Friday 1st June, 2007

MEDIA RELEASE - QUEENSLAND REGIONAL OFFICE

Warmest autumn on record for Queensland

Queensland has recorded its warmest autumn on record, with May temperatures also setting a new benchmark.

Taking the state as a whole, and based on figures since 1950, the mean temperature over autumn was 1.7 degrees warmer than the long-term average and the highest on record.

Unusually warm temperatures during May made a major contribution. The mean temperature across the state was 2.7 degrees higher than average and the warmest on record. The average day-time maximum temperature across the state was 2.8 degrees warmer than average for the month and the highest on record, while the minimum temperatures were 2.5 degrees warmer and 2nd warmest on record.

Long-standing records were broken at many places. New monthly mean maximum temperatures for May were recorded at Georgetown with 34C (average 30.3C, previous highest 32.2C, 114 years of record), Camooweal with 32.4C (average 28.9C, previous highest 31.9C, 100 years of record) and Gatton with 27.2C (average 23.6C, previous highest 26.9C, 84 years of record).

A particularly hot spell at the start of the month saw many new daily maximum records. Richmond Post Office reported its hottest May temperature in 114 years of record (37.0C, previous highest 36.8C) and Amberley recorded a new May maximum of 33.3C (previous highest 32.8C, 66 years of record). A new record for the highest temperature in Queensland during May was reported from Julia Creek on the 4th with 39.3C.   

Autumn rainfall totals were mixed across the state. Below average totals were recorded over central and southeast Queensland with a number of places recording their lowest autumn rainfall on record.

These include Alderley with 73mm (average 311mm, 105 years of record), Collinsville with 15mm (average 170mm, 68 years of record) and Gladstone with 37.2mmm (average 191mm, 49 years of record).

For more details refer to the Queensland monthly climate summary for May at http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/qld/archive/200705.summary.shtml and  the autumn summary at http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/season/qld/archive/200705.summary.shtml.

For further information, please contact Tamika Tihema 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]