# The climate of Western Australia, from meteorological observations made during the years 1876-1899

1901.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
THE CLIMATE
OF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA,
FROM
Meteorological Observations made during the Years
1876–1899.
COMPILED BY
W. ERNEST COOKE, M.A., F.R.A.S.,
GOVERNMENT ASTRONOMER.
PERTH:
BY AUTHORITY: WM. ALFRED WATSON, GOVERNMENT PRINTER.
1901.
ERRATA.
| Page | 4.— | Add MAPS { Average monthly and yearly climate maps. Average monthly and yearly rain maps. |
| " | 30.— | 1888 mean minimum, June—for 7·83 read 37·8. |
| " | 30.— | Average: Lowest minimum, December—for 40·0 read 39·0. |
| " | 31.— | Monthly number of wet days.—1881, July—for 51 read 15. |
| " | 43.— | For London read Condon. |
| " | 97.— | Line 2, for page 7 read page 8. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
THE WEATHER.
THE CLIMATE.
CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLES (Perth Botanic Gardens).
PERTH OBSERVATORY AND OUT-STATIONS.
The following statistics are given for each station :— Mean Monthly Barometer.
""Temperature.
Highest Temperature in month.
Lowest "" No. of days over 90° and nights under 40°.
Monthly Rainfall.
"No. of Wet Days.
North-West and North Coast.
Inland.
South-West and South Coast.
AVERAGE CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLES FOR THE WHOLE COLONY.
RAINFALL TABLES.
Appendix.
METEOROLOGICAL REPORT, 1876-1899.
To the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, Perth.
Sir,
I have the honour to transmit herewith a report on the weather and climate of Western Australia. Annual reports have been issued year by year since 1876, and the present volume comprises a selection and co-ordination of the principal facts which have been elicited during these last 24 years.
The need for a book dealing generally with the climate of this State is obvious, and I have had it in mind to issue one ever since my appointment. The pressure of other work, however, has prevented me from making rapid progress with its preparation, but it is now completed and will form a most fitting contribution to science from this Observatory as the first of the new century.
A considerable amount of labour has been entailed in checking and inspecting the old records. In a number of cases the observations were palpably erroneous, and these have been rejected.
This has caused many gaps in the records, but it was considered better to publish only those figures which were felt to be fairly reliable.
The resulting tables will now be found to represent with considerable accuracy the general meteorological features of the country, and will probably be consulted largely by farmers, pastoralists, bankers, doctors, immigrants, and all those whose interests are affected in one way or another by the climate of the country of their adoption.
I have, etc.,
W. ERNEST COOKE
Government Astronomer.
INTRODUCTION.
The advisability of taking meteorological observations was first officially recognised in 1876, when a meteorological branch was added to the Surveyor General's Department, and readings of the barometer, temperature, etc., were commenced under the direction of the late Sir Malcolm Fraser. In the following year Mr. M. A. C. Fraser was appointed Observer, and continued to hold that office until February, 1896, when it was decided to establish an astronomical observatory, and to transfer the charge of the meteorological department thereto.
Meanwhile the system had been extended by placing instruments in the hands of the postal officials in country towns, and at the end of 1895 there were 15 of these contributing regular returns. The results of the observations up to the end of 1894 have been published in a series of annual reports. Those for 1895 and 1896 were not prepared for press, owing to the fact that the Government Astronomer had no clerical staff, and found his time fully occupied in thoroughly reorganising the service, formulating plans for the new Observatory, and inspecting the astronomical instruments at the workshops in London and Dublin. In 1897 the first of a new series of meteorological reports was issued from the Observatory, and this has been followed by those for 1898 and 1899. In the introduction to the first of these a promise was made to issue a book upon the Climate of this Colony, and the present volume is the fulfilment of that promise.
It is to be hoped that no misconstruction will be placed upon the expression of the opinion that on the whole the observations up to the end of 1896 are not to be compared for general accuracy with those now current. Nothing but the greatest credit is due to Sir Malcolm and Mr. M. A. C. Fraser for their efforts in the cause of science at a time when the Colony was completely out of touch with the rest of the world; but no man can perform impossibilities, and all those who have experienced the difficulties of obtaining satisfactory scientific work from outlying districts of a vast newly-developing country must know that it is next door to impossible to get accurate results without frequent personal visits and continuous inspection. This was not practicable under the former conditions, and it is only to be expected that the reports for those past years (to the end of 1896) frequently indicate carelessness and lack of interest.
These remarks have been considered necessary in order that readers may appraise the following tables at their proper value.
In a somewhat crude inspection of the original returns any obviously incorrect observations have been struck out and all the additions, etc., have been checked, so that it may be safely assumed that the results in this volume give a close approximation to the truth; sufficiently so for all practical purposes, but scarcely to be considered quite accurate enough for the scientist.
It was originally intended to publish results up to the end of 1896 only, but since that time several new stations have been opened in just those regions which are of the greatest popular interest, so the whole has been brought forward to the end of 1899.
