Wednesday 1st March, 2006

MEDIA RELEASE - QUEENSLAND REGIONAL OFFICE

Hopes pinned on March rainfall following record hot summer in Queensland

Queensland has just experienced its warmest summer on record according to Bureau of Meteorology figures. “Taking the state as a whole, and based on figures since 1950, it’s been the hottest summer on record for both daytime maximum temperatures and overnight minima” said the Bureau’s Queensland Regional Director, Mr Jim Davidson.

It was particularly hot in the west of the state, where maximum temperatures averaged over 40 degrees for a number of centres. These included Birdsville (41.2C), Windorah (41.0C), Bedourie (41.4C), Boulia (40.8C), Quilpie (40.0C), Winton (40.5C) and Longreach (40.0C).

“While hot summers are not unusual in the west, these temperatures were 2 to 4 degrees higher than normal, with many places breaking longstanding records for summer temperatures”, said Mr Davidson.

Places with new record average maximum summer temperatures include St Lawrence, Mackay, Baralaba, Collinsville, Rockhampton, Archerfield, Mitchell, Cunnamulla, Isisford, Barcaldine, Quilpie and Windorah.

New high average minimum records for summer were also set in many places including Tambo, Bollon, Nambour, Brisbane Airport, Thangool, Mackay, Longreach, Winton, Camooweal, Urandangie and Charleville.

Temperatures were consistently hot throughout the summer, with February contributing a number of new records. During the first week of February Cunnamulla exceeded the previous record daily maximum temperature of 44.0C on 5 days peaking with a new February record of 45.0C. Charleville bettered its previous record of 43.2C on 4 days in row reaching a new record of 43.4C.

Summer rainfall was below average over much of the state, with only parts of the Gulf Country, border ranges and south coast recording significantly above average rainfall. Many areas received rainfall well below the summer average, particularly in a band from the Central Coast to the southwest of the state.

“While we had some monsoon activity during January, most of the heavy rain was restricted to the far north of the state, particularly around the Gulf country” said Mr Davidson. “Elsewhere rainfall was mostly associated with showers and thunderstorms, which tend to be more hit and miss” he said.

“While summer may have ended, March is still part of the wet season. The monsoon is building up again over northern Australia and is expected to be active during the first half of March” said Mr Davidson. “It’s during these periods of monsoon activity that we have the best conditions for rain producing weather systems such as Tropical Cyclones to develop.”

For further information, please contact Ann Farrell on (07)32398660.
After-hour enquiries should be directed to the senior forecaster on (07)32398750.

The latest temperature/rainfall maps and seasonal outlooks for Queensland are available at
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/austmaps/
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/

World Wide Web www.bom.gov.au
Weather by Fax 1800 630 100 [Free Call Directory]