|
Tuesday, 3 June 2003
MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE
May in the ACT was warm and dry
May this year in the ACT was again considerably drier than normal,
with above-average day-time and night-time temperatures.
Rainfall: At Canberra airport, only 14.6 millimetres of rain fell
in May, considerably below the average of 47.5 mm. Rain was
recorded on nine days, one day more than normal. There were no thunderstorms
recorded for the month at the airport. Rainfall across the whole of the ACT
reflected the dry conditions at the airport. The highest total was
31.6 mm at Hall. The lowest was 7.4 mm at Tuggeranong.
Temperature: The average day-time maximum temperature for May was
17.2 degrees Celsius, well above the long-term average of 15.4 degrees.
It was the fourth highest value on record (record 18.2 degrees in 1947).
The average daily minimum temperature of 4.7 degrees was also above
the long-term average of 3.1 degrees. The mean daily temperature of
11.0 degrees was considerably above the long-term average of
9.3 degrees and was the fourth highest on record (record 11.5 degrees
in 1989).
Frosts: Although the mean daily minimum temperature was well above average,
there were 16 frosts recorded in May, two more than the average of 14 frosts.
However many of the frosts were when the ground temperature dropped to
minus 0.9 degrees or lower. There were only five occasions when the
minimum temperature dropped to 0 degrees or lower.
Fogs: There were five fogs recorded, two less than the average of seven.
Sunshine: With higher than normal maximum temperatures, average daily
hours of sunshine was 6.2 hours a day, more than the average of 5.7.
Wind: Above-average temperatures and pressures, sunnier conditions
and low rainfall all indicate that high-pressure systems dominated the region.
As expected with these conditions, wind run was less than average. The average
of 148 kilometres a day at two metres was below the mean of
156 km/day. There were no days of strong winds recorded for May
(average one day).
Summary for Canberra airport, May 2003
Mean maximum temperature: 17.2°C (av 15.4°C)
Highest maximum temperature: 22.5°C (6 May)
Lowest maximum temperature: 12.5°C (20 May)
Mean minimum temperature: 4.7°C (av 3.1°C)
Highest minimum temperature: 13.2°C (15 May)
Lowest minimum temperature: minus 4.7°C (31 May)
Mean daily temperature: 11.0°C (av 9.3°C)
Lowest grass temperature: minus 8.3°C (31 May)
Total monthly rainfall: 14.6 mm (av 47.5 mm)
Total monthly evaporation: 69.0 mm (av 68.7 mm)
Mean daily sunshine: 6.2 hours/day (av 5.7 h/day)
Mean daily pressure: 1022.8 hPa (av 1020.4 hPa)
Mean daily wind run (at two metres): 148 km/day (av 156 km/day)
Ends
Further information:
Clem Davis, Canberra Meteorological Office, tel: (02) 6249 6269, e-mail: c.davis@bom.gov.au
| 
