Weather

The Kimberley region of northwest Australia has a tropical monsoon climate characterized by two dominant seasons.

The Dry Season

The warm, dry "winter" prevails from April to September where temperatures range from 15C to 30C (59-86F) and there is little rainfall. Conditions are quite stable, providing warm sunny days and cool nights.

The Wet Season

The tropical summer from October to March typically has temperatures of 25C to 38C (77-100F) with increased rainfall and humidity. In fact, 90% of the regions rainfall occurs from December to March, often in heavy downpours. It is heavily influenced by tropical cyclone activity and in the region we experience spectacular thunderstorms that can provide dramatic light shows at night.

Taking Advantage of the Seasons

For visitors to the Kimberley, these seasonal variations offer special opportunities. You can enjoy cruising aboard K2O from March to November and take advantage of the best weather, tides, and conditions to experience the real beauty of the region.

In March, the lush vegetation, kaleidoscopic sunsets, lightening shows and raging waterfalls are spectacular.

From April to September, it is the perfect time to cruise the whole of the Kimberley coast, accessing the remotest parts of the East Kimberley, and some of the most awe-inspiring waterfalls and gorges.

In October we cruise a little closer to home to take advantage of the calm conditions, great tides and fantastic Kimberley Fishing. In November, we head out to the Rowley Shoals where the crystal, glassy waters make it a diving Mecca.

Broome Weather

Broome has a tropical climate of hot, humid summers and warm winters. We have two distinct seasons, ‘the wet’ or ‘green season’ and ‘the dry’.

The ‘wet season’ officially commences in October but Broome does not usually experience much (if any) rain before late December. Most of the annual rainfall for Broome is, on average, from January through to March and can be accompanied by thunderstorms and tropical lows or cyclones.

Broome is situated on a peninsula with water on three sides so we have reliable afternoon sea breezes from the northwest to southwest during the warmer months. These coastal areas encompass some the best beaches in the world; soft white sands, sheer, red cliffs and warm turquoise waters (Cable Beach voted WA’s best beach 2004 & 2005).

Due to its coastal location, Broome’s climate is more moderate, without the extremes of inland regions.

April is classed as the start of the ‘dry season’. Temperatures during this time can be expected to be in the vicinity of mid 20s C to low 30s C with overnight temperatures averaging approximately 12C.

Driving and the Weather

Only the major highways are sealed which means any Kimberley adventure will entail driving on unsealed, corrugated roads. The heavy rains which characterize the wet season can make travel by road to some areas prohibitive. During these months of the year, many areas become cut off by impassable roads caused by the rivers flooding or sheer volume of rainfall. It is always advisable to check with the local visitor centre (www.broomevisitorcentre.com.au) about the conditions of the roads before embarking upon your journey. Being bogged and stranded in this sparse, unforgivable land can turn any adventure into a nightmare.

Tides

As well as the weather (www.bom.gov.au), you need to check the tidal movements before embarking upon any marine activities in Broome.

The tidal range is nearly 10 metres. Broome tides can be checked on the BOM Web Site.

Temperature and Rainfall Charts for Broome

Average Temperatures (c) and Rainfall (mm)

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max	33.4	32.9	34.0	34.3	31.5	29.2	28.8	30.3	31.8	32.8	33.5	33.8
Min	26.3	25.9	25.4	22.5	18.2	15.3	13.6	15.0	18.4	22.3	25.0	26.4
Rain	173.7	182.3	95.6	27.0	28.6	18.4	6.3	1.7	1.5	1.4	8.2	49.4

Source: Broome Visitor Centre

Click here to return to the Kimberley Region page.