MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE

Warm, dry April for the ACT

The mean daily minimum temperature of 6.0 degrees Celsius was below the long-term average of 6.6, while the mean daily maximum of 21.5 degrees was well above the long-term average of 19.8. The mean monthly temperature was 13.8 degrees, above the average of 13.2. The warmest day of the month was the 19th when the mercury reached 28.3 degrees. The coldest day was on the 24th when the maximum temperature was 14.0. The coldest night was on the 13th when the temperature dropped to minus 2.6. There were seven frosts for the month, two above the average. New record daily maximum temperatures were set on four successive days of the month, the 16th to the 19th. The maximum temperatures on the 17th, 18th and 19th was 27.0 or more.

Rainfall at Canberra Airport in April was only 10.6 millimetres on six days, significantly below the average of 50.1mm on seven days. While there were no thunderstorms recorded at the airport (average one day), thunderstorm activity was reported on the evening of the 21st over the southern parts of the ACT. There were four fog days for the month, which is average. Rainfall across the ACT was generally well below average. Higher readings were recorded in the southern and western parts of the ACT due to the thunderstorm activity on the 21st.

Wind conditions were close to normal in April. The average daily wind run was 144.2 kilometres a day (long-term average 145.0 km/day) and there were no strong wind days (average one day). The average sunshine was 7.0 hours a day, very near the long-term average of 7.1 hours a day. The total monthly evaporation of 106.1mm was just below the average of 107.8mm. The average daily pressure was 1021.3 hectopascals, well above the average of 1019.5hPa.

New records for April (since 1939):
Individual daily maximum temperatures were set on:
16th: 25.7°C,
17th: 27.0°C,
18th: 27.2°C,
19th: 28.3°C.

Summary for Canberra Airport, April 2001
Mean maximum temperature	21.5°C (av 19.8°C)
Highest maximum temperature	28.3°C (19 April)
Lowest maximum temperature	14.0°C (24 April)
Mean minimum temperature	6.0°C (av 6.6°C)
Highest minimum temperature	12.4°C (10 April)
Lowest minimum temperature	-2.6°C (13 April)
Mean daily temperature	13.8°C (av 13.2°C)
Lowest grass temperature	-7.1°C (13 April)
Total monthly rainfall	10.6mm (av 50.1mm)
Total monthly evaporation	106.1mm (av 107.8mm)
Mean daily sunshine	7.0 hours/day (av 7.1 h/day)
Mean daily pressure	1021.3 hPa (av 1019.5 hPa)
Mean daily windrun (at two metres)	144.2km/day (av 145.0km/day)