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Friday, 13 September 2002
MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE
August rains less than half the average in the ACT
August in the ACT this year was warmer and sunnier than normal by day
and colder by night, with more frosts than usual. Rainfall was well below average.
Temperature: The average daily maximum temperature for August was 14.8 degrees Celsius,
well above the long-term August average of 12.9 and the third highest on record.
The record is 17.2 degrees in 1982, followed by 16.1 in 1995.
The mean daily minimum temperature was minus 0.5 degrees, below the average of
0.9 degrees. The total of 23 frosts was slightly more than usual (average 19).
The mean daily temperature of 7.1 degrees was slightly above the long-term
average of 6.9.
Rainfall: Canberra airport recorded 22.8 millimetres of rain in August,
well below the average of 47.2mm and in the lowest 30 per cent of August
totals. Rainfall was generally low across the ACT, with all stations
recording below-average falls. The highest reading was at Tidbinbilla with 40.0mm. The
lowest was 21.8mm at Ainslie. No thunderstorms were recorded at the
airport. There was one day of hail and three days of fog (average five).
Other: The mean daily wind run was 172.8 kilometres a day, less than the long-term
average of 198.4km/day. There were three days when strong winds were
recorded. Sunshine averaged 8.5 hours a day, well above the long-term mean
of 6.8 hr/day and the second highest since records started in 1966.
The highest on record is 8.8 hr/day in 1995. Total evaporation was 88.2mm,
above the norm of 78.6mm. Average daily pressure was 1022.2 hectopascals, just
above the long-term average of 1019.1hPa.
| Summary for Canberra airport, August 2002
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| Mean maximum temperature |
14.8 degrees (av 12.9) |
| Highest maximum temperature |
20.0 degrees (11 August) |
| Lowest maximum temperature |
9.7 degrees (12 August) |
| Mean minimum temperature |
minus 0.5 degrees (av 0.9) |
| Highest minimum temperature |
7.1 degrees (7 August) |
| Lowest minimum temperature |
minus 4.6 degrees (21, 24 and 25 August) |
| Lowest grass temperature |
minus 10.5 degrees (24 August) |
| Total monthly rainfall |
22.8mm (av 47.2) |
| Total monthly evaporation |
88.2mm (av 98.6) |
| Mean daily sunshine |
8.5hr/day (av 6.8) |
| Mean daily pressure |
1022.2hPa (av 1019.1) |
| Mean daily windrun (at two metres) |
172.8km/day (av 198.4) |
Ends
Further information:
Ian Mason, Canberra Meteorological Office, tel: (02) 6249 6269, e-mail: i.mason@bom.gov.au
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