Wednesday, 1 August 2012 - Monthly Climate Summary for New South Wales - Product code IDCKGC25R0

NSW in July 2012: Warm conditions return to NSW

• Close to average rainfall, heavy rain in the west
• Warm days and close to average nights
• Very warm nights in northern NSW from the 10th-13th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Close to average rainfall, heavy rain in the west

NSW recorded a statewide average rainfall of 41.3 mm during July, slightly above the historical average of 39.4 mm. Rainfall was above average in the north and west of the state, but average to below average along the coast, with parts of the north and south coasts recording less than half their July average. The Murray Darling Basin also recorded 42.3 mm, above the historical average of 39.7 mm.

Most of the rain in inland NSW fell as a low pressure trough crossed the state between the 10th and 12th, with a second trough producing rain in northern inland NSW on th 13th and 14th. In western NSW, Fowlers Gap recorded 40.6 mm on the 10th, with 29.6 mm at Broken Hill Airport, its equal wettest June day on record. In northern NSW, Narrabri (Mt Kaputar) recorded 63.2 mm on the 11th with a 4-day total of 143.2 mm to the 14th, its wettest winter event since June 2005.

Lord Howe Island recorded 242.6 mm of rain during the month, the wettest July since 283.4 mm was recorded at the old site in 1979. There were only four days without rain during the month, the fewest since 1995 (4 days), with the wettest day recording 47.2 mm on the 14th.

See a list of July rainfall records.

Warm days and close to average nights

NSW recorded a statewide average maximum temperature of 16.0 °C, 0.7 °C above the July average. Most of the state was warmer than average during the month, with particularly warm conditions in inland parts of southern NSW. The warm days were associated with a succession of high pressure systems that crossed the state during the month, bringing clear conditions to the state, and a lack of significant rain events.

The statewide average minimum temperature during July was 3.5 °C, average for July. Nights were warmer than average in eastern NSW, particularly in the northeast, while nights were cooler than average in western NSW where southerly winds brought cooler air into the state.

The influence of a low pressure trough and rain event between the 10th and 13th brought a spell of very warm nights to NSW, with large areas more than 4 °C above normal, particularly in the north of the state. Several sites recorded their warmest July night on record on the 13th, with four consecutive nights exceeding 7 °C at Glen Innes, 10 °C at Inverell and 14 °C at Lismore, in the top 5 July warm spells on record.

The average temperature in NSW was consequently 9.8 °C, 0.4 °C above average. This is the first warm month for NSW since November 2011, and the 14th consecutive warm July.

See a list of July temperature records.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top