Cold, wet March equals record

Autumn is off to a chilly start with Bunbury registering its equal coldest March on record.

After sweltering through its fourth hottest summer, during which average maximum temperatures peaked at 29.6C, the mercury in the city plummeted last month.

A series of cold fronts saw the city register an average maximum temperature of 26.1C, 1.7C below the long term average – tying 1997 for the coolest March on record.

Clear and cold evenings, especially in the second half of the month, contributed to an average minimum temperature of 13.5C, 0.7C cooler than the long term average.

“We had an incredibly hot summer but it appears to have mellowed out a little now,” Bureau of Meteorology climate and weather information officer John Relf said.

“What a difference a couple of years makes – in 2011 Bunbury had its hottest March on record, averaging a maximum temperature of 30C and last year’s average March maximum was 29C.”

Bunbury also recorded its wettest start to autumn since 1997, with 37.4mm of rain falling on the city, 20.8mm of that on Bunbury Cup Day.

It was a far cry from last March – not a single drop fell on Bunbury. Holidaymakers in the South West couldn’t have asked for better conditions over the Easter long weekend, with visitors greeted by blue skies and pleasant daily maximums between 24C and 26C.

“You can sum up Bunbury’s long weekend weather up in one word really,” Mr Relf said.

“Perfect.”