MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT

Rains fail again in May in the ACT

The ACT was considerably drier than normal in May this year, with just 6.6 millimetres of rain recorded at Canberra airport.

Rainfall: Only 6.6 mm of rain was recorded at Canberra airport in May this year, considerably less than the average of 46.9 mm. The rain was recorded over two days, six days less than normal. There were no thunderstorms at the airport. Dry conditions were evident across the whole of the ACT. The highest rainfall total was 30.0 mm at Corin Dam. The lowest was 6.6 mm at Canberra airport.

Temperature: The average daytime maximum temperature in May was 16.7 degrees Celsius, higher than the long-term average of 15.4 degrees. The average daily minimum temperature of 1.9 degrees was lower than the long-term average of 3.1 degrees. The mean daily temperature of 9.3 degrees was lower than average. There were 19 frosts recorded in the month, six more than the average of 13 frosts. The frosts occurred when the ground temperature dropped to minus 0.9 degrees or lower. The ground minimum temperature dropped to minus 7.0 degrees or lower five times. There were two fogs for the month, five less than the average of seven.

Other: There was an average of 7.1 hours of sunshine a day in the ACT in May, much more than the average of 5.7 hr/day. The frontal systems that crossed the ACT in May - indicated by below-average atmospheric pressure - were dry and brought generally above-average winds. The average wind run at two metres of 183 kilometres a day was more than the mean of 155 km/day. There were two days of strong winds in May compared with an average of one day.

Summary for Canberra airport, May 2004

Mean maximum temperature: 16.7°C (av 15.4°C)
Highest maximum temperature: 20.1°C (8 May)
Lowest maximum temperature: 11.9°C (2 May)
Mean minimum temperature: 1.9°C (av 3.1°C)
Highest minimum temperature: 8.8°C (25 May)
Lowest minimum temperature: minus 4.0°C (28 May)
Mean daily temperature: 9.3°C (av 10.8°C)
Lowest grass temperature: minus 7.5°C (14 May)
Total monthly rainfall: 6.6 mm (av 46.9 mm)
Total monthly evaporation: 88.2 mm (av 68.7 mm)
Mean daily sunshine: 7.1 hr/day (av 5.7 hr/day)
Mean daily pressure: 1019.4 hPa (av 1020.5 hPa)
Mean daily wind run (at 2 metres): 183 km/day (av 155 km/day)

Ends

Further information:
Kenn Batt, Canberra Meteorological Office, tel: (02) 6249 6269, e-mail: k.batt@bom.gov.au