Climate
Faure Island Sanctuary
Shark Bay has a semi-arid to arid climate with hot dry summers and mild winters. Summer minimum and maximum temperatures average between 20-35°C and winter temperatures between 10-20°C. Rainfall is erratic, with annual totals ranging from 150 mm to 400 mm. Over the past ten years, rainfall on Faure Island has averaged 222 mm. Most rain falls in the winter months but cyclonic activity may also bring significant rainfall over the summer and autumn months.
Evaporation rates are very high, ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 mm across Shark Bay.
Summer winds are predominately southerly and often blow for long periods at over 25 km per hour. The winds tend to be lighter in winter although low pressure system storms occasionally occur. Faure Island Sanctuary is protected from severe westerly and southerly winds by the mainland, but is exposed to heavy weather from the north during summer cyclones and winter storms.