MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE

March-April rains the lowest on record in ACT

Temperature: April’s mean daily minimum temperature in the ACT was 8.1 degrees, well above the long-term mean of 6.6 degrees. The mean daily maximum of 22.3 degrees was also well above the long-term mean of 19.8. The overall mean monthly temperature of 15.2 degrees (average 13.2) was the third highest on record for April. The record is 15.3 degrees, set in 1990 and 2002. The maximum temperature of 30.7 degrees on 15 April was the highest temperature for that date. It was also the latest day of the year when 30.0 degrees or above has been recorded. New records for highest maximum temperatures were also set on 14 and 16 April. Although three frosts were recorded for the month (average five) the temperature at the Stevenson screen, which is 1.2 metres above the ground, did not drop below zero at any time in April. The first frost was recorded on 8 April, the median date for the first frost of the season.

Rainfall: A total of only 2.4 millimetres of rain was recorded over two days at Canberra Airport in April. This was significantly below the average of 48.5 mm over seven days. It was the third lowest total for April on record. The lowest is 0.8 mm, set in 1997. The March-April period has been the driest on record with only 6.8 mm of rain recorded at the airport. Rainfall across the ACT was also very much below average in April. The highest total was 13.2 mm at Torrens, while no rain was recorded at both Bruce and Melba. There was one thunderstorm day recorded at the airport in April (average one).

Wind: The wind run in April was 153 kilometres a day, just above the mean of 143 km/day. There were two days of strong winds recorded (average one). The strongest wind gust for the month was 61 km/h on 16 April. No fogs were recorded at the airport (average four).

Other: The average daily sunshine in April was 7.8 hours a day, well above the long-term mean of 7.2 hr/day. The monthly evaporation was 125.8 mm compared with the average of 107.8 mm. The average daily pressure was 1021.1 hectopascals, higher than the average of 1019.5 hPa.

Summary for Canberra airport, April 2004

Mean maximum temperature: 22.3°C (av 19.8°C)
Highest maximum temperature: 30.7°C (15 April)
Lowest maximum temperature: 11.4°C (24 April)
Mean minimum temperature: 8.1°C (av 6.6°C)
Highest minimum temperature: 14.6°C (6 April)
Lowest minimum temperature: 1.0°C (26 April)
Mean daily temperature: 15.2°C (av 13.2°C)
Lowest grass temperature: minus 2.7°C (18 April)
Total rainfall: 2.4 mm (av 48.5 mm)
Total evaporation: 125.8 mm (av 107.8 mm)
Mean daily sunshine: 7.8 hr/day (av 7.2 hr/day)
Mean daily pressure: 1021.1 hPa (av 1019.5 hPa)
Mean daily wind run (at 2 metres): 153 km/day (av 143.0 km/day)

Ends

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