Tuesday, 1 April 2008 - Monthly Climate Summary for Queensland - Product code IDCKGC14L0

March 2008 Climate Summary for Queensland

Summary

Some very high rainfall at the start of March along the north tropical coast eased by the middle of the month. Similar falls did not occur inland, nor across the state, so much of Queensland received average to below average rainfall.

Cooler temperatures infiltrated large parts of the southern and central districts near the end of the month, with some areas up to 12°C below average.  This was mainly due to a dry southwesterly airflow, and this phenomena also affected large parts of neighbouring states.

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Rainfall

Mixed rainfall across the state during March has seen the return of average to below average figures, apart from the Northern Tropical Coast and adjacent districts, which managed to sustain above average rainfall for the period.  

At the beginning of the month, a low off the north east coast continued to bring some moderate to heavy rain, showers and thunderstorms to the Northern Tropical Coast and Tableland districts. This activity continued across these coastal districts for the next few days, and the southeasterly stream brought some heavier showers and rain.

As a result, the highest daily rainfall was recorded at sites in the North Tropical Coast district.  Totals include Port Douglas with 446 mm, Topaz with 364 mm, Myola with 334 mm and Mossman South with 302 mm, all recorded at 9am on the 5th.  
Overall the wettest place for the month was 1586 mm at Bulgun Creek Alert, also located in the North Tropical Coast district.

In contrast to the totals received about the North Tropical Coastal, most of the Peninsula had average falls, while the remainder of the state experienced below to very much below average rainfall for the month.  

Some sites had their lowest total March rainfall on record.

See a map of total rainfall. See a map of rainfall deciles.

Brisbane received 41.8 mm of rainfall, compared to a long term average of 140.7 mm.

Temperature

During March, the coastal and central districts remained below average for the month, while the western districts were average or slightly above average for both mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures.

Near the end of the month, cool south to south-westerly winds brought some very low daytime and night time temperatures.  

Some sites had their coldest March day (lowest maximum temperature) on record, while some sites had their lowest March mean daily maximum temperature on record.  

The coldest night was −0.2°C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 30th, and some sites had their lowest March temperature on record and their lowest March mean daily minimum temperature on record .

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

Brisbane recieved a mean maximum temperature of 27.3°C (−0.7°C below long term average) and a mean minimum of 18.1°C (−1.3°C below long term average).

Further information

Queensland Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (07) 3239 8700
Email climate.qld@bom.gov.au

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Extremes

Hottest day Highest temperature	40.1°C at Bedourie Police Station on the 15th
Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature	37.1°C at Camooweal Township
Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature	23.0°C at Applethorpe
Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature	19.4°C at Toowoomba Airport on the 17th
Coldest night Lowest temperature	−0.2°C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 30th
Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature	11.2°C at Applethorpe
Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature	25.7°C at Coconut Island
Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature	28.2°C at Sweers Island on the 25th
Wettest overall Highest total rainfall	1586.0 mm at Bulgun Creek Alert
Wettest day Highest daily rainfall	446.2 mm at Port Douglas - Warner St on the 5th
Highest wind gust	89 km/h at Cape Moreton Lighthouse on the 10th

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Records

Record lowest total March rainfall
	Total rainfall for March 2008 (mm)	Previous lowest for March		Years of record	Normal for March
Townsville Aero	1.8	7.2	in 1992	68	180.8
Mount Charlton	4.0	12.0	in 1992	52	252.4
Pormpuraaw Township	41.0	44.1	in 1966	48	295.9
Roma Peak	7.2	9.6	in 2002	45	130.8
Brigalow Research Stn	1.4	1.8	in 1998	40	43.7

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Record lowest March daily maximum temperature
	Lowest daily maximum temperature in March 2008 (°C)		Previous lowest for March		Years of record	Normal for March
Gladstone Radar	21.9	on the 29th	22.4	on the 21st in 1974	51	30.3
Mackay M.O	22.8	on the 29th	23.0	on the 21st in 1974	49	28.6

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Record lowest March mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for March 2008 (°C)	Previous lowest for March		Years of record	Normal for March
Mackay M.O	27.1	27.2	in 1972	49	28.6
Low Isles Lighthouse	28.7	29.4	in 1971	41	30.9

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Record lowest March temperature
	Lowest temperature in March 2008 (°C)		Previous lowest for March		Years of record	Normal for March
Amberley AMO	6.7	on the 31st	7.9	on the 28th in 1984	67	17.8
Charleville Aero	6.2	on the 29th	8.2	on the 28th in 1966	66	18.7
Quilpie Airport	9.6	on the 29th	10.7	on the 31st in 1973	52	20.6
Tambo Post Office	5.8	on the 29th	6.1	on the 28th in 1966	52	17.6
Taroom Post Office	7.2	on the 31st	8.3	on the 12th in 1986	52	18.2
Urandangi	9.1	on the 30th	9.8	on the 22nd in 1975	50	21.1
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade	−0.2	on the 30th	2.8	on the 29th in 1965	47	13.8
Surat	5.5	on the 29th	6.7	on the 19th in 1996	45	17.8
Redlands HRS	10.9	on the 31st	12.1	on the 31st in 1987	43	18.6
University of Queensland Gatton	6.7	on the 31st	7.2	on the 1st in 1970	43	17.3
Injune Post Office	3.6	on the 31st	5.0	on the 29th in 1984	41	16.4
Applethorpe	0.3	on the 30th	2.5	on the 31st in 1980	40	13.3
Mitchell Post Office	4.0	on the 29th	5.2	on the 29th in 1984	39	16.7
Texas Post Office	4.9	on the 29th	5.5	on the 14th in 1988	37	15.8
Oakey Aero	2.3	on the 31st	5.7	on the 31st in 1980	35	15.7

