Tuesday, 6 January 2015 - Annual Climate Summary for Canberra - Product code IDCKGC55L0

Canberra in 2014: a warm year with a dry finish

Canberra experienced very warm daytime temperatures during 2014 with many hot days. While rain was close to average, conditions were generally dry during the second half of the year.

• Equal-fifth-warmest year on record
• Third-warmest mean maximum temperatures on record
• Equal-record number of days above 40 °C
• Below average rainfall, particularly during July to November

The mean maximum temperature at Canberra Airport during 2014 was 21.5 °C, 1.8 °C above the historical average. This is the third-warmest year on record for Canberra, and was associated with several warm spells during the year and a lack of cold conditions. There were 3 days when temperatures reached at least 40 °C, equalling the 2009 record, while 19 days reached at least 35 °C, nearly four times the average of 5 days. In contrast, the mean minimum temperature was just 0.2 °C above average, with the coldest August for minimum temperatures since 1994. The mean temperature was consequently 1.0 °C above the historical average, the equal-fifth-warmest year on record for Canberra.

Canberra Airport recorded 568.6 mm of rain during 2014, slightly below the historical average of 614.4 mm. Most of the rain fell during the first half of the year, with particularly heavy rain causing widespread flooding on 19 and 20 February. Drier conditions emerged between July and November associated with persistent high pressure systems and a lack of major rain events, with total rainfall for those 5 months 44% below average and the eighth-lowest on record. In total there were 103 rain days, 20 of which brought at least 10 mm, close to the historical average. Only 3 days exceeded 25 mm at the airport, with heavy falls around the ACT reaching 86.4 mm at Torrens to 9 am on 20 February, 48.6 mm at Tuggeranong on 4 April, 48.2 mm at Torrens on 7 December, and 38.2 mm at Tharwa on 27 March.

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notable events in 2014

This is a brief list of major weather events; for more information see the appropriate Monthly Climate Summaries.

• Heavy rain and flooding on 19 and 20 February
• Major heatwaves on 14–18 January, 29 January – 3 February, and 11–27 May
• Snow on the ACT highlands on 16 and 18 July
• Cold snap from 2–9 August, coldest August night since 1994

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top