Monday, 4 January 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Canberra area - Product code IDCKGC1xx0

Warm, sunny December with above average rainfall in ACT

• Well above average maximum temperatures, 8th highest on record
• Above average minimum temperatures, 11th highest on record
• 8th consecutive December with above average minimum temperatures
• Above average rainfall
• Sunny month, well above average sunshine hours

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Canberra Airport recorded a total rainfall of 77.0 mm during December, which is above the historical average¹ of 53.8 mm, or 143% of the normal total. It is the third consecutive December with above average rainfall. The rain occurred on 9 rain days (historic average is 8 rain days). Nearly three-quarters of the rainfall occurred during the last week, when an inflow of moist tropical air associated with ex-tropical cyclone Laurence produced widespread rain over the ACT.

Slightly higher rainfall totals were recorded in southwest suburbs while lower totals were recorded in the east. The highest total for December was 111.4 mm at Mount Ginini AWS and 101.6 mm at Tuggeranong Creek, while the lowest was 66.8 mm at Kingston. Moderate to heavy rain associated with an inflow of tropical moisture on the 28th produced the highest daily total for December of 45.4 mm at Tuggeranong Creek and 27.4 mm at Canberra Airport. This was also the wettest day of the year at Canberra Airport.

Temperatures

Generally warm to hot and sunny days prevailed in Canberra during December, with only the last week being cool and cloudy. The mean maximum temperature at Canberra Airport was 28.8 °C, which is +2.7 °C above the historical average of 26.1 °C, and the 8th highest on record. There were 13 hot days (maximum over 30 °C), the highest since December 1994 (when 15 days). Normally Canberra would expect 7 hot days during December. The highest temperature in the ACT during December was 38.8 °C at Canberra Airport on the 17th. Prevailing warm W-NW winds (for 52% of the time) and sunny days contributed towards the high daytime temperatures.

Night-time temperatures were also above average, with a mean minimum temperature of 12.5 °C at Canberra Airport, which is +1.2 °C above the historic average. This is now the 8th consecutive December with above average minimum temperatures in the ACT. At Canberra Airport, daily minimum temperatures ranged from a low of 6.2 °C on the 1st to a high of 17.9 °C on the 25th. The lowest temperature in the ACT during December was -1.7 °C at Mount Ginini AWS (elev 1760 metres) on the 1st.

Wind

Prevailing winds were between N and W for 75% of the time during December, which is close to normal. There were 5 strong wind days during the month, above the normal 3 windy days for December. The strongest winds in the ACT were on the 17th associated with a sharp low pressure trough with gusts reaching 78 km/h at Canberra Airport and Mount Ginini.

Other phenomena

Canberra experienced a sunny month with an average of 10.5 hours of sunshine per day, compared to the historic December average of 9.4 hours per day. Although thunderstorms were reported over the southern parts of the ACT on the 27th, no storm activity was recorded at Canberra Airport during December. There were several days of dust and smoke haze reducing visibility to 10 km, however, no fogs or frosts were recorded at Canberra Airport.

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top