Tuesday, 1 March 2011 - Monthly Climate Summary for ACT Monthly Summary - Product code IDCKGC15R0

Canberra in February 2011: Wet end to summer

• 7th wettest February on record.
• 11th consecutive February with above average minimum temperatures.
• Lowest February sunshine since 1992.

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Canberra recorded 122.8mm of rainfall during February 2011, well above the historical average of 56.4mm and the 7th wettest February on record, although slightly drier than February 2010 (129.2mm). The rain fell over nine days, which is slightly above average for February. The highest rainfall anywhere in the ACT was 241.2mm at Mt Ginini AWS.

The rain predominantly fell during the first week of the month, with daily falls of 42.6mm recorded at the Airport on both the 3rd and 5th, associated with a band of heavy rainfall across southern NSW. Daily rainfall in the ACT was highest on the 3rd, with over 100mm at Mt Ginini and up to 83.6mm at Tuggeranong in the south. A thunderstorm on the 16th brought additional rainfall to Canberra, with the Airport recording 15.4mm to 9am on the 17th.

Temperature

Maximum temperatures were slightly below average in Canberra during February, at 26.7 °C compared to the historical average of 27.1 °C. Temperatures were close to average for most of the month, with only five days above 30 °C during the first week of February, lower than the historical average of 8 warm days. The warmest day was the 1st, when temperatures at Canberra Airport reached 37.1 °C.

In comparison, minimum temperatures were well above average during February at 14.4 °C, 1.3 °C above the historical average of 13.1 °C. This was the 14th warmest February on record and the 11th consecutive February with above average minimum temperatures. Three days with minimum temperatures above 20 °C were recorded during the first week of February, well above the historical average of less than one day per year, while the warmest night of 22.2 °C on the 2nd was the warmest February night since February 9 1997.

Mean temperatures were 0.5 °C above average during February at 21.1 °C compared to the historical average of 20.6 °C.

Wind

Canberra was dominated by northwesterly winds during February, with 57% of 3pm winds between WNW and NNW, similar to the historical average for Canberra. The highest wind gust reported during the month was 91km/hr at Mt Ginini on the 19th, with the strongest gust in suburban Canberra 76 km/hr at Tuggeranong on the 3rd.

Other phenomena

Four thunderstorms were reported at Canberra Airport this month, average for February, with five storms reported within the ACT region. Daily sunshine averaged 6.3 hours, significantly lower than the historical average of 9.0 hours and the lowest February sunshine since 1992. 3pm relative humidity averaged 52%, the highest in Canberra since 1981.

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top