In dealing with the figures for Perth two things should be remembered: 1st, that the thermometers were removed in August, 1885, from the neighbourhood of the Surveyor General's office to an octagon-shaped louvered house in the Botanical Gardens, giving apparently a slightly lower record for the later years; and 2nd, that these observations were not discontinued when the Observatory was established. A new series was started at the Observatory on 1st January, 1897, but the figures for Perth, here quoted, are those for the Botanical Gardens up to the end of 1899.
The following pages are divided into three parts:
| I. | A general description of the types of weather most frequently experienced. |
| II. | A general description of the Climate, with special reference to that of Perth. |
| III. | Climatological Tables, from the commencement of records up to the end of 1899, with maps. |
The following explanation of the rainfall figures and maps is necessary:—In the absence of well marked physical features the Colony has been divided into degree squares. To each square the name of one of the included stations has been given for reference purposes, but the figures are the means of the records for all the stations situated within the square. On the maps the reference name is written at the bottom of each square and a dot shows the exact position of that particular locality, the figure giving the mean rainfall being placed in the N.W. corner.
Appendix.—In view of the great interest that is always taken in rainfall statistics, and since it has been decided not to issue the reports for 1895 and 1896, it was considered advisable to print the rainfall for those years in extenso and these figures are here given as an appendix.
THE WEATHER.
This may conveniently be considered under two principal aspects, winter and summer. There are, of course, endless modifications, but the daily weather map is usually of either a distinctly winter or a distinctly summer type.
THE WINTER TYPE.
The main feature of the weather maps during the winter months (April or May to October) are :—
| I. | High pressure between the latitudes 22° and 32°, with falling gradients North and South. |
| II. | Fine, bright, crisp weather throughout the tropics. |
| III. | A succession of "lows" or storm areas traversing the ocean immediately South of the continent from West to East. |
{{text-indent|2em|I. and III. are of course related. It would be unreasonable to expect the "high" to remain permanently unaffected whilst a series of "lows" is moving past. The general statement (I.) ought perhaps, to be modified by saying that a succession of anti-cyclones passes across the continent between the latitudes 22° and 32°. The passage of these is almost as decided a feature as the movement of the "lows." Almost, not quite. Mr. Russell, Government Astronomer of New South Wales, has, in fact, attributed to their orderly succession the sequence of weather changes throughout the Southern portions of Australia. There is probably a considerable amount of truth in this view; but the storms, at all events, as far as Western Australia is concerned, appear to be so intimately connected with the passage of the "low" that it is preferable to associate the most noteworthy changes with it rather than with the "high."
A fairly typical series is to be found in the maps for the 23rd to the 28th of April, 1900. Further information as to the antecedent weather will be found elsewhere (vide p.16), this being the month of the great floods. It will be sufficient to state here that there was such a distinct change in the type of weather map that, on the morning of the 23rd, the following remark was written below the map:—"To-day's weather reports appear to indicate that the character of the season is abruptly changing from summer to winter. We cannot yet say this with certainty, but there are now signs of the first winter type of 'low' approaching the S.W. coast, and the monsoonal rains that have been so exceptionally heavy throughout the interior seem now to have ceased."
In the first of this series (23rd) we notice a "high" on the borderland between West and South Australia, the winds throughout this Colony settling down steadily into the N.E. quadrant, with falling barometers and increasing temperatures. The sky throughout the South-West districts begins to be flecked with cirrus cloud, followed later by alto cumulus, and then by clouds of a denser formation. On the morning of the 24th the "high" has made Easting, and a well-marked "low" appears off the S.W. coast. The winds now show a tendency to veer to the N.W., the sky becomes densely overcast by alto stratus, with broken nimbus beneath, and rain commences to fall. Next day (25th) the "low" is passing the Leeuwin; general rains are recorded throughout the Colony from Geraldton Southwards, but only very light showers from the Coolgardie Goldfields Northwards. This is the time to expect N.W. gales along the S.W. coast, and on the present occasion they were very severe. The anemograph at the Perth Observatory recorded 955 miles for 24 hours ending midnight (24th–25th), and the anemometer at Cape Leeuwin gave a still greater rate, viz., 1,165 miles.
On the morning of the 26th the "low" had spread out along our Southern coast, and the winds in South Australia showed a decided set in the N. and N.E., whilst in Western Australia they were settling into W. and S.W. with an abatement of the gale. Further general rains were recorded throughout the S.W. districts, and a few points on the Goldfields, but the weather on the whole showed signs of moderating. Next day (27th) the storm was passing South Australia, and a "high" was coming on to the continent in the neighbourhood of Perth. On the 28th the storm area had reached Tasmania, and fine, clear, fresh weather was reported throughout W.A., except along the South coast, where clouds and a few showers still lingered.
This is a fair specimen of the passage of an average winter storm area, but it seldom moves with the regularity of this one. Sometimes the "low" does not appear at the Leeuwin until the "high" has reached the East coast, the barometers falling steadily for several days. Sometimes the passage is very rapid. Sometimes the "low" consists of a number of undulations, unbroken by a well-defined "high." This type frequently occurs in June and July. Instead of the wind veering N.W., W., S.W., S., and S.E., with clearing weather, it reaches West, the gale abates, skies clear for a short time, and the wind ​backs slowly towards the N. Within a few hours, rarely more than a day, it veers to the N.W. again, with a renewal of the stormy conditions, and this may be repeated for many days before the end of the "low" area passes Eastward and a well-defined "high" appears.}}
From October to December the weather is in a transitional state. The summer type is endeavouring to assert itself, but winter "lows" not infrequently pass along, giving a very mixed set of weather maps, and causing rather uncertain weather with scattered thunderstorms and capricious showers.
