Thursday, 1 September 2005

MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT

Warm days and snow in the ACT in August

The ACT’s daytime temperatures were higher than normal in August this year, while night-time temperatures were slightly lower than normal. Rainfall was near average. Snow fell in Canberra and other parts of the ACT on 10 August.

Temperatures: The average daily maximum temperature of 14.3 degrees Celsius in the ACT was above the long-term August average of 12.9 degrees. The mean daily minimum of 0.5 degrees was just below the long-term average of 0.9 degrees. With cooler-than-average overnight temperatures, 20 frosts occurred over the month, two more than the average of 18. Overall, the mean daily temperature of 7.4 degrees was 0.5 degrees above the long-term average of 6.9.

Rainfall: Canberra airport recorded 45.8 millimetres of August rainfall on 13 days, just below the average of 47.6 mm on 11 days. Rainfall was spread fairly evenly across the ACT. The highest reading of 106.2 mm was at Corin Dam. The lowest was 37.8 mm at Kambah. Hail was reported on one day compared with the average of none. There was one report of snow compared with the average of one, and only one day of fog compared with the average of four.

Wind: The mean daily wind run was 210 kilometres a day, average for August. Strong winds were recorded on three days (the average). The highest wind gust at Canberra airport was 81 km/h on 31 August.

Other: There was an average of 7.8 hours of sunshine a day, much more than the long-term mean of 6.9 hr/day. Total evaporation was 80.2 mm, slightly more than the long-term average of 79.7 mm. The mean daily pressure was 1022.9 hectopacals, much greater than the long-term average of 1018.8 hPa.

Summary for Canberra airport, August 2005

Mean maximum temperature: 14.3°C (av 12.9°C)
Highest maximum temperature: 20.7°C (28 August)
Lowest maximum temperature: 6.9°C (11 August)
Mean minimum temperature: 0.5°C (av 0.9°C)
Highest minimum temperature: 8.5°C (31 August)
Lowest minimum temperature: minus 3.8°C (13 August)
Mean daily temperature: 7.4°C (av 6.9°C)
Lowest grass temperature: minus 7.1°C (5 August)
Total monthly rainfall: 45.8 mm (av 47.6 mm)
Total monthly evaporation: 80.2 mm (av 79.7 mm)
Mean daily sunshine: 7.8 hours/day (av 6.9 hr/day)
Mean daily pressure: 1022.9 hPa (av 1018.8 hPa)
Mean daily wind run (at 2 metres): 210 km/day (av 210 km/day)

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

Ends