1 June 2006

MONTHLY AND SEASONAL CLIMATE SUMMARY - NSW REGIONAL OFFICE

Very dry Autumn with cold nights for NSW

Autumn 2006 Main points:
Well below average minimum temperatures (5th coolest on record)
Below average mean temperatures
Above average maximum temperatures over eastern NSW
Well below average rainfall (11th driest on record)

May 2006 Main points:
Well below average minimum temperatures, 2nd coolest on record (coolest was 1957). Many new records.
Below average mean temperatures (5th coolest on record)
Above average maximum temperatures over eastern NSW
Very much below average rainfall except SE corner.  Driest May since 1957

Autumn 2006

Temperatures:
NSW experienced cool nights in Autumn, with minimum temperatures averaged across the State of 1.3ºC, which is below the historical average1 of 11.3ºC, making this the fifth coolest on record. Some areas in the Metropolitan, Central Tablelands, the Upper Western and Northwest Slopes and Plains experienced the lowest Autumn minimum temperatures on record (refer to Table 2). Almost the entire state experienced below average minimum temperatures (see map 1). The average maximum temperature for the State was 24.4ºC, which is above the historical average of 24ºC (see map 2). The State mean temperatures of 17.2ºC were also cooler than the historic average of 17.6ºC (see map 3).

Rainfall: (see map 4)
Much of the State experienced rainfall in the lowest 20 - 30% of of all Autumn totals, with a large area in the central and southeastern part of the State experiencing totals in the lowest 10% of records. There were also some areas in the Central Tablelands, Metropolitan and Mid North Coast, which experienced the lowest Autumn rainfall on record (refer to Table 3). The state average for Autumn was 61.2mm (11th driest on record), which is well below the historic average of 151.4mm, but greater than last year's Autumn rainfall of 45.4mm.

May 2006

Temperatures:
Average minimum temperatures for May were the second coldest on record on a statewide basis, with the State average of 4.7ºC, being 2.8ºC below the historic average, and just 0.1ºC warmer than the coldest ever (4.6ºC in 1957). Large areas of the northwest of the State recorded their lowest minimum temperatures ever for the month of May (see map 5), and many new records were set (refer to Table 4). Widespread heavy frosts were reported, particularly about the Northern Tablelands and the Slopes.

The statewide average maximum temperature was only 0.1ºC degrees above the average of 19.3ºC. Most of the eastern half of the State recorded close to average temperatures, with the western parts experiencing slightly below average temperatures (see map 6). The statewide mean temperature was 1.4ºC cooler than the average, making it the fifth coolest on record. There were areas in the far west which experienced the lowest mean temperatures on record, with only a small area near Canberra recording average conditions (see map 7).

Rainfall: (see map 8 )
Most of the State recorded rainfall in the lowest 10% of all May records, with parts of the western inland recording the lowest May rainfall totals ever. The statewide average rainfall of 8mm was the lowest May average since 1957 (when 4.1mm was recorded), the fourth driest on record and well below the historical average of 49.2mm. The only part of the State to experience average to above average conditions was in the far south east, which was due to the formation of two intense lows off the south coast on the 1st and 24th of May.

  

 

Table 1: Extremes

Weather extremes during May 2006

Highest temperature
Hottest day
28.4ºC
 Mungindi Post Office on the 7th
Highest mean daily maximum temperature
Warmest days on average
24.3ºC
 Murwillumbah (Bray Park)
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature
Coolest days on average
3.5ºC
 Thredbo AWS
Lowest daily maximum temperature
Coldest day
-1.3ºC
 Thredbo AWS on the 8th
Lowest temperature
Coldest night
-10.5ºC
 Woolbrook (Danglemah Road) on the 30th
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature
Coldest nights on average
-3.0ºC
 Woolbrook (Danglemah Road)
Highest mean daily minimum temperature
Mildest nights on average
14.3ºC
 Byron Bay (Cape Byron AWS)
Highest daily minimum
Warmest night
17.4ºC
 Byron Bay (Cape Byron AWS) on the 8th
Highest total rainfall
Wettest overall
254.0mm
 Montague Island Lighthouse
Highest daily rainfall
Wettest day
124.4mm
 Eden (Caravan Park) on the 1st