THE SUMMER TYPE (Overland "Lows" AND "Willy-Willies").
In normal summer weather there is usually a moderate "high" extending along the South coast, or over the ocean still farther South, with falling gradients thence Northwards. This condition is interrupted by two kinds of disturbance. A "low" of the winter type may pass along well to the South-ward, or a "low" may come down from the tropics. After what has been already said, the former kind may be dismissed in a few words. It is usually preceded by great heat and followed by a gradual cool change, with probably a few coastal showers.
The latter kind of disturbance is the more distinctively summer one. It is generally an amorphous sort of affair, with shallow gradients and badly defined outlines, which seem to push generally downwards from the North coast against the Southern "high." Frequently the "high" refuses to give way, when it will back off to the coast line again and lie in wait for a better opportunity, or perhaps endeavour to cross into the Eastern colonies through central Australia. Sometimes the "high" appears to split and move Eastward and Westward, leaving room for the "low" to pass through and so on to the Southern Ocean, where it behaves like one of the ordinary winter type. But whichever course it follows it proves to be distinctly objectionable. It is generally preceded by a most undesirable increase of temperature, and accompanied by terrific heat and scattered thunderstorms. These characteristics are especially noticeable inland, and help to cause the disagreeable summer features in the climate, of which more presently. When the "low" succeeds in travelling right across, it is usually followed by a refreshing cool change, but when it is blocked and retreats, the weather remains in a sultry and unsatisfactory condition.
A series of maps (1899, January 16-20) illustrates the passage overland of an unusually vigorous "low." The high temperatures were absent in this case, because this series represents the second attempt. A few days previously it had apparently opened up an avenue right down to the South coast, but was unable to travel any further and forced to retreat. On this former occasion temperatures had ranged up to 110° in the shade. It is just possible that it succeeded in getting past and round the Southern side of the "high," and is represented by the "low" off the South-East corner of Australia on January 16th. Anyhow, the interior was left in a very unsettled condition, and the passage of the disturbance from the N.W. coast, on the 16th, to Tasmania, on the 20th, is distinctly marked, and was accompanied by heavy rain storms throughout. The general weather remarks at the end of the series give the weather in Western Australia only, but on the morning of the 18th Sir Charles Todd, Government Astronomer for South Australia, reports: "As anticipated, we have had general rains, extending as far North as Powell's Creek (lat. 18°), etc."; and on the 19th Mr. P. Baracchi, of Victoria, reports: "Light to moderate rain recorded generally, and heavy over the central, N.W., W., and N."
This series is an exaggerated instance of the type we have been discussing, but it was necessary to choose an unusually severe storm area for graphical representation, as our observing stations in the interior are so very few and far between that it would be difficult or impossible to trace an average one.
Occasionally the tropical "low" assumes the character of a tornado, and is then known locally as a "willy-willy." This bursts with great fury upon the N.W. coast, and is often felt for some little distance inland. Sometimes it can be traced in a mild form across the continent, but is frequently lost to sight after its principal outburst. It is by no means an unusual thing to find traces of its progressive path down the N.W. coast; the centre keeping out to sea. In about latitude 20° it apparently recurves and moves direct upon the coast line, causing great destruction if it happens to strike a township. The barometer does not as a rule fall below about 29·4 or 29·5, except close to the centre, where it is sometimes below 28 inches. A very severe "willy willy" visited the N.W. coast at the end of March and commencement of April, 1898, the progress of which can be traced on the accompanying series of weather maps (March 28th–April 2nd). After 9 a.m. on the last day the barometer commenced to fall very rapidly at Cossack, but a full description appears in the "introduction" to the annual report for 1898, which is here reproduced.
CLIMATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
(Please substitute these remarks for those of the same dates in 1900, after the weather maps.)
General Weather Remarks for Western Australia.
Monday, 16th January, 1899.
Further heavy rains have fallen in the North-West, Nullagine registering 9·50 inches, Condon 9·00, and Marble Bar 7·14 since Saturday morning, and several other stations over 3 inches. Light thunder showers are also reported at several stations North of Menzies. It is still overcast throughout the Colony, except on the West Coast between Sharks Bay and Albany, and raining at isolated places. S.W. to W. winds in the N.W.; E. to N.E. chiefly elsewhere.
Tuesday, 17th January, 1899.
Reports from the North are very incomplete again this morning, but the depression which has been accompanied by such heavy rain in the North-West appears to be moving in a South-Easterly direction across the Continent, and heavy rain is reported on the North Coolgardie Goldfields (maximum at Mt. Margaret 2·51 inches). Very light scattered showers have also fallen in many parts of the Colony. This morning the weather is clearing in the North-West, and generally fine but cloudy throughout the West coastal districts and Murcnison, but overcast and threatening over the Coolgardie Goldfields and in the South-West and South districts, and showery at places. Moderate to strong S. to S.W. winds chiefly.
