Climate & weather

Enabling farm businesses to better manage the increasing seasonal variability is critical for the success of the Western Australian agrifood sector. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is enabling farm businesses to make more informed planning and financial decisions on weather and climate risks. These decisions range from short-term tactical decisions, through to managing strategic planning for climatic futures. The development of improved weather data and seasonal forecasting tools are designed to assist you to better manage and take full advantage of the opportunities related to seasonal variability and climate change.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has launched a new website; emergency.wa.gov.au. This website will replace the existing alerts and warnings websites from DFES and Parks and Wildlife, enabling people to get critical public information during fire, flood, storm, earthquake, tsunami and emergencies involving hazardous materials.

Articles

  • Climate change will affect each pastoral region of Western Australia in different ways.

  • This page hosts the 2018 frost trial information, handy project resources and the frost severity maps (from August).

  • Frost occurs on clear nights in early spring when the air temperature drops to 2°C or less.

  • The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) plays a major role in addressing the impact of frost on WA growers through a combination of on-farm research and development ac

  • An important component of climate change is the increased uncertainty of forecasting seasonal weather.

  • Rainfall to date graphs show the amount of rainfall accumulated from the start of the grain growing season and can be used as a tool in the seasonal decision-making process.

  • Plant available soil water graphs show the amount of soil water accumulated from the start of summer (1 November) through the grain growing season and can be used as a tool in the seasonal decision

  • The potential yield tool uses seasonal rainfall and decile finishes, calculated from historical data, to calculate the maximum wheat yield possible in the absence of any other constraints.

  • Western Australia's climate has changed over the last century, particularly over the last 50 years. Average temperature has risen about 1°C.

  • The extreme weather events tool uses data from DPIRD's extensive weather station network to map air temperatures, relative humidity, dew point, Delta T and wet bulb, either below or above a specifi

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