Average winter weather a rare sight

Spring has sprung, and the weather figures are in for what was an uncommonly average winter period in Geraldton.

When the weather bureau talks about above or below-average measurements, that average is based on statistics from 1961-1990.

In the past 100 years, temperatures in Geraldton have only matched that average four times.

Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Simon Grainger said being this close to average was an uncommon occurrence.

Night-time temperatures in Geraldton in winter were just 0.2C above average and the mean maximum of 20.3C sat 0.3C above average. Maximum temperatures across the State were about 1C above average, which Mr Grainger said was in line with the background of a warming global climate. Winter rainfall measured at Geraldton Airport was 211.8mm, much higher than the 178.6mm during winter 2020, but still 14 per cent below average.

As the negative Indian Ocean dipole — which refers to the difference in sea-surface temperatures in opposite parts of the Indian Ocean — neutralises over September, the bureau expects rainfall and maximum temperatures to remain close to average throughout spring.