 

Table 2: Record Low Daily Minimum Temperatures - Autumn 2006

Location
 Mean daily minimum
temperature
for autumn 2006 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for autumn 		Years of
record
Bathurst Agricultural Station
 4.4 4.6
in 1965
 85
Murrurundi Post Office
 6.4 6.8
in 1994
 85
Barraba Post Office
 6.1 6.4
in 1971
 40
Nerriga Composite
 5.2 5.9
in 2001
 36
Glen Innes Ag Research Stn
 6.3 6.4
in 1971
 35
Wollongong University
 13.3 = 13.3
in 1984
 35
Pindari Dam
 8.3 9.0
in 1994
 33
Gulgong Post Office
 7.7 8.2
in 1970
 32
Camden Airport AWS
 9.8 = 9.8
in 1984
 30
Griffith Airport AWS
 8.7 8.8
in 1977
 23
Guyra Hospital
 5.6 = 5.6
in 1984
 22
Bathurst Airport AWS
 4.8 4.9
in 1999
 15
Braidwood Racecourse AWS
 5.1 = 5.1
in 2001
 15
Mount Boyce AWS
 7.9 = 7.9
in 1995
 15
Young Airport
 4.7 5.5
in 1997
 15
Ballina Airport AWS
 14.0 14.2
in 1993
 14
Condobolin Airport AWS
 7.9 8.3
in 1994
 13
Walgett Airport AWS
 10.4 10.7
in 1994
 13
Inverell
 5.9 6.2
in 1996
 12
Mangrove Mountain AWS
 11.3 11.8
in 1999
 12
Norah Head AWS
 15.4 = 15.4
in 1996
 12
Richmond RAAF
 10.2 10.5
in 1996
 12
Badgerys Creek AWS
 10.1 10.8
in 2005
 11
Cootamundra Airport
 5.8 6.0
in 1997
 11
Forbes Airport AWS
 7.2 8.8
in 1999
 11
Moree Aero
 11.1 11.6
in 1996
 11
Penrith Lakes AWS
 12.3 12.6
in 1996
 11
Port Macquarie Airport AWS
 11.7 12.9
in 2004
 11
Cabramurra SMHEA AWS
 4.9 5.1
in 2001
 10
Dorrigo
 9.5 10.2
in 2002
 10
Glen Innes Airport AWS
 4.4 6.0
in 2004
 10
Hay CSIRO AWS
 8.2 8.3
in 1997
 10
Orange Airport AWS
 3.9 5.1
in 1997
 10

 

Table 3: Record Low Rainfall - Autumn 2006

Location
Total rainfall
for autumn 2006 (mm)
Previous lowest
for autumn
Years of
record
Kurrajong Heights
45.2
77.2
in 1991
135
Rockley Post Office
11.4
13.5
in 1912
109
Sans Souci
46.0
59.4
in 1909
106
Lithgow
33.0
48.9
in 1895
91
Hargraves
36.6
37.0
in 1923
89
Turramurra
67.4
105.3
in 1954
80
Richmond
33.0
36.8
in 1986
79
Concord Golf Club
59.6
69.6
in 1957
77
Bexley Bowling Club
70.8
81.7
in 1954
71
Bigga
29.0
31.8
in 2005
69
Cowra Research Centre
21.6
24.6
in 2005
62
Berowra
60.4
91.6
in 1973
59
Tuena
23.2
25.8
in 2005
55
Lucas Heights Ansto
53.7
100.5
in 1986
48
Castle Cove
112.0
147.6
in 1961
47
Bowral
66.8
90.4
in 2005
44
Parramatta North
49.4
58.8
in 1997
41
Cowra Airport Comparison
14.4
25.0
in 2005
40
Orange Agricultural Institute
28.2
38.9
in 2005
40
Merrylands
44.8
64.0
in 1986
39
Bankstown Airport AWS
44.6
85.8
in 1997
38
Orange Airport Comparison
30.6
42.2
in 2005
38
Yarrangobilly Caves
93.0
102.0
in 1912
38
Wollongong University
79.4
140.5
in 2005
35
Goulburn Tafe
38.4
40.8
in 2004
31
Peakhurst Golf Club
20.0
104.6
in 1982
30

