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Monday, 1 September 2003
SEASONAL CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE
Windy winter in the ACT had higher rainfall and temperatures
Winter temperatures and rainfall totals were just above average in the ACT
this year. It was also windier than normal.
Rainfall: A total of 149.2 millimetres of rain was recorded over 41 days
at Canberra airport in June, July and August this year. The winter average is 129 mm
over 30 days. Rainfall was above average in June and August, but below average
in July. There were two days of thunder at the airport, one more than average
for winter. Hail was recorded on five days (average none).
Temperature: The average daily maximum temperature for winter of
12.7 degrees Celsius was slightly above the average of 12.1 degrees. Average
daily maximum temperatures in the first two months of winter were well above the
long-term mean, but in August it was equal to the long-term mean.
The average minimum temperature in winter was 1.9 degrees, well above the long-term
average of 0.4 degrees. As a result there were fewer frosts, 53, five less than
the average of 58. Many frosts were only marginal.
The mean daily winter temperature was 7.3 degrees, one degree above the long-term mean of
6.3 degrees.
Wind: Winter was windier than normal in the ACT this year.
June was much windier than average, with a mean wind run of 181 kilometres a day
compared with the long-term average of 149.4 km/day. July and August were only
marginally windier than average. The average wind run for winter was 189.1 km/day
compared with the mean of 177.6 km/day. Winter had 11 days of strong winds
(average seven days) and two days (in August) of gales (average none).
Other: Daily sunshine was more than average in June and July, but less than
average in August. The mean hours of sunshine for winter - 6.1 hours a day - was slightly
more than the long-term average of 5.9 hr/day. Fog was reported on 19 days,
fewer than the average of 21 days. Evaporation was above average in June and July
but below average in August. Winter evaporation was 178.4 mm, only slightly more than
the average of 176.2 mm. The average daily pressure was 1020.6 hectopascals, slightly
more than the long-term mean of 1020.1 hPa.
Summary for Canberra airport, winter 2003
Rainfall
Total winter rainfall: 149.2 mm (av 129 mm)
Temperature
Mean maximum temperature: 12.7°C (av 12.1°C)
Highest maximum temperature: 17.4°C (23 July)
Lowest maximum temperature: 7.0°C (24 July)
Mean minimum temperature: 1.9°C (av 0.4°C)
Highest minimum temperature: 9.2°C (3 June)
Lowest minimum temperature: minus 4.9 (28 July)
Mean daily temperature: 7.3°C (av 6.3°C)
Lowest grass temperature: minus 8.8 (2 August)
Wind
Mean daily wind run at 2 metres: 189.1 km/day (av 177.6 km/day)
Other
Total winter evaporation: 178.4 mm (av 176.2 mm)
Mean daily sunshine: 6.1 hr/day (av 5.9 hr/day)
Mean daily pressure: 1020.6 hPa (av 1020.1 hPa)
Ends
Further information:
Clem Davis, Canberra Meteorological Office, tel: (02) 6249 6269, e-mail: c.davis@bom.gov.au
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