Wednesday, 18th January, 1899.
Fine and clear all North of the latitude of Geraldton, more or less cloudy over the Goldfields, and overcast throughout the S.W. and S. S.W. to S.E. winds chiefly, but strong S.W. to W. on the South coast, with rough seas. Light scattered showers are reported in the South-West and South of the Coolgardie Goldfields, and moderate to heavy rain on the South-East coast.
Thursday, 19th January, 1899.
Generally fine and pleasant throughout the Colony, but overcast in the extreme South-West and along the South coast, where light scattered showers are recorded. S. to E. winds chiefly, but S. to W. on the South coast. Smooth sea.
Friday, 20th January, 1899.
The weather is fine and clear throughout the Colony, with a few scattered clouds on the South-West and South-East coast. E. to N.E. winds inland, S.E. to S. on the West coast, and N.W. to N. along the South coast.
General Weather Remarks for West Australia.
Tuesday 16th January, 1900.
Fine, clear, and sultry within the Tropics; cloudy and moderately cool elsewhere, and showery on the S.W. Coast, where a few points of rain are recorded. S.W. to N.W. winds on S.W. and S. coasts; S.W. to S.E. inland and in the N.W.; and W. from Cossack Northwards.
Wednesday, 17th January, 1900.
Generally fine throughout the Colony, but cloudy in coastal districts from Sharks Bay South-wards with S.E. to E. winds, and showery at Albany. Westerly winds from Cossack Northwards. Light to moderate rain recorded between Perth and Esperance in coastal districts only.
Thursday, 18th January, 1900.
Fine generally, but cloudy over the South part of the Coolgardie Goldfields, and on the extreme S.W. and S. coast, with light showers in places; elsewhere clear. Cool South of the Tropics. S.W. to W. winds, Cape Leeuwin Eastwards; S.E. to E. inland; S. on the W. coast. W. from Cossack Eastwards. Light rain recorded along the South coast and moderate In the extreme S.E.
Friday, 19th January, 1900.
Cloudy all South of the latitude of Perth, with light showers on the S.W. coast; elsewhere fine with a few scattered clouds. Still cool throughout all S. districts, including the Coolgardie Goldfields. S. to S.W. winds on the S. coast. S.E. to E. chiefly inland and in Western districts, and Westerly in the far North. Light rain recorded at a few places in the S.W.
Saturday, 20th January, 1900.
11
Storm at Cossack, April, 1898.
A very severe storm, known locally as a "willy-willy," visited the North-West coast at the end of March and beginning of April. The first well-marked sign of its approach came from Port Darwin, in the Northern Territory of South Australia, on March 28th. The barometer at 9 a.m. read 29·40, and fell to 29·34 during the course of the day, accompanied by heavy rain. This is the lowest reading recorded there since that town was devastated by a terrible cyclone about a year previously. The storm, keeping out to sea, travelled in a South-West direction at first, passing Wyndham on the 29th where the barometer fell to 29·33, with heavy rain. It continued to move down the coast, passing Derby on the 30th (29·51 ) and Broome a little later on the same day (29·60). Its motion now appeared to be retarded, due probably to the fact that it was recurving and preparing to travel in a more or less South-East direction. The winds now commenced to freshen, blowing from the East at Cossack and North-East farther up the coast, and this, combined with the shape of the isobars, indicated that the storm centre was still lying out at sea. On the morning of the 2nd the wind was from the North at Condon, East at Cossack, and South at Onslow, blowing strong at each place, and the barometer at Cossack had fallen to 29·54, with very high sea. The storm, apparently, was now moving from the sea straight on to Cossack, where the barometer fell rapidly, reaching a minimum of 28·718 at 5 p.m. Some idea of the hurricane that was then experienced by the inhabitants of this town may be gathered from the following extracts from the West Australian:—
"The town presents a very dilapidated spectacle. In no storm previously experienced has so much damage been wrought. Telegraph communication between Roebourne and Cossack, and Eastwards, is entirely cut off. The line between the two former places is down for three or four miles. The tramway embankment across the marsh is washed away, and the rails have parted in places and been lodged 20 yards from the site of the embankment. All the approaches and bridges, both along the tramway line and on the road, have been completely washed away; the rails standing several feet from the ground. Communication is cut off by road.
"Several daring persons walked up to Roebourne through mud and slush up to their knees to communicate the news of the most terrible disaster that has befallen Cossack, which appears to have been the very centre of the hurricane. The experiences of some of the residents of Cossack are most heartrending. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, observing their dwelling collapsing, left it with the intention of proceeding to Mr. C. W. Paterson's residence, a few hundreds yards off. They had a terrible time of it. They were for four hours hanging on to the spinifex, in the midst of the storm, before they reached their destination. Wilson lost sight of his wife for a whole hour, and then only found her by chance. S. Hemingway and B. Thompson, after their residences had collapsed, got into a 400-gallon tank to save their lives, and remained there, up to their middle in water, till daylight. The jetty has sunk down many feet, and the goods shed is frightfully torn about by the storm. The sea burst in the door facing the creek and swept a quantity of cargo out. Fearful damage has been done to shipping. The s.s. "Beagle" is piled up on the rocks on the South side of the jetty, in front of the Weld Hotel, with her stern resting on the fallen walls of the jetty and her bows on the rocks. The schooner "Maggie Gollan" is a total wreck on the beach, towards Japtown. The dilapidated jetty was fully loaded with general merchandise for Condon. The cargo is now strewn along the strand from one end to the other. The schooner "Harriet" is high and dry on the beach close to the North side of the jetty. The s.s. "Croydon," which was moored near the stock jetty, on the opposite side of the creek, was carried fair on to high land. The cutter "Rose" has been washed up between the residences of A. Rouse and A. S. Thompson. Smaller crafts, such as passenger boats, etc. were carried greater distances inland. The only boat that remained at her moorings was the police boat. Not a single boat other than this is safe."
