MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE

Bone dry March for ACT as new sunshine record set

March was considerably drier than normal in the ACT this year, with only 4.4 millimetres of rain falling at Canberra airport compared with the average of 52.5 mm. The territory had well above average daytime temperatures, near average night-time temperatures, and record mean daily sunshine hours.

Temperature: The March mean daily minimum temperature of 10.6 degrees Celsius was marginally lower than the average of 10.7 degree. But the mean daily maximum temperature of 26.7 degrees was much higher than the monthly average of 24.4. The mean daily temperature was 18.7 degrees, much higher than the average of 17.5. There were four days in March when the temperature reached 30.0 degrees or more, compared with the average of three days. The temperature reached the 30-degree mark as late in the month as the 26th, which is quite unusual. Every day of the month had a maximum temperature of 20 degrees or higher. The only other occasion this has happened was in 1951. There were no frosts and two fogs recorded in March, which is the norm.

Rainfall: March rainfall at the airport was 4.4 mm over two days, considerably less than the average of 52.5 mm over seven days. It was the equal seventh driest March on record. The driest March on record was in 1954, when 1.3 mm was recorded. Of the rain that did fall last month, the highest recording was 6.8 mm at both Garran and Queanbeyan. The lowest was 1.0 mm at Tuggeranong. No thunderstorm days were recorded compared with the average of two days. Total rainfall for the past two months is in the lowest 10 per cent of all totals for the February-March period.

Sunshine record: Average daily sunshine in the ACT in March was the highest on record. The record of 9.3 hours a day was much more than the mean of 7.9 hr/day. The previous record of 9.2 hr/day was set in 1998. Records of sunshine have been kept in the ACT since 1978.

Other: One day of strong winds was recorded, compared with the average of one. The mean daily wind run at two metres was 168 kilometres a day, compared with the average of 165. Evaporation for March was 190 mm, much more than the average of 170.7. The mean daily pressure was 1016.3 hectopascals, compared with the average of 1016.6.

Summary for Canberra airport, March 2004

Mean maximum temperature: 26.7°C (av 24.4°C)
Highest maximum temperature: 33.2 °C (5 March)
Lowest maximum temperature: 21.2°C (6 March)
Mean minimum temperature: 10.6°C (av 10.7°C)
Highest minimum temperature: 17.1°C (8 March)
Lowest minimum temperature: 5.1°C (31 March)
Mean daily temperature: 18.7°C (av 17.5°C)
Lowest grass temperature: 1.6°C (1 March)
Total monthly rainfall: 4.4 mm (av 52.5mm)
Total monthly evaporation: 190.0 mm (av 170.7 mm)
Mean daily sunshine: 9.3 hr/day (av 8.0 hr/day)* New record
Mean daily pressure: 1016.3 hPa (av 1016.6 hPa)
Mean daily wind run (at 2 metres): 168 km/day (av 165 km/day)

Records for March: Average daily sunshine 9.3 hours a day.
Previous record 9.2 hr/day in 1998. Records since 1978.

Ends

Further information:
Clem Davis, Canberra Meteorological Office, tel: (02) 6249 6269, e-mail: c.davis@bom.gov.au