 

Table 4: Record Low Daily Minimum Temperatures - May 2006

Location
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for May 2006 (°C)
Previous lowest
for May
Years of
record
Tenterfield
-0.4
1.5
in 2004
91
Bathurst Agricultural Station
-0.8
-0.2
in 1976
87
Murrurundi Post Office
0.7
1.5
in 2004
87
Collarenebri
4.3
5.1
in 1994
86
Baradine Forestry
2.8
3.1
in 1954
51
Inverell Research Centre
3.8
4.2
in 1994
49
Dunedoo Post Office
2.6
3.0
in 1982
47
Quandialla Post Office
2.5
2.6
in 1976
47
Cobar MO
5.9
7.2
in 2001
44
Peak Hill Post Office
5.8
6.3
in 1982
41
Barraba Post Office
-1.1
1.2
in 1984
40
Prospect Dam
8.1
8.2
in 2004
39
Orange Airport Comparison
0.7
1.5
in 1976
38
Grafton Olympic Pool
8.6
8.7
in 1994
36
Narrandera Golf Club
3.7
4.1
in 1976
36
Wollongong University
10.0
10.3
in 2004
36
Woolbrook
-3.0
-1.8
in 1994
36
Gulgong Post Office
1.9
3.8
in 1982
34
Pindari Dam
2.0
3.6
in 2004
34
Orange Agricultural Institute
1.9
3.2
in 1976
31
Guyra Hospital
0.8
1.4
in 1984
23

 

Table 5: Record High Daily Maximum Temperatures - May 2006

Location
New Record - Date
Previous Record
Years of Record
Nelson Bay (Nelson Head)
26.7C 7th

24.5C
4 May 2004


20

 

Table 6: Record Low Daily Maximum Temperatures - May 2006

Location
New Record - Date
Previous Record
Years of Record
Moruya Heads Pilot Station
12.0C 23rd

12.2C
28 May 1962

130
Nelson Bay (Nelson Head)
14.5C 27th

15.0C
25 May 2002

  
20

 

Table 7: Record High Rainfall - May 2006

Location
Total rainfall
for May 2006 (mm)
Previous highest
for May
Years of
record
Montague Island Lighthouse
254.0
253.4
in 2003
51

 

Table 8: Record Low Rainfall - May 2006

Location
Total rainfall
for May 2006 (mm)
Previous lowest
for May
Years of
record
Kurrajong Heights
2.2
2.3
in 1957
136
Murrurundi Post Office
0.8
0.9
in 1994
135
Brewarrina Hospital
0.0
= 0.0
in 1984
131
Coonabarabran
0.0
= 0.0
in 1954
128
Menindee Post Office
0.0
= 0.0
in 1984
128
Wilcannia
0.0
= 0.0
in 2005
128
Coonamble Comparison
0.0
= 0.0
in 2002
126
Nyngan Airport
0.0
= 0.0
in 2005
125
Quirindi Post Office
0.0
0.3
in 1934
123
Collarenebri
0.0
= 0.0
in 1994
121
Broken Hill
0.0
= 0.0
in 2005
111
White Cliffs Post Office
0.0
= 0.0
in 1984
106
Wagga Wagga AMO
4.4
4.6
in 2005
65
Gunnedah
0.0
= 0.0
in 1965
59
Fowlers Gap  Research  Station
0.0
= 0.0
in 2005
53
Blowering Dam
2.2
= 2.2
in 2005
51
Woolbrook
0.4
6.8
in 1976
48
Yarrangobilly Caves
1.6
3.3
in 2005
43
Griffith Airport AWS
1.2
2.0
in 2005
42
Lower Creek
1.4
3.2
in 2004
42
Narrandera Golf Club
1.5
5.0
in 1994
37
Tabulam
13.2
13.6
in 2004
36
Murrurundi
1.2
8.0
in 1975
35
Peakhurst Golf Club
0.0
2.0
in 1982
30