After this outburst it is difficult to define the track of the storm. Our stations are, unfortunately, very widely separated in this district, and entirely confined to the coast. On Monday, the 4th, the direction of the wind and general shape of the isobars indicated that the pressure was lowest to the seaward of Cossack, and on the 5th the normal type of weather accompanying an anti-cyclone over the South-West portions of the Colony prevailed.
It not infrequently happens that these "willy-willies" travel overland to the Great Australian Bight and bring unsettled weather to the goldfields; but, in this instance, no such track was in any way indicated. ​The following table shows the rainfall in points (100 to the inch) that accompanied the storm, and it will be seen that in some instances (e.g. Whim Creek) it was remarkably heavy:—
| Station. | March. | March. | March. | March. | April. | April. | April. | April. | Total. |
| Station. | 28. | 29. | 30. | 31. | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | Total. |
| Wyndham ... | 6 | 100 | 50 | 110 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 266 |
| Carlton ... | 23 | 26 | 66 | 39 | 1 | 1 | ... | ... | 156 |
Rosewood Downs ... 20 52 6 78
Argyle Downs ... 25 11 55 50 141
Lisadell ... 80 42 32 80 234
Turkey Creek ... 5 70 60 135
Ord River Station ... 2 3 17 1 23
Hall's Creek ... 25 37 62
Ruby Creek ... 80 5 25 110
Fitzroy Crossing ... 12 30 42
Yeeda ... 60 15 15 20 25 135
Derby ... 85 109 8 202
Obagama ... 5 20 80 109 69 5 288
Broome ... 225 114 10 5 13 367
Thangoo ... 166 60 94 130 44 494
La Grange Bay ... 200 42 70 84 92 488
Wallal ... 1 1 21 220 176 27 446
Condon ... 73 136 138 8 355
De Grey River ... 175 46 100 321
Mulgie ... 607
Muccan ... 190 338 192 720
Eel Creek ... 10 115 330 445 890
Coongon ... 41 331 232 604
Warrawagine ... 56 110 226 484 876
Bamboo Creek ... 15 13 350 565 665 1,608
Marble Bar ... 3 153 536 255 947
Corunna Downs ... 110 475 125 710
Nullagine ... 7 106 220 180 513
Tambourah ... 252 452 113 817
Mulga Downs ... 83 329 412
Mount Florence ... 127 545 672
Tambray ... 40 705 745
Millstream ... 350 350
Pilbarra ... 88 1,404 154 1,646
Woodbrooke ... 380 878 1,258
Whim Creek ... 5 4 708 2,941 3,658
Boodarrie ... 35 405 310 750
Causeway Camp ... 37 469 220 726
Cossack ... 16 244 1,282 1,512
Roebourne ... 320 1,144 1,464
Fortescue ... 65 38 103
Mardie ... 33 2 35
- Signifies "no record." ... Signifies "nil"
The s.s. "Albany" experienced the full force of the hurricane at sea. She was coming down the coast from Derby to Cossack, and the following extracts from Captain Odman's log will, doubtless, prove interesting. He states as a positive fact that the men'S dungaree suits and his own canvas one were blown to ribbons during the storm:—
Voyage from Derby, via Broome, to Cossack.
Extracts from Log s.s. "Albany."
"After leaving Derby, weather became rainy, squally, and overcast. On 30th March rained heavily at times; weather threatening and strong wind from S.E.; at 8 p.m. strong E.S.E. gale.
"At 4 a.m. on the 31st, wind moderating and hauling N.E., weather clearing; 2·30 p.m., while at Broome, the weather was fine, with light N.E. winds; about midnight on the 31st the wind increased, with rains, squalls, and overcast.
"At 4 a.m. on 1st April, strong N.E. winds and squally, with rain; 8 a.m., wind and weather about the same; noon, strong N.E. winds and clear; 3 p.m., blowing N.E. gale, with heavy rains; 8 p.m., wind increasing, weather the same; 11 p.m., blowing and raining, the force of the wind being indescribable, which continued with fearful hurricane force up till 10 a.m. on the 2nd, when it suddenly and without warning became calm—in fact we could not feel a breath of wind or tell from which direction it came. The barometer then stood at 27·80, and continued stationary till 11 a.m., when it rose suddenly to 27·90, and the wind could be heard roaring and the sea boiling before we felt it, when it suddenly struck the ship from the S.W. (in an entirely opposite direction to that previously experienced), and, with the rain, became almost as dark as night, and continued to blow at much greater hurricane force than it had done before, the barometer steadily rising. The gale still continued with violent force up to midnight on the 2nd, the barometer still rising and the wind decreasing from then.
