Monday, 1 February 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Canberra area - Product code IDCKGC2xx0

Canberra area in January 2010: 2nd warmest January on record

• Very much above average temperatures
• Very much below average rainfall
• 2nd warmest January on record for average maximum temperatures
• 2nd warmest January on record for average minimum temperatures
• Hot night on 13th (24.4°C), highest since 9 March 1983
• 6th driest January on record
• Above average sunshine

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Canberra Airport recorded a total rainfall of 7.4 mm which is very much below the historical average of 59.2 mm. There were only 3 rain days recorded with the highest total of 5.6 mm recorded on 28th of the month. This is the equal 6th driest January on record (the other was in 1942) since records began in 1939 and the driest since 1985 (January total 2.8 mm). The dry conditions were associated with the generally clear sky conditions and dominant dry west to northwesterly flow. Mount Ginini recorded significantly higher falls of 37 mm which is mostly due to a cold front which moved across on the 1st of the month with Mount Ginini AWS recording 20.4 mm.

Temperature

Average maximum and minimum temperatures were very much above average with Canberra Airport recording it's 2nd warmest January on record for both average maximum and minimum temperatures. This was partly due to the generally clear conditions and warm dry westerly flow associated with the passage of several low pressure troughs and cold fronts with the more pronounced events occurring on the 12th-13th and 22nd-23rd of the month.

Maximum temperature

Canberra Airport recorded an average maximum temperature of 31.6°C which is very much above the historical average of 27.9°C. This is the equal second warmest January on record (the other was in 1981). The highest temperature recorded during January was 39.1°C on the 12th of the month and was due to the passage of a low pressure trough and cold front which directed hot northwesterly air over Canberra.

Minimum temperature

Night time temperatures were also very much above average with Canberra Airport recording an average of 15.9°C compared to the historical average of 13.1°C. This is the warmest January for minimum temperatures since 2006 (average of 16.5°C). The highest daily minimum temperature was 24.4°C on the 13th of the month and this was also due to the passage of a low pressure trough and cold front which directed warm northwesterly flow over Canberra. This was Canberra's hottest night (for any month) since 9th March 1983 (when 26.0°C). It is also the 4th highest on record for any month.

Wind

Westerly winds dominated both observations at 9am with 42%, and especially at 3pm with 61% of wind originating from the west. Northwesterly flow was significantly below average with 16% observed at 3pm compared to the historical averages of 59%. The dominant westerly flow contributed to drier, sunnier and generally warmer conditions throughout January.

Canberra Airport recorded stronger than average winds at both 9am and 3pm. In the morning the winds averaged at 10.4 km/hr (January average 7.4 km/hr) with afternoon winds averaging at 23.4 km/hr (January average 16.8 km/hr). The highest wind gust in Canberra suburbs was 67 km/h at Tuggeranong AWS on the 2nd.

Other phenomena

Sunshine was above average during January with Canberra Airport recording an average of 10.8 hours of bright sunshine (January average 9.9 hours). This is the equal 5th sunniest January (the other in 1983) since records began in 1978. Cloudiness was only slightly below average with just under 1/2 the sky obscured by cloud during January (average is 1/2 of the sky).

There were 4 days with lightning reported in the ACT, on the 2nd, 13th, 16th and 27th of the month.

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top