Summaries

Summary statistics for May 2006
Location
Maximum temperatures
for May
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
for May
(°C)
Rainfall
for May
(mm)
Mean for 2006
Difference from normal
Highest for 2006
Mean for 2006
Difference from normal
Lowest for 2006
Total for 2006
Normal total
Albury Airport AWS
16.9
-0.8
21.7
3.8
-1.7
-2.4
16
53
Armidale Airport AWS
15.4
-0.2
18.2
1.8
-2.8
-4.8
2
42
Batemans Bay
18.7
-1.1
23.8
5.9
-1.7
1.5
157
68
Bathurst Ag Station
16.4
+0.8
19.8
-0.8
-4.2
-5.4
7
42
Bega AWS
18.9
-0.1
25.0
5.4
-0.7
-1.1
106
46
Bourke AWS
21.7
-
26.6
4.8
-
-1.7
0
-
Bowral
15.2
-0.2
19.6
4.8
-0.4
-0.4
35
73
Broken Hill
17.7
-1.5
24.1
7.2
-1.3
0.8
0
22
Byron Bay
20.9
-1.1
25.0
14.2
-0.8
11.7
69
182
Canberra Airport
16.2
+0.7
18.8
2.6
-0.6
-3.9
10
45
Cobar MO
19.5
-0.5
25.1
5.9
-3.1
0.6
1
34
Coffs Harbour MO
21.3
0
25.4
9.1
-2.7
2.4
59
165
Cooma Visitors Centre
14.0
-1.5
20.1
0.6
-0.5
-5.5
14
32
Deniliquin AWS
17.4
-
22.9
4.5
-
-1.6
9
39
Dubbo AWS
19.7
-0.1
23.2
2.8
-4.0
-2.6
1
42
Gosford
20.5
+0.2
26.2
7.6
-0.8
0.6
54
120
Goulburn Airport AWS
15.5
-0.4
19.3
1.2
-1.7
-7.2
13
38
Grafton Olympic Pool
23.3
+0.2
26.6
8.6
-2.9
3.2
21
79
Griffith Airport AWS
18.5
-0.7
25.0
3.4
-3.9
-2.0
1
37
Inverell
19.6
+0.5
22.7
3.8
-3.8
-3.5
3
50
Katoomba
13.9
+0.9
19.1
4.8
-1.3
0.6
41
103
Kempsey
22.8
+0.2
26.5
6.2
-3.6
1.5
0
94
Lismore
22.5
-
26.2
11.1
-
6.8
35
115
Liverpool
21.4
-
21.4
6.9
-
0.8
11
69
Maitland
21.3
-
26.0
7.1
-
-0.9
12
-
Moree Aero
22.0
-0.2
27.2
4.4
-3.6
-0.6
1
28
Mudgee Airport AWS
18.2
-0.2
22.2
0.8
-3.5
-5.1
0
39
Newcastle AWS
20.4
+0.5
25.3
11.7
-0.2
7.9
72
119
Orange Ag Institute
14.0
-0.1
17.7
1.9
-2.9
-1.7
9
71
Parkes
18.9
+0.3
24.2
3.7
-3.9
-1.5
4
48
Penrith Lakes AWS
21.2
+0.4
25.5
8.2
-1.7
3.4
8
47
Port Macquarie AWS
21.6
+0.2
25.5
6.5
-4.6
-1.6
5
137
Richmond RAAF
20.5
-0.1
26.3
5.2
-3.1
-0.5
6
61
Scone SCS
20.4
+0.3
24.7
6.0
-2.2
1.3
8
48
Sydney
20.6
+1.2
26.3
11.4
-0.1
8.3
40
122
Tamworth AWS
20.4
-0.1
24.0
2.8
-3.8
-3.0
0
25
Taree AWS
21.4
-
27.0
7.4
-
2.0
12
-
Wagga Wagga
17.8
+0.6
23.2
2.7
-3.3
-3.4
4
52
Wollongong Uni
19.5
-0.5
25.3
10.0
-1.8
3.4
53
112

 

**Please note: the length of record for some of the stations listed in the above table is not long enough to produce valid temperature and/or rainfall averages.

 

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 12 PM on 1 June 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 Louise Tilley 9296 1555, 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