Monsoonal climate
The Kimberley region's tropical monsoonal climate has
considerable variation across its range. The summer wet season
usually occurs from November to April and is characterised by hot
humid conditions, predominantly north-west winds and frequent
thunderstorms.
Rainfall
Ninety per cent of rain falls during the summer and is highly
variable from year to year. The heaviest falls occur along the
coast and in the highland areas where thunderstorms are more
frequent. The Mitchell Plateau receives around 1400 mm annually
which grades down to 400 mm towards the Great Sandy Desert. Wet
conditions in the most southerly, coastal region are brought in by
moist, westerly winds of the pseudo-monsoon sourced over the Indian
Ocean. Flooding over extensive areas may occur as the result of the
passage of tropical cyclones and their associated intensive winds
can cause much damage.
Average temperature
Average maximum temperatures exceed 35ºC in inland regions
but moderate along the coast in the early months of the wet. At
this time humidity and cloud cover increase and climatic discomfort
is at its highest. Throughout the year the combination of warm or
no wind conditions, high humidity and temperature produce more than
200 days of climate discomfort.
Dry season
From May to October the Kimberley experiences its dry season
with cloudless skies. South-east trade winds coming in from across
central Australia are comparatively cool and dry. Maximum
temperatures average 30ºC and are higher in the north than in
the south. Minimum temperatures above 20ºC occur around the
coast but inland overnight temperatures can drop to below 5ºC
in the high plateau regions where frosts are a possibility.
