C. Daily minima ranged from a cool 6.3°C on the 27th, which was the lowest daily minimum temperature in Perth (Mount Lawley) for March on record, the previous record being 7.6°C on 24 March 2001, whilst the warmest night was 23.6°C on the 6th.

Climate of Perth in April
Sunny and pleasantly mild autumn days are common in April in the transition between summer and winter. Wet weather does occur, especially later in the month, and mean rainfall and rain days are about double those of March.

Hot days in April: On average, Perth can expect about two hot days when the maximum temperature is 32 degrees or higher. The greatest number of such hot days in April was eight in 1991.

Latest 35-degree day of the season: The latest maximum temperature of 35.0 degrees or higher in the autumn season occurred on 22 April 1989, with 35.2 degrees.

Cold days in April: Since 1897, Perth has recorded six cold days when the maximum temperature was 15 degrees or lower. They occurred in 1900, 1919, 1931, 1963 and two days in 1970. The earliest cold day in the year occurred on 15 April 1900, when a maximum temperature of 14.5 degrees was recorded.

Note: Official Perth observations have been recorded at several different sites with varying instrumentation over the years, and these changes can affect the continuity of the climate record. For the current Perth (Mount Lawley) site, the most significant changes of this kind relate to temperature and rain days. For that reason, current mean temperature and rain-day data quoted here are based only on readings from the Perth (Mount Lawley) site, which commenced observations in 1993. Sunshine recordings are from Perth Airport and for similar reasons current means use only Perth Airport data, which commenced in 1993.

Further information:
John Relf (JR) and Glenn Cook Western Australia Climate Services Centre
on, tel: (08) 9263 2222, office hours.