"At 4 a.m. on the 3rd, the wind moderated considerably: at 8 a.m. on the same date, the weather was fine and the sea moderately smooth, and continued so till arrival at Cossack; the wind blowing itself out steadily from the S.W."
​Page:The climate of Western Australia, from meteorological observations made during the years 1876-1899.djvu/37 ​and the total amount registered on Saturday at 9 a.m. for the preceding 24 hours was 265 points. This constitutes a record as far as the Observatory is concerned, and the amount recorded at the Botanical Gardens, viz., 271 points, has only twice been exceeded since the records commenced in 1876. The two exceptions were in July, 1891, when 3 inches fell, and in May, 1879, when 280 points were registered. The actual number of rainy hours during one day has been exceeded only once since pluviometer records commenced in April, 1897. Between last Friday and Saturday mornings at 9 o'clock it was actually raining for 10 hours 12 minutes, and during the day ending 9 a.m., September 30th, 1897, there were 12 hours 48 minutes of actual rainfall, but the total quantity then was only 60 points, and most of this fell during the night. This morning (Sunday) 72 points, and this evening at 6 p.m. 80 points, were registered, making a total of 4 inches and 17 points between Friday morning and Sunday evening. The amount so far recorded for this month is 731 points, or nearly an inch in excess of the average for the whole month for previous years. The greatest quantity ever registered in Perth for the month of June was 12⋅11 inches in 1890.
Owing to this tendency for the rain to fall principally in heavy showers and at night, and to the sandy nature of the soil, which rapidly absorbs it, the general impression of the Perth winter is that of a succession of fine, bright, calm days, varied occasionally by a severe but brief storm. The weather is on the whole delightful, but it may perhaps be too mild. One misses the keen frosty feeling that is experienced in other places, and its absence probably justifies to some extent the popular statement that the climate is enervating.
At night it is frequently cold however, July showing an average of 8 nights during which the minimum thermometer in the screen registers below 40 degrees. (As this description of Perth is to be, taken as representing more or less the whole of the South-West district it must be stated that severe frosts are by no means uncommon inland. The coldest part of the Colony at night is between Southern Cross and Katanning, and here the thermometer frequently falls below 32 degrees, especially if exposed to radiation. The mean minimum in the Stevenson screen for July is 39⋅1 at Southern Cross and 39⋅5 at Katanning.)
Very severe floods have been occasionally experienced at Perth and elsewhere in past years, but not since systematic records commenced.
The summer does not set in quite so abruptly as the winter. With an occasional hot day in October it commences generally in November, but does not as a rule become really noticeable until after Christmas. Taking a temperature of 90 degrees in the shade as the criterion of a hot day, we find an average of less than 1 in October, 4 in November, 7 in December, 12 in January, 12 in February, 9 in March, and 2 in April. This number (47 in all) seems rather formidable, but the heat is not, as a rule, felt oppressively on account of the short portion of the day during which it lasts on each occasion. On a normal hot summer day a sea breeze always sets in about noon on the coast, and reaches Perth about 2 p.m. The temperature then commences to fall, and the evening and night are delightfully cool and pleasant. Occasionally a protracted spell of hot weather is experienced, but even then the nights are generally cool. An interesting table is given on page 26. This includes all the "heat waves," as they are popularly termed, which have passed over Perth since January 1st, 1880, and it will be noticed that hot nights are distinctly exceptional, even during these specially selected hot periods. The longest of these spells without a break occurred in 1896, when the maximum exceeded 90 degrees on every date between January 25th and February 12th, nineteen in all; but the most severe heat was apparently in January and February, 1880. The highest reading that has so far been recorded in Perth is 116⋅7, which occurred in January, 1878.
Notwithstanding the fact that the monthly means are as a rule higher than those for the principal cities in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, and that we are in a lower latitude than any of these, the same remark may be applied to the summer climate as to the winter. It appears to be milder than the others. One notices the absence here of those violent changes which are sometimes experienced in the other colonies. When a cool change comes after a spell of hot weather it seems to steal upon the land gradually. The appearance of soft watery cumulus clouds in the West, generally about sunset, announces the arrival of the welcome change. That evening will be cooler than the preceding ones, but not remarkably so, and next day it may be more or less cloudy, but only moderately cool. At night probably a few light showers, and we realise that a definite change has occurred. Whether or not the sudden changes experienced elsewhere act as a tonic it is difficult to say, but, at all events, they rarely if ever occur in Perth.
A curious instance of uniformity is afforded by the figures showing the average summer temperatures since 1876. One frequently hears the expression "A remarkably cool summer," or "A terribly hot summer," "A real scorcher," etc., yet we find that although the means for the individual months may vary considerably, those for the summer (November to March) diverge but little from the general average. It must be remembered, in studying the following figures, that the thermometers were transferred from one locality to another in August, 1885, and, therefore, the two periods 1876-1885 and 1886-1899 must be studied separately. So uniform on the whole are the figures, and so distinct the break, amounting to 2∘⋅1, that the change in the method of exposure was ascertained by means of it.
