Monday, 1 September 2014 - Monthly Climate Summary for Western Australia - Product code IDCKGC11R0

Western Australia in August 2014: Record warm month in western WA

Rainfall in August 2014 was below to very much below average across most of WA, though much of the Kimberley was near average. A number of locations near the south coast recorded their driest August on record. It was the sixth driest August on record when averaged across the State since records commenced in 1900, and the driest August for WA since 1995, which was WA's driest August on record. Averaged across the South West Land Division and the Lower Southwest (southwest of a line from Jurien Bay to Bremer Bay), August 2014 was below average in terms of rainfall.

August 2014 was unusually warm in western, central, and southern WA, with mean maximum temperatures from 2 °C to 4 °C warmer than normal in southern WA, increasing to 5 °C to 7 °C above the long-term average in the Gascoyne and Central West. Numerous sites in western and southern WA recorded their warmest August on record. In contrast, most of the Kimberley and adjacent Northern Interior saw unusually cool days, with mean maximum temperatures 1 to 3 °C lower than normal. Averaged across the State as a whole, August 2014 was ranked the fifth warmest August since records commenced in 1910, with the five warmest Augusts all occurring since 2006. Mean maximum temperatures were very much above average across the South West Land Division, and for the Lower Southwest (southwest of a line from Jurien Bay to Bremer Bay) August 2014 ranked equal highest on record, equal with August 1914.

Mean minimum temperatures were above average to very much above average in western, central, and southern WA, with mean minima 2 °C to 4 °C warmer than normal in the southern Gascoyne and northern Central West, and several locations registered their warmest August on record. The Kimberley, Northern Interior, and eastern Southern Interior saw below to very much below average mean minimum temperatures, with mean minima 3 °C to 5 °C cooler than normal in parts of the north and east Kimberley. For the State as a whole the mean minimum temperature was near average. In contrast, averaged across the Lower Southwest, August 2014 ranked equal third warmest on record, equal with August last year.

• A strong cold front and associated cut-off low moved across southwest WA on the 17th and 18th, producing thunderstorms, moderate to heavy rainfall and squally winds. Damage to roofs from fallen trees was reported in Perth and the South West. Severe wind gusts over 100 km/h were recorded near the coast on the 17th, including 120 km/h at Busselton Jetty. In Fremantle, a container ship broke its moorings during the storm (around 10 pm WST) and crashed into the Fremantle rail bridge closing the rail line for inspection and repairs. A second cargo vessel also broke its moorings and hit a refuelling vessel, which was docked near the bridge.
• A cold front moved through southwest WA on the 26th, bringing widespread rainfall to the South West Land Division, with moderate falls and isolated thunderstorms reported mostly in the South West district
• A rainband and associated cold front produced rain and isolated thunderstorms in the Lower West, South West, Great Southern and South Coastal on the 28th and 29th, with very heavy falls reported in the South West. A number of sites recorded their wettest August day on record on the 29th and 30th as a result of the event.
• Carnarvon Airport broke its highest August temperature record four times during the month (33.6 °C on the 12th, 33.1 °C on the 13th, 33.1 °C on the 25th, and 32.0 °C on the 28th). The mean maximum temperature for August 2014 at Carnarvon Airport was 28.2 °C, which was 2.8 °C higher than its previous highest mean maximum temperature in August in 67 years of record. The mean maximum temperature recorded at Carnarvon in August was unprecedented even for September, and exceeded the November average for the station of 27.6 °C.

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

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

* 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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top