Warm and rainy June for the ACT

Very dry autumn conditions continued into early June in the ACT this year, but heavy rain for the rest of the month produced above-average monthly rainfall across the territory. Maximum and minimum temperatures remained above average, continuing the trend of the past few months.

Rainfall:A total of 73.0 millimetres of rain was recorded at Canberra airport over 14 days in June, well above the average of 39.2 mm over nine days. On 12 June, 40.0 mm of rain fell at the airport, a total greater than the monthly average. The highest daily totals were recorded on 12 and 14 June and resulted from a north-west cloud band developing ahead of a frontal system. A series of low-pressure systems near Bass Strait and in the southern Tasman Sea brought rainfall later in the month. The highest recorded totals for the month were 107.8 mm at Tidbinbilla, 103.0 mm at Corin Dam, and 99.2 mm at Hall. The lowest recording was 65.2 mm at Tharwa. There were no thunderstorms recorded at the airport in June.

Temperature: Temperatures in June were above average, continuing the trend of previous months. The mean daily maximum temperature was 14.2 degrees Celsius compared with the average of 12.2 degrees. The mean daily minimum temperature was 2.3 degrees compared with the average of 0.9 degrees. The mean daily temperature was 8.3 degrees, well above the average of 6.5.

Other: Mean daily sunshine was down to 4.8 hours a day, less than the average of 5.2 hr/day. There were 13 frosts in June compared with the average of 18 and no fogs compared with the average of eight. This was indicative of the unusually warm and cloudy conditions. The recent past synoptic pattern of successive high-pressure systems over the region was replaced with a series of fronts and low-pressure systems in the southern Tasman Sea. It was also windier than average with an average daily wind run at two metres of 171 kilometres a day compared with the average of 158 km/day. There were no days of strong winds compared with the average of two days. The monthly evaporation of 48.6 mm was just above the average of 47.0 mm despite the generally humid conditions. The average daily pressure of 1020.0 hectopascals was less than the long-term average of 1021.2 hPa.

Summary for Canberra airport, June 2005

Mean maximum temperature: 14.2°C (av 12.2 °C)
Highest maximum temperature: 20.0°C (8 June)
Lowest maximum temperature: 7.1°C ( 22 June)
Mean minimum temperature: 2.3°C (av 0.9°C)
Highest minimum temperature: 9.7°C (30 June)
Lowest minimum temperature: minus 4.7°C (2 June)
Mean daily temperature: 8.3°C (av 6.5°C)
Lowest grass temperature: minus 8.9°C (2 June )
Total monthly rainfall: 73.0 mm (av 39.3 mm)
Total monthly evaporation: 48.6 mm (av 47.0 mm)
Mean daily sunshine: 4.8 hr/day (av 5.2 hr/day)
Mean daily pressure: 1020.0 hPa (av 1021.2 hPa)
Mean daily wind run (at two metres): 171 km/day (av 158 km/day)

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

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