Tuesday 1st August, 2006

MEDIA RELEASE - QUEENSLAND REGIONAL OFFICE

JULY WEATHER SUMMARY FOR QUEENSLAND

Parts of the Peninsula and Gulf Country received very much above average monthly rainfall during July, with long term monthly records broken at:
Croydon Township, which received 83.6mm (average 3.9mm, 118 years of record),
Cape Tribulation, which received 420.8mm (average 124.3mm, 59 years of record), and
Gilberton, which received 50.4mm (average 6.8mm, 88 years of record).

One of the more significant rainfall events was associated with an upper trough, which brought rainfall to parts of the interior and northwest. Some record daily rainfalls for July resulted, which include:
Mornington Island, with 34.6mm on 14th (previous record 27.8mm, 81 years of record)
Vanrook Station, with 37.0mm on 14th (previous record 19.6mm, 82 years of record)
Wondoola Station, with 43.2mm on 14th (previous record 39.1mm, 85 years of record)
Croydon Township, with 35.0mm on 15th (previous record 26.4mm, 118 years of record).

Other daily rainfall records were broken in parts of the North Tropical Coast, with:
Cape Tribulation receiving 179.8mm on 14th (previous record 98.8mm, 59 years of record), and
Daintree receiving 94.0mm on 14th (previous record 73.0mm, 41 years of record).

Elsewhere, rainfall did not vary significantly from average in the area from Bowen to the Southern border, extending inland to Tambo, and down to St George, apart from a small coastal pocket from about Gladstone to the Sunshine coast, which received above average rainfall.

The rest of the state received average to above average rainfall for July, with the exception of a small area west of Mt Isa, which registered below average monthly rainfall.

Although above average, rainfall amounts at this time of year are usually very low for most of the state.

Maximum temperatures for the state were below average in the north, but 1 – 3 degrees above average in the SE of the state.

This pattern was also reflected for minimum temperatures in the north, with the Peninsula and Gulf Country 1 – 2 degrees below average. The remainder of the state recorded average to above average minimum temperatures.

For further information, please contact Ann Farrell on (07)32398660 or Tamika Tihema on (07)3239 8662.
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]