​Page:The climate of Western Australia, from meteorological observations made during the years 1876-1899.djvu/39 ​Page:The climate of Western Australia, from meteorological observations made during the years 1876-1899.djvu/40 ​
Daily Rainfall throughout the Colony for April, 1900. :
| Stations. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | Total |
| Wyndham… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | 5 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 113 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 118 |
| Hall's Creek… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 11 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 11 |
| La Grange Bay… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | 2 | 5 | 103 | 58 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 38 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 206 |
| Condon… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | 22 | 450 | 5 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 22 | 80 | 45 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 624 |
| Marble Bar… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | 10 | … | … | 91 | 29 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 13 | 130 | 139 | 2 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 414 |
| Cossack… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | 10 | 116 | 115 | … | … | … | 2 | … | … | … | 132 | 102 | 689 | 1,323 | 17 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2,506 |
| Onslow… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | 227 | 95 | 83 | … | … | … | … | 69 | 45 | 80 | 62 | 356 | … | 15 | 21 | 7 | … | … | … | 40 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1,100 |
| Carnarvon… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | 56 | 125 | 165 | 63 | … | … | … | … | … | … | 105 | 27 | … | … | … | … | 17 | … | … | 25 | 49 | … | … | 3 | 12 | … | … | … | … | … | 647 |
| Hamelin Pool… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | 15 | … | 10 | 7 | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3 | 1 | 1 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 50 | … | … | … | … | … | 87 |
| Peak Hill… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | 17 | 176 | 37 | 9 | … | … | … | 3 | 15 | 28 | 203 | 30 | 5 | 6 | 167 | 110 | … | … | 39 | 125 | … | … | … | … | 8 | 8 | … | … | 2 | 988 |
| Abbott's… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | 52 | 221 | 10 | 54 | … | … | … | … | 39 | 116 | 237 | 238 | 9 | 19 | 114 | 4 | … | … | 12 | 75 | 16 | … | … | … | 2 | … | … | … | … | 1,218 |
| Mileura… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | 62 | 258 | 30 | 58 | … | … | … | … | … | 86 | 136 | 50 | … | 36 | 30 | … | … | … | … | 65 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 811 |
| Murgoo… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | 14 | 27 | 22 | … | … | … | … | … | 167 | 8 | 32 | 2 | 60 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 42 | … | … | … | … | … | 2 | 376 |
| Nannine… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | 21 | 130 | 140 | 50 | … | … | … | … | 4 | 208 | 160 | … | 25 | … | … | … | … | … | 18 | 45 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 800 |
| Cue… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | 22 | 58 | 152 | 31 | … | … | … | … | … | 129 | 39 | 134 | … | 225 | 17 | … | … | … | 14 | 5 | … | … | … | 6 | … | … | … | … | … | 832 |
| Mt. Magnet… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | 3 | 93 | 68 | … | 10 | … | … | … | 62 | 13 | … | … | 27 | 53 | … | … | … | 2 | … | 3 | 27 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 361 |
| Challa… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | 145 | … | … | … | … | … | 50 | … | … | 60 | … | 25 | … | … | … | 10 | … | … | … | 19 | … | … | … | … | … | … | 309 |
| Yalgoo… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | 80 | 87 | 2 | … | … | … | … | 47 | … | 4 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7 | 47 | … | … | … | … | … | 274 |
| Northampton… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | 38 | 25 | 31 | … | … | … | … | 4 | 11 | 12 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2 | … | … | 29 | 123 | … | … | … | … | … | 275 |
| Geraldton… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | 20 | 17 | 2 | … | … | … | … | 38 | … | 23 | … | 21 | 9 | … | … | … | … | 12 | … | … | 33 | 124 | 1 | 5 | … | … | … | 305 |
| Walebing… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | 10 | 2 | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1 | … | 14 | 3 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6 | 100 | 13 | 8 | … | … | … | 157 |
| Perth Observatory… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | 1 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3 | 2 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 8 | 43 | 50 | 25 | … | … | … | 131 |
| Pinjarra… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | 20 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5 | 100 | 65 | 10 | … | … | … | 200 |
| York… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | 5 | 4 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 12 | 5 | … | … | … | … | … | … | 26 | 60 | 14 | 11 | … | … | … | 137 |
| Bunbury… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6 | 82 | 90 | 10 | … | … | … | 189 |
| Bridgetown… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3 | … | 1 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 98 | 114 | 5 | … | … | 5 | 221 |
| Katanning… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2 | … | … | … | … | … | 14 | 5 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 42 | 30 | … | … | … | 9 | 102 |
