The Rain Man of Rockingham

Rain Man is the title of a famous 1980s film starring Dustin Hoffman, but it could well be applied to Cooloongup resident John Carrington.

From a little weather station at his Mackay Place home, he plots and records Rockingham’s weather, particularly focusing on rain-bearing clouds coming from the south.

The 72-year-old retired painter and decorator started taking an interest in all matters atmospheric as a teenager and became serious about his passion when he moved from Gosnells to Rockingham five years ago.

Over the past two years, he has equipped his weather station to accurately record Rockingham’s weather.

Along the way he has received help from Bureau of Meteorology climate and information officer John Relf.

‘‘I use automatic and normal instruments, which tie up quite accurately with the monitor,’’ he said. ‘‘All max and min readings are recorded.’’

Mr Carrington said since the record winter rainfall in 1945, when Perth recorded 54 inches (about 1400mm), the mean average rainfall of about 750mm had fallen dramatically, particularly over the past 30 years.

He attributed this to many rain-bearing systems dropping rain before they reached the coast.

‘‘The South West of WA was one of the most reliable rainfall areas in the world, but since the ’80s it has dropped by up to 55 to 60 per cent of the mean average,’’ he said.

‘‘We don’t seem to be under the same influence of the roaring 40s we used to be, but I don’t think the warming trend has a lot to do with it, rather it is a long-term cycle.’’