Friday, 8 January 2021 - Annual Climate Summary for Australian Capital Territory - Product code IDCKGC55L0

Australian Capital Territory in 2020: wet with warm nights

The ACT had a wetter than average year in 2020, contrasting with the dry conditions of the previous three years. Minimum temperatures were generally well above average, while maximum temperatures were close to average despite a hot start to the year.

A wet year throughout the ACT

• It was a wet year throughout the ACT, with annual rainfall 25% to 45% above average at most locations.
• This follows three successive dry years in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
• August and October were especially wet, with Canberra Airport receiving more than double its average monthly rainfall in both months.
• Heavy rain fell on numerous occasions between late July and November, causing river rises and disruptions to low-level river crossings, although only once (on 8-9 August) did the Molonglo River reach minor flood warning thresholds.
• March and April were also significantly wetter than average.
• The only month in which rainfall at Canberra Airport was less than half the monthly average was January.

Warm nights, days near average

• Minimum temperatures were well above average at low-elevation sites in the ACT, although near average at Mount Ginini.
• Maximum temperatures were generally close to average.
• January was a very warm month, although not as hot as January 2019, with maximum and minimum temperatures both ranking in the ten highest on record at Canberra Airport.
• There were 9 days of 35 °C or above at Canberra Airport in 2020. This is above the long-term average of 5 but the fewest in a year since 2015. 7 of these days were in January.
• Maximum temperatures were also well above average in July, which was the fourth-warmest on record at Canberra Airport.
• Autumn days were cool, with all three months having maximum temperatures below average. Canberra Airport had its lowest autumn mean maximum temperature since 1984.
• Maximum temperatures were also below average in December.
• Nights were particularly warm in spring. Canberra Airport had its highest spring mean minimum temperatures on record, and its second-highest October mean minimum temperatures.
• Minimum temperatures were also above average in most other months, except for March, May and June when they were close to average.
• There were 42 nights with minimum temperatures at Canberra Airport below 0 °C , well below the average of 61. This was the lowest number of nights below freezing since 2009.
• Some sites had their highest temperature on record.
• Some sites had their warmest night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

Canberra Airport

• Total rainfall for Canberra Airport was 790.0 mm, which is 129% of the long-term average of 612.3 mm and the highest since 2010.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Canberra Airport was 20.4 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the long-term average of 19.9 °C but was the lowest since 2012.
• The warmest day was 44.0 °C on 4 January, and the coolest day was on 22 August when the temperature reached 7.5 °C, when snow fell in many suburbs and settled widely above 750 metres.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Canberra Airport was 7.6 °C, which is 1.1 °C above the long-term average of 6.5 °C.
• The coldest morning was -4.9 °C on 5 June, and the warmest morning was on 2 February when the minimum temperature was 26.7 °C.

Other features of 2020

• The Orroral Valley fire, which broke out on 27 January, burned 80% of the Namadgi National Park, as well as surrounding areas of the ACT and New South Wales. It was declared contained on 10 February following heavy rain.
• Severe smoke pollution from fires in the ACT and southern New South Wales affected the ACT for much of January and February, with air quality in the hazardous range on many days.
• The ACT had its hottest ever day on 4 January, when the temperature reached 44.0 °C at Canberra Airport. This is a record for any ACT site, surpassing the 42.8 °C at Acton on 11 January 1939.
• Further extreme heat affected the ACT at the start of February. Canberra Airport had its hottest February day on record there on the 1st with 42.7 °C, whilst the minimum of 26.7 °C on the 2nd was a record there for any month. The ACT record high minimum is 27.2 °C at Acton on 14 January 1939.
• Combined with the record set in December 2019, Canberra Airport had its hottest day on record for each of the three summer months.
• One of the most severe hailstorms recorded in the ACT occurred on 20 January. Hail of 4 to 6 cm in diameter fell across a region extending from the southern half of Belconnen through Acton to the inner southern suburbs. Extensive damage was reported to buildings and motor vehicles, with insured losses of several hundred million dollars.
• A major early-season cold outbreak, with snow in the Brindabellas, affected the ACT at the end of April. 9.7 °C at Canberra Airport on 30 April was the first maximum below 10 °C there in April since 1952.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top