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Thursday, 2 September 2004
SEASONAL CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT Winter rains down on average in a warm season in the ACTWinter rainfall was less than average in the ACT this year, while temperatures were above average. It was also very windy. Rainfall: A total of 90.2 millimetres of rain was recorded at Canberra airport in winter, with rain falling on 30 days. The average winter rainfall total in the ACT is 128.5 mm on 30 days. June and July were extremely dry this year, while August had above average rainfall. While no thunder was reported at the airport (average one day), thunderstorm activity was reported in the ACT on at least one occasion. Hail was recorded on one day (average none) and no snow was recorded (average one day). Temperature: The ACT’s mean daily winter maximum temperature of 13.3 degrees Celsius was considerably higher than the average of 12.1 degrees. It was the equal sixth highest on record. All winter months had above average mean daily maximum temperatures. The mean minimum temperature of 1.2 degrees was also well above the long-term average of 0.4 degrees and resulted in fewer frosts than average. June and August had above-average minimum temperatures while July had a lower average minimum than normal. There were 52 frosts, six less than the winter average of 58. The mean daily temperature of 7.3 degrees was one degree above the long-term mean of 6.3. Sunshine: Daily sunshine was above average in all three winter months. The mean winter sunshine was 6.6 hours a day, well above the long-term average of 5.9 hr/day. Wind: Winter 2004 was the second windiest on record in the ACT, though records only go back to 1969. The mean daily wind run at 2 metres was 240.7 kilometres a day compared with the average of 178.2. The record is 264.6 km/day set in 1981. All months had above average wind run this year. There were also 15 days of strong winds (average seven days) and one day of gales (average none). Winter 2004 had the most strong wind days since 1990, when there were 17 strong wind days recorded in winter. Other: The number of fogs in June and August was less than average, and average in July. There were only 12 winter fogs (average 19), probably due to the windy season. The dry and windy conditions also produced above average evaporation in all three months. Total winter evaporation was 212.6 mm (average 177.9 mm), the second highest on record. The record is 214.9 mm in 2002. The mean daily pressure in winter in the ACT was 1019.5 hectopascals, less than the long-term average of 1020.1 hPa. Summary for Canberra airport, winter 2004 Mean maximum temperature: 13.3°C (av 12.1°C) Ends Further information:
Clem Davis, Canberra Meteorological Office, tel: (02) 6249 6269,
e-mail: c.davis@bom.gov.au |