Weather in Perth, Australia?

Question

Why is it that the weather in Perth can be colder than Sydney/Melbourne? I understand that Sydney & Melbourne are more towards the southern part of Australia than Perth. Then why is it that Perth can be colder?

So is it true that Perth is colder than Sydney/Melbourne? When is their winter?

Answer 1

It would be extremely rare for Perth to be colder than Melbourne. Perth and Sydney have fairly similar weather, as they are both on a similar latitude (?). Look at a map of oz, you will see how far south Melb is, hence much cooler.

Answer 2

Perth has an entirely different climate from Sydney. Melbourne is closer to Perth than to Sydney. In the winter, the prevailing wind across southern Australia is a westerly. This brings cold wet weather to Perth and Melbourne but mild dry weather to Sydney. Westerlies come off the ocean into Perth but off the land into Sydney. The westerly also brings a foehn effect to Sydney with rain on the western side of the ranges producing warm dry winds into Sydney.

Sea surface temperatures are much lower off the coast from Perth as the cold west Australian current flows north. SSTs are higher off Sydney because of the warmer east Australian current flowing south. The cold water means that air off the water will be colder.

Even so, the average maximum temperature in Perth in July is still a degree higher than Sydney's.

Answer 3

Its probably got something to do with the clouds. When its cloudy, which it is in Sydney and Melbourne that raises up the temperature, especially at night. So if its cloudy in Syd and Mel and not in Perth than that explains why.