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Tuesday, 3 February 2004
MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE
Thunderstorms rock the ACT during a warm, dry January
Thunderstorm activity was much greater than normal in the ACT in January this year,
though rainfall was slightly less than average. Temperatures were above average.
Rainfall: Canberra Airport reported 48.8 millimetres of rain in January,
less than the average of 60.2 mm. Rain fell over six days compared with the average of eight.
There were seven thunderstorm days compared with the average of four. Thunderstorm activity
was widespread across the ACT on the nights of 21 and 25 January. Rainfall totals were quite
variable across the territory because of the local nature of the thunderstorms. The lowest total of
30.4 mm was at Bruce, while the highest of 71.2 mm was at Mawson.
Temperature: The mean daily maximum temperature of 29.3 degrees Celsius was
1.5 degrees above the long-term average of 27.8. Maximum temperatures reached
30.0 degrees or more on 14 days compared with the average of 10. Maximum temperatures
were 35.0 degrees or more on four days - the first four days of the year - compared
with the average of two. If you include the 30-31 December and 5 January, Canberra experienced
a seven-day spell of maximum temperatures of 33 degrees or more. The last time there was such
a lengthy heat wave was on 7-16 January, 1988.
The mean daily minimum temperature of 13.6 degrees was also above the long-term average of
13.0 degrees despite the fact that temperatures dropped below 8 degrees on four nights at
the airport.
The mean daily temperature (average of daily maximum and minimum temperatures) of 21.4 degrees
for January was well above the average of 20.4. Mean daily sunshine of 10.2 hours a day was also
significantly more than the average of 9.3 hr/day.
Other: It was windier than normal in the ACT in January. The average daily wind run
was 206 kilometres a day compared with the average of 194 km/day. There were five strong wind days
compared with the average of two. As would be expected with more wind and sunshine, monthly
evaporation of 267.6 mm was more than the average of 251.4 mm. There were no fogs for the month
(average one) and no frosts (average zero). The average daily pressure of 1009.1 hectopascals
was less than the January mean of 1012.3 hPa.
Summary for Canberra airport, January 2004
Mean maximum temperature: 29.3°C (av 27.8°C)
Highest maximum temperature: 37.6°C (4 January)
Lowest maximum temperature: 19.2°C (8 January)
Mean minimum temperature: 13.6°C (av 13.0°C)
Highest minimum temperature: 19.1°C (17h January)
Lowest minimum temperature: 6.8°C (31 January)
Mean daily temperature: 21.4°C (av 20.4°C)
Lowest grass temperature: 2.3°C (9 and 29 January)
Total monthly rainfall: 48.8 mm (av 60.2 mm)
Total monthly evaporation: 267.6 mm (av 251.4 mm)
Mean daily sunshine: 10.2 hr/day (av 9.3 hr/day)
Mean daily pressure: 1009.1 hPa (av 1012.3 hPa)
Mean daily wind run (at 2 metres): 206 km/day (av 194 km/day)
Ends
Further information:
Clem Davis, Canberra Meteorological Office, tel: (02) 6249 6269,
e-mail: c.davis@bom.gov.au
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