| Albany… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | 2 | 13 | 7 | 24 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 13 | … | … | … | 5 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 11 | … | … | … | … | … | … | 36 | 72 | 53 | 1 | … | 2 | 289 |
| Lake Way… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | 291 | 102 | 55 | 2 | … | … | 40 | 68 | 159 | 132 | 275 | … | 72 | 207 | 113 | … | 178 | 134 | 244 | … | … | … | … | 3 | … | … | … | … | … | 2,075 |
| Lawlers… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | 24 | 101 | 115 | 3 | … | … | … | … | 157 | 56 | 36 | 22 | 67 | 107 | 36 | … | … | 46 | 26 | … | … | 1 | 2 | … | … | … | … | … | 799 |
| Mt. Malcolm… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | 72 | 38 | 22 | … | … | … | … | 22 | 51 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 80 | 57 | … | 8 | 87 | 29 | … | … | 2 | … | 5 | … | … | … | … | 506 |
| Laverton… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | 121 | 162 | … | … | … | … | 23 | 68 | 84 | 11 | 15 | 71 | 79 | … | … | … | 171 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 805 |
| Pendennie… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | 90 | 59 | 16 | … | … | 6 | … | 26 | 26 | 35 | 25 | … | 50 | 67 | … | … | 13 | 6 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 419 |
| Menzies… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | 5 | 7 | 41 | 1 | … | … | 9 | … | 6 | 12 | 99 | 23 | … | 31 | 60 | … | … | 72 | 2 | … | … | 1 | … | … | … | … | … | … | 325 |
| Goongarrie… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | 6 | 75 | 8 | … | … | … | … | … | 3 | 36 | 21 | … | 16 | 35 | … | … | 25 | … | … | … | 16 | … | … | … | … | … | … | 241 |
| Kurnalpi… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | 2 | 2 | 92 | 14 | 3 | … | … | … | … | … | … | 24 | … | 16 | 21 | … | … | 40 | … | 13 | … | … | 10 | 7 | … | … | … | … | 244 |
| Kalgoorlie… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | 3 | 6 | 61 | 27 | … | … | 8 | 12 | … | … | … | 26 | … | 22 | 30 | … | … | 7 | 72 | 3 | … | 14 | 52 | … | … | … | … | … | 343 |
| Coolgardie… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | 1 | 9 | 72 | 17 | 1 | … | 1 | … | … | … | … | 10 | … | 24 | 42 | … | … | … | 103 | 5 | … | 5 | 66 | … | … | … | … | … | 356 |
| Widgemooltha… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | 1 | 1 | 98 | 13 | 13 | … | … | 6 | … | … | … | 9 | … | 33 | 43 | … | … | 39 | 44 | 25 | … | … | 34 | … | … | … | … | … | 359 |
| Norseman… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | 60 | 8 | 8 | … | … | 4 | … | … | … | 9 | … | … | 28 | 51 | … | … | 5 | 21 | … | 3 | … | 43 | … | 2 | … | … | … | 242 |
| Southern Cross… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | 23 | 9 | … | … | 25 | … | … | … | … | … | 6 | 85 | 15 | … | … | … | … | … | … | 27 | 70 | … | … | … | … | … | 260 |
| Mt. Jackson… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | 20 | 150 | 8 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 71 | 12 | … | … | … | 10 | … | … | … | 52 | … | … | … | … | … | 323 |
| Burracoppin… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | 15 | 28 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15 | 88 | 7 | … | … | … | … | … | … | 17 | 103 | 9 | 5 | … | … | … | 287 |
| Wattoning… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 120 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 80 | … | … | … | … | 200 |
| Coconarup… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | 20 | … | … | 22 | 19 | … | 5 | 3 | 4 | … | … | 16 | 23 | 57 | 98 | 6 | … | … | 6 | 26 | 11 | … | … | 62 | … | … | 4 | … | … | 382 |
| Esperance… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | 5 | … | 20 | 50 | 1 | 6 | 8 | … | … | … | 9 | 12 | … | 1 | 33 | 4 | … | 3 | 102 | 10 | … | 2 | 84 | … | 4 | 6 | … | … | 390 |
| Israelite Bay… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | 2 | 15 | 67 | 50 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 20 | … | 3 | 47 | 5 | … | 6 | 108 | … | 6 | … | 23 | … | … | … | … | … | 352 |
| Balladonia… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | … | … | … | 88 | 40 | 9 | 5 | 8 | … | … | … | … | 12 | … | … | 32 | … | … | 51 | 114 | 7 | … | … | 12 | 4 | … | … | … | … | 382 |
| Eyre… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | … | 20 | … | … | 6 | 5 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 6 | … | … | 1 | 6 | … | … | 37 | 2 | … | … | 198 | 40 | … | … | … | 5 | … | 22 | 2 | … | 368 |
… Signifies "nil."
CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLES.
PERTH (BOTANIC GARDENS).
RAINFALL TABLES FOR THE WHOLE STATE.
Vide Introduction (Page 7) for Explanation of Degree Squares.
100 POINTS = l INCH.
Explanation of the Rainfall Maps.
The State has been divided into "degree squares," and in each of these:—
1. The figure shows the mean rainfall for that square, obtained from the records of all stations situated therein, and for as many years as the records cover.
2. The circle represents this graphically, according to the attached scale.
3. The name is that of one of the stations situated within the square, inserted for reference purposes.
4. The black dot indicates the exact position of this particular station.
5. A+ signifies that no rain has ever been recorded at any station within the square for the month.
APPENDIX.
RAINFALL FOR 1895 AND 1896.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1947, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 76 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse