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Friday, 2 January 2004
ANNUAL CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE
January fires the highlight of a warm, dry year in the ACT
The ACT had less than average rainfall this year, though there were more days of rain than average.
Both daytime and night-time temperatures were above average, and there were more days of strong
winds and thunderstorms than normal. There were fewer fogs. The most significant weather event
of 2003 was the extreme weather associated with the fires in January.
Rainfall: A total of 569.2 mm of rain fell at Canberra Airport for the year, less than the
average of 625.5 mm. January, April and May had considerably less than average rainfall, while
all months from June to December had either just below average, average or above average rains as
the El Nino event of 2002 dissipated and rainfall patterns returned to normal. The wettest month
of the year was December with 87.6 mm. The driest was January with only 11.4 mm. The highest
24-hour rainfall total to 9am was associated with a severe thunderstorm on 15 March, when
37.8 mm of rain fell. There were three other occasions when 30 mm or more was recorded.
There were six occasions when the 24-hour total was 20 to 30 mm.
While the rainfall total for the year was below average, the number of days of rainfall was well
above average. There were 115 rain days compared with the average of 105. Thunderstorm activity
was also well above average. There were 35 thunderstorm days compared with the average of 23.
Thunderstorms were particularly active in February and March (15 days compared with the average of five).
From September to December there were 18 thunderstorm days compared with the average of 12. Four of
the thunderstorms were classified severe - on 14 March, 21 and 25 October and 21 November.
Two of these severe storms had heavy rainfall, one had significant wind gusts, and during the fourth
a funnel cloud was sighted. Hail was recorded at the airport on nine occasions, much more than the
average of four. On four of these occasions (in winter) the hail was associated with cold
conditions in the mid levels of the atmosphere rather than thunderstorm activity.
Temperature: The mean annual daytime maximum temperature of 20.2 degrees Celsius was above
the average of 19.6 degrees. The mean annual night-time temperature of 7.3 degrees was considerably
above the average of 6.5 degrees. The overall mean daily temperature for 2003 was 13.7 degrees,
well above the long-term average of 13.0 degrees. This is the seventh consecutive year that the
mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures for Canberra have been average or above average.
The warmest month was February (average daily temperature 22.3 degrees). The coldest was July
(average daily temperature 6.8 degrees).
Mean daily maximum temperatures were below average in March and October, average in August, and
above average for the other months. The highest average daily maximum was 30.5 degrees in January.
The lowest was 12.2 degrees in July. The temperature reached 30.0 degrees or more on 38 days
(average 30). January had 14 such days (average 10), February 11 (average eight), November
three (average two) and December 10 (average seven days). There were six days (all in January) when
the temperature reached 35.0 degrees or more (average five days). The hottest day of the year was
30 January when 39.8 degrees was recorded, while the coldest day was 24 July when 7.0 degrees
was recorded.
Mean daily minimum temperatures were below average for March, October and November. All other months
recorded above-average minimum temperatures. The overall mean minimum temperature for winter was
1.9 degrees (average 0.4 degrees) which was the highest winter mean since 1991. Even with this high
figure, 103 frosts were recorded for the year (average 99), with 53 frosts in winter (average 58),
22 in spring (average 21) and 28 in autumn (average 18). Many were only very marginal frosts.
The first frost of the year was on 2 March (the median date for the first frost is 9 April),
while the last frost was on 5 November (the median date for last frost is 16 November). The
coldest morning of the year was minus 4.9 degrees on 28 July.
Fogs: There were only 29 fogs for the year, much fewer than the average of 44 fogs. No fogs
were recorded in January (average one), February (average one), September (average four) and November
(average one). All other months recorded average or fewer than average fogs. The foggiest months were
June and July, with seven fogs each.
Wind: The mean daily wind run for the year was 195.8 kilometres a day, much more than the
long-term average of 183.9 km/day. The windiest month was September (293 km/day). May was the calmest
(148 km/day). January was very windy, recording 263 km/day (average 192 km/day). There were 35 strong
wind days for the year, much more than the average of 25. There were two occasions when gales
were recorded (average one). The strongest wind gust for the year was 93 km/h at the airport on 24 August
when some minor roof and tree damage was reported. A wind gust of 78 km/h was recorded on 18 January,
the day of the Canberra bushfires.
Other: There was an average of 7.9 hours of sunshine a day for 2003, a little more than the mean
of 7.6 hours/day. Evaporation of 1682.6 mm was close to the average of 1686.6 mm. The average
daily pressure of 1017.5 hectopascals was a little more than the average of 1016.8. July had the highest
mean daily pressure of 1023.3 hPa. December had the lowest with 1012.8 hPa.
Annual summary for Canberra airport, 2003
Mean maximum temperature: 20.2°C (av 19.6°C)
Highest maximum temperature: 39.8°C (30 January)
Lowest maximum temperature: 7.0°C (24 July)
Mean minimum temperature: 7.3°C (av 6.5°C)
Highest minimum temperature: 20.8°C (18 January)
Lowest minimum temperature: -4.9°C (28 July)
Mean daily temperature: 13.7°C (av 13.0°C)
Lowest grass temperature: -8.8°C (2 August)
Annual rainfall: 569.2 mm (av 625.5 mm)
Annual evaporation: 1682.6 mm (av 1686.6 mm)
Mean daily sunshine: 7.9 hr/day (av 7.6 hr/day)
Mean daily pressure: 1017.5 hPa (1016.8 hPa)
Mean daily wind run (at 2 metres): 195.8 km/day (av 183.9 km/day)
NB: Temperature averages are based on the 30-year average 1961-1990. All other averages are based on
all available years of record.
Ends
Further information:
Clem Davis, Canberra Meteorological Office, tel: (02) 6249 6269, e-mail: c.davis@bom.gov.au
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