January might still have four days to go, but a remote Kimberley settlement has recorded the highest monthly rainfall figure ever in WA. The Bureau of Meteorology's gauge at Kuri Bay has so far recorded 1339.5mm - at least - this month, beating a 94-year-old tally.
It might have been even higher, but the rainfall gauge overflowed on January 11, before the Bureau's observer was able to check the gauge. The observer recorded 388.6mm for that day.
The previous best was at another Kimberley site, Roebuck Plains, in January 1917, when 132.7mm fell. Kuri Bay's previous best was 1144.9mm in January 1974. This month's total is more than three times the 407.4mm January average for Kuri Bay. 
WA regional climate services manager Glenn Cook said the record-breaking total was due to the monsoon season in a La Nina weather pattern year, and warmer than average waters off the north coast. However, Kuri Bay, and WA, have some way to go to match the Australian record, a whopping 5387mm, or more than 5 metres, at Bellenden Ker, Queensland, in January 1979.
Bellenden Ker records an annual average rainfall of 8,312 mm (327.2 in), making it the wettest meteorological station in Australia. It also holds the record for the highest rainfall in a calendar year of 12,461 mm (490.6 in) in 2000 and the highest rainfall in Australia for a calendar month of 5,387 mm (212.1 in) in January 1979.In 2006, Bellenden Ker received rainfall, 9,800 mm (390 in) than any other part of Australia. This was primarily due to two severe tropical cyclones passing close to the mountain.
It might have been even higher, but the rainfall gauge overflowed on January 11, before the Bureau's observer was able to check the gauge. The observer recorded 388.6mm for that day.
The previous best was at another Kimberley site, Roebuck Plains, in January 1917, when 132.7mm fell. Kuri Bay's previous best was 1144.9mm in January 1974. This month's total is more than three times the 407.4mm January average for Kuri Bay. 
WA regional climate services manager Glenn Cook said the record-breaking total was due to the monsoon season in a La Nina weather pattern year, and warmer than average waters off the north coast. However, Kuri Bay, and WA, have some way to go to match the Australian record, a whopping 5387mm, or more than 5 metres, at Bellenden Ker, Queensland, in January 1979.
Bellenden Ker records an annual average rainfall of 8,312 mm (327.2 in), making it the wettest meteorological station in Australia. It also holds the record for the highest rainfall in a calendar year of 12,461 mm (490.6 in) in 2000 and the highest rainfall in Australia for a calendar month of 5,387 mm (212.1 in) in January 1979.In 2006, Bellenden Ker received rainfall, 9,800 mm (390 in) than any other part of Australia. This was primarily due to two severe tropical cyclones passing close to the mountain.
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