1 March 2006

MONTHLY AND SEASONAL CLIMATE SUMMARY - NSW REGIONAL OFFICE

Hottest summer on record for NSW

Summer 2005/2006 Main points:
Highest average maximum temperature on record
Highest statewide mean temperature on record
Second highest average minimum temperature on record
Driest summer since 1984

February 2006 Main points:
Lowest February statewide rainfall since 1989
Third highest average maximum temperatures on record
Large areas of the north of the state experienced record average maximum and mean temperatures

Summer 2005/06

Temperatures:
NSW experienced its hottest summer on record with the State enduring average maximum temperatures 2.9 degrees above the historical average¹ of 31.2ºC (the previous record was summer 2000/01, 2.2ºC above average). Very much above average maximum temperatures were recorded over the entire state. It was the hottest summer on record for most of the northern half of NSW west of the Great Dividing Range, as well as in the area around Canberra (see map 1).

It was also the hottest summer on record in terms of mean temperatures with the statewide mean temperature 2.4 degrees above the average of 24.2ºC (the previous record was summer 1980/81, 2.0ºC above average) (see map 2). The statewide average minimum temperatures were the second warmest on record, 1.9 degrees above the historical average of 17.1ºC (the highest average minimum temperatures were recorded in summer 1980/81, 2.2ºC above average) (see map 3).

Rainfall: (see map 4)
It was the driest summer across NSW since 1984 with vast areas of the state receiving below average falls. The states average rainfall for Summer 2005/06 was 112.0mm, compared to the summer seasonal average of 169.0mm. The northwest of the state was particularly dry with large areas recording very much below average falls. The far northeast and the Northwest Slopes and Plains were the only areas of the state to receive above average summer rainfall.

February 2006

Temperatures: (see map 5)
Above average maximum temperatures were experienced across the entire state during February. The statewide average maximum temperature was 2.4 degrees above the average of 31.4ºC making this the third warmest February on record. Large parts of the north of the state experienced warmest on record average maximum and mean monthly temperatures (see map 6). Very much above average minimum temperatures were experienced across the north of the state during February. Only the southern districts and the Central Tablelands recorded close to average minimum temperatures (see map 7).

Rainfall: (see map 8 )
Most of the west and southeast of the state recorded below average rainfall during February. The statewide average rainfall of 25.7mm was the lowest since February 1989. An area around Cobar experienced its driest February on record. The Northwest Plains and Northwest Slopes were the only districts to experience above average rainfall during the month. Thunderstorms caused flash flooding in parts of the Sydney Metropolitan and Illawarra districts on the 26 February.

23.9C 05Feb 1991

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 12 PM on 1 March 2006. Although every effort has been made to check them, it is possible that results may change as new information becomes available.

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 Clinton Rakich 9296 1610, email: reqnsw@bom.gov.au

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

The latest rainfall and temperature maps are available here
Climate averages for New South Wales localities are available here
Daily Weather Observations for selected New South Wales localities are available here