Thursday, 1 September 2005

SEASONAL CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT

Winter in the ACT a wet, windy and warm affair

Winter temperatures and rainfall were above average in the ACT this year. It was also a windy season.

Rainfall: A total of 205.2 millimetres of winter rain was recorded on 44 days at Canberra Airport this year. The average is 128.2 mm on 30 days. July was the wettest month, followed by June. August was the driest. While no thunder was recorded at the airport compared with the average of one day, there was one day when hail was recorded (average none). Widespread snow was recorded on 10 August. The average for snow is one day.

Temperature: The mean daily maximum temperature for winter was 13.7 degrees Celsius, considerably higher than the average of 12.1 degrees. It was the equal sixth highest mean winter maximum on record, and all winter months were above average. The mean minimum temperature for winter was 1.3 degrees, also well above the long-term average of 0.4 degrees. June and July had higher-than-average minimums, while August was cooler than normal. There were 50 frosts for the season, seven less than average. The mean daily temperature of 7.5 degrees was more than one degree above the long-term mean of 6.2 degrees. Daily sunshine was above average in July and August and below average in June. In total, the mean hours of sunshine in winter was 6.3 hours a day, 0.4 hours more than the long-term average of 5.9 hr/day.

Wind: The mean daily wind run (at two metres) for winter was 192.6 kilometres a day compared with the average of 183.6 km/day. The record of 264.6 km/day was set in 1981. The wind run was well above average in June and July and average in August. There were four days of strong winds compared with the average of seven.

Other: There was no fog in June and fewer than average fogs in July and August. Overall there were only six fogs recorded in winter compared with the average of 21, probably due to the slightly above-average wind and cloud cover from time to time. With the wind and slightly less cloud, evaporation was just above average in June and August. Evaporation was less than average in July due to the greater cloud cover. Total evaporation for winter was 178 mm compared with the average of 178 mm. The mean daily winter pressure was 1022 hectopascals, greater than the long-term average of 1020.1 hPa. One of the highest pressures ever in Canberra was recorded on 20 June. At 9am the pressure was 1041.9 hPa.

Summary for Canberra airport, winter 2005

Mean maximum temperature: 13.7°C (av 12.1°C)
Highest maximum temperature: 20.7°C (28 August)
Lowest maximum temperature: 6.9°C (11 August)
Mean minimum temperature: 1.3°C (av 0.4°C)
Highest minimum temperature: 9.7°C (30 June)
Lowest minimum temperature: minus 4.7°C (2 June)
Mean daily temperature: 7.5°C (av 6.2°C)
Lowest grass temperature: minus 8.9°C (2 June)
Total winter rainfall: 205.2 mm (av 128.5 mm)
Total winter evaporation: 178 mm (av 178.5 mm)
Mean daily sunshine: 6.3 hr/day (av 5.9 hr/day)
Mean daily pressure: 1022 hPa (av 1020.1 hPa)
Mean daily wind run at 2 metres: 192.6 km/day (av 183.3 km/day)

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

Ends