1st February 2006

MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - NSW REGIONAL OFFICE

NSW January 2006: Warmest month ever recorded

January 2006 Temperatures:

In January NSW experienced its warmest month ever recorded with the state experiencing a mean temperature 3.5 degrees above the January average¹ of 24.7ºC. It is also the tenth consecutive month of above average mean temperatures for the state. The temperatures were generally highest inland with a large portion of the Murray Darling basin recording the highest mean temperatures on record (See Map 1).

The statewide average maximum temperature for January was 35.2ºC, the second highest on record and 3.5 degrees above the average¹ of 31.7ºC. Most of the state, including all of the inland west of the ranges, recorded very much above average maximum temperatures with the far northwest of NSW experiencing the highest mean January maximum temperatures on record. The only areas of the state to record close to average maximum temperatures were the Metropolitan and Illawarra districts. (See Map 2).

The statewide average minimum temperature for January was the highest on record, 3.5 degrees above the average¹ of 17.7ºC. The entire state recorded very much above average minimum temperatures, with almost half the state, including the large areas of the west and much of the coast and ranges, recording their highest January mean minimum temperatures on record (See Map 3).

Hot dry northwesterly winds brought record January maximum and minimum temperatures to many centres across the state on the 01 January 2006. Many daily and monthly temperature records were set during the month (See Tables 1 and 2 below).

January 2006 Rainfall:   See Map 4

There was a mixed pattern of rainfall across the state during January. Above average falls were recorded in the Southern and Central Tablelands and in the northeast of the state. Areas of the Central Tablelands and Northern Rivers recorded very much above average falls with some stations setting new daily and monthly rainfall records (See Tables 3 and 4 below). West of the ranges the rainfall distribution was quite varied, with some areas recording below average falls and some receiving above average monthly rainfall totals. This patchy distribution was a result of sporadic outbreaks of summer thunderstorms associated with inland troughs.

TABLE 1: Record Highest Daily Maximum Temperatures

TABLE 2: Record Highest Daily Minimum Temperatures

TABLE 3: Record Highest Daily Rainfall

TABLE 4: Record Highest Monthly Rainfall

TABLE 5: NSW Extremes For January 2006

A note about deciles: Deciles are used to give an element (in this case rainfall or temperature) a ranking. Deciles are calculated by arranging the totals in ascending order (from lowest to highest) then splitting them into 10 equal groups (thus the groups are called deciles). The first group would be in decile range one, the second group in decile range two, etc up to the highest annual totals (highest 10 per cent) being in decile range 10.

¹Averages: Averages are based on the period 1961 to 1990 which is a convention of the World Meteorological Organisation.

Further information: Contact Perry Wiles 9296 1525, email: p.wiles@bom.gov.au

A directory of Bureau services is available on poll fax: 1800 630 100

For the latest rainfall and temperature maps, see: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/austmaps/