3 June 2006

NSW MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - NSW REGIONAL OFFICE

Cold start to winter for NSW

June 2006 Main points:

• Well below average minimum temperatures (2nd coolest on record)
• Rainfall close to average or above average for much of the state

June 2006

Temperatures:

Following on from a cooler than average autumn, NSW, along with much of Australia, experienced a cold start to winter in June. Nights were particularly cold with NSW recording its second lowest June average minimum in the post 1950 era (the period for which high quality monthly records are available), -1.74°C below the historic average¹of 4.61°C (the coolest June average minimum was 2.5°C in 1982). Much of the state was very much below average (see maps 1 & 2) and a number of stations across the state recorded their record lowest mean daily minimum temperature for June (see Table 5 below), while some set records for the lowest temperature for June (see Table 6 below). The low minimum temperatures were a result of cold, dry air, light winds and clear skies associated with a series of strong high pressure systems. The lowest mean minimum for June was -7.0°C at Charlotte Pass and the lowest temperature recorded was -13.3°C also at Charlotte Pass.

The statewide average maximum temperature for June was 15.89°C, only slightly below the historic average¹ of 16.06°C. The main areas to record below to very much below average maximum temperatures were the Upper and Lower Western Districts, and the coast and adjacent ranges south of Newcastle and the Northern Rivers district. Above average maximum temperatures were recorded elsewhere. (See map 3)

Rainfall: (See map 4)

After a very dry autumn, and unlike much of the rest of Australia, most of NSW received close to average or above average falls in June, with a statewide average of 34.66mm compared to the June average¹ of 35.93mm. Large areas of the Upper and Lower Western districts received above average June falls, as did parts of the South Coast and Illawarra, and coastal areas of Sydney. Some areas did, however, receive below average falls, however, including parts of the Hunter and a band stretching from Coonabarabran (Central West Slopes) south to Albury (South West Slopes) and along the Murray River.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 12 PM on 3 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 Perry Wiles 9296 1525, 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