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Friday, 3 January 2003
MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE
December warmer and drier than normal in the ACT
December in the ACT last year continued the tendency of most of the preceding months
for warmer, drier conditions than normal.
Temperature: The mean maximum temperature at Canberra airport for the month was
28.1 degrees Celsius, well above the average of 26.0 degrees and the 10th highest since
records started in 1939. There were 10 days with maximums of 30 degrees or more (average seven)
and four days of 35 degrees or more (average one). The mean minimum temperature was slightly
above average at 11.7 degrees compared with the long-term value of 11.2 degrees. There was
one frost on 7 December when the ground temperature fell to minus 1.7 degrees. The overall
mean temperature for December was 19.9 degrees, above the average of 18.6.
Rainfall: Total rainfall for December at the airport was 18.2 millimetres, well below
the mean of 53.1mm and in the lowest 30 per cent of December totals. Measurable rain fell
on four days (average eight). The total for the three months October, November and December
was just 39.6mm, the third lowest recorded for this period. Elsewhere in the ACT, rain in
December was generally below average. The highest reports were 35.8mm at Bendora Dam and
30.6mm at Lanyon.
Other: Thunderstorms were reported on five days (average four), and there were no
reports of hail, snow or fog. Total evaporation was 257.6mm, slightly above the average of
251.1mm. Wind at two metres averaged 209.1 kilometres a day, close to the mean of
205.8 km/day. The maximum wind gust was 72 km/h on 4 December, and there were
three days in which strong winds were recorded. Sunshine averaged 9.6 hours a day,
slightly above the long-term average of 9.4 hr/day. The average daily air pressure was
1014.0 hectopascals, above the long-term mean of 1011.4 hPa.
Summary for Canberra airport – December 2002
| Mean maximum temperature |
28.1 (av 26.0) |
| Highest maximum temperature |
36.9 (22 December) |
| Lowest maximum temperature |
16.6 (10 December) |
| Mean minimum temperature |
11.7 (av 11.2) |
| Highest minimum temperature |
17.8 (31 December) |
| Lowest minimum temperature |
3.0 (7 December) |
| Lowest grass temperature |
-1.7 (7 December) |
| Total monthly rainfall |
18.2mm (mean 53.1mm) |
| Total monthly evaporation |
257.6mm (av 251.1mm) |
| Mean daily sunshine |
9.6 hr/day (av 9.4 hr/day) |
| Mean daily pressure |
1014.0 hPa (av 1011.4 hPa) |
| Mean daily windrun (at 2 metres) |
209.1 km/day (205.8 km/day) |
Ends
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