Monday, 2 May 2011 - Monthly Climate Summary for New South Wales - Product code IDCKGC25R0

NSW in April 2011: A cool, dry April for NSW

• Below average rainfall in NSW and the MDB
• Below average temperatures

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

NSW recorded a statewide average rainfall of 31.9 mm during April, 14.8 mm below the historical average of 46.7 mm. This is the first month with below average rainfall since June 2010, as the strong La Nina event which drove record falls in late 2010 and early 2011 waned in the Pacific Ocean. Rainfall was highest in the northeast of the state associated with persistent easterly windflow, while western and southern regions experienced a return to drier conditions following record-breaking falls in preceding months. In addition, the Murray-Darling Basin recorded just 24.4 mm during April, below the historical average of 38.1 mm.

Rainfall along the coast persisted for most of the month, although daily falls only exceeded 100 mm at Wyee on the 1st, with particularly widespread falls on the 16th. The only significant rain to fall in western parts was between the 10th and 11th as a cold front crossed the state, with daily falls on the order of 10 to 20 mm.

Temperature

Maximum temperatures averaged 23.8 °C during April, 0.3 °C below the historical average of 24.1 °C. The majority of the state had slightly below average temperatures, with coolest conditions in the south east of the state, particularly along the Southern and Central Tablelands. The cool conditions were predominately due to the prevailing southerly to easterly winds driving cool air into the state during the month, with particularly cool conditions between the 10th and 17th including record cold at Bathurst on the 16th.

Minimum temperatures averaged 10.0 °C during April, 1.1 °C below the historical average of 11.1 °C and the equal 13th coldest on record. Temperatures were below average over most of the state, particularly in the west, with above average minimums only recorded on the north coast. Minimums were warmest on the offshore islands associated with persistent warm sea surface temperature anomalies in the Australian region.

The mean temperature in NSW was consequently 0.7 °C below average at 16.9 °C, the 16th coldest on record.

Some sites had their coldest April day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.

See a map of maximum temperature anomalies. See a map of minimum temperature anomalies.

Wind

Several strong wind days were recorded at Thredbo during the month, reaching 120 km/hr on the 9th and 13th and 117 km/hr on the 10th.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top