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Record lowest March mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for March 2008 (°C)	Previous lowest for March		Years of record	Normal for March
University of Queensland Gatton	14.1	15.3	in 2005	87	17.3
Tambo Post Office	14.3	14.6	in 1953	78	17.6
Amberley AMO	14.6	15.1	in 1988	67	17.8
Charleville Aero	15.9	16.0	in 1994	66	18.7
Taroom Post Office	15.1	15.8	in 1961	56	18.2
Injune Post Office	13.3	14.0	in 1972	41	16.4
Applethorpe	11.2	11.3	in 1980	40	13.3
Brigalow Research Stn	16.6	16.8	in 1980	39	18.8
Oakey Aero	13.5	13.8	in 1993	35	15.7

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Summaries

In this table, key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to find. This table is very wide and may not fit if printed.

Summary statistics for March 2008
	Maximum temperatures for March (°C)				Minimum temperatures for March (°C)				Rainfall for March (millimetres)
	Mean for March 2008	Diff from normal	Highest for March 2008		Mean for March 2008	Diff from normal	Lowest for March 2008		Total for March 2008	Normal for March	Rank of March 2008	Fraction of March normal
North Peninsula (district 27)
Coconut Island	32.6	+1.0	34.6	24th	25.7	−0.2	23.9	30th	42.0	291.7	low	14%
Coen Airport	31.5		33.1	29th	23.1		20.8	27th	145.2
Horn Island	30.8	+0.5	32.4	25th	25.1	+0.1	23.8	16th	122.8	353.5	very low	35%
Scherger RAAF	32.4		33.7	29th	23.5		21.4	28th	346.0
Weipa Aero	32.3	+0.5	33.6	23rd	23.7	−0.1	21.8	28th	233.2	420.2	low	55%
South Peninsula (district 28)
Lockhart River Airport	30.7	+0.1	32.7	1st	23.4	0.0	20.1	28th	328.6	451.7	normal	73%
Musgrave	32.6	+0.4	34.5	1st	22.5	+0.1	21.0	27th	127.0	240.0	low	53%
Palmerville	31.8	−0.5	33.6	26th	21.4	−0.4	19.5	8th	192.8	181.2	normal	106%
Lower Carpentaria (district 29)
Burketown Airport	35.1		38.3	21st	23.2		17.6	31st	104.2
Burketown Post Office	34.1	+0.6	37.1	21st	23.7	+0.2	18.0	31st	116.4	153.0	normal	76%
Century Mine	36.9		39.4	24th	23.0		19.2	2nd	28.2
Cloncurry Airport	36.3	+0.4	40.0	24th	22.9	+0.4	15.4	30th	7.4	80.2	low	9%
Croydon Township	33.5	−0.9	35.1	25th	23.0	−0.3	20.6	10th	26.0	115.3	low	23%
Julia Creek Airport	36.5		39.3	24th	19.8		15.0	9th	13.8
Kowanyama Airport	32.7	−0.1	34.4	20th	23.8	+0.1	22.7	6th	264.6	234.3	normal	113%
Mount Isa Aero	35.2	+0.9	38.3	25th	21.7	−0.1	17.2	2nd	1.8	64.1	very low	3%
Sweers Island	32.3		34.6	21st	25.3		21.2	31st	152.8	205.3	normal	74%
Upper Carpentaria (district 30)
Georgetown Airport	33.0		35.5	26th	21.6		18.7	23rd	26.8
Hughenden Airport	33.0		36.6	25th	20.1		16.8	1st	2.0
Richmond Airport	34.5	−1.7	37.3	24th	18.7	−2.7	13.8	9th	0.2	51.8	very low	0%
Richmond Post Office	33.9	−1.0	37.0	25th	19.4	−1.3	14.5	9th	20.0	60.8	normal	33%
Barron North Coast (district 31)
Cairns Aero	29.5	−1.0	31.5	1st	23.2	+0.1	20.7	27th	793.2	425.2	very high	187%
Cape Flattery	29.8		31.3	22nd	24.1		22.5	4th	753.6
Cooktown Airport	29.2		30.5	29th	23.3		20.3	27th	722.4
Green Island	27.3	−2.0	29.8	28th	24.2	−0.6	22.0	31st
Kairi Research Station	25.0	−1.4	28.3	27th	18.6	+0.1	14.5	27th	531.2	258.8	high	205%
Low Isles Lighthouse	28.7	−2.1	31.2	28th	24.4	−0.7	22.7	6th	636.8	435.7	high	146%
Mareeba Airport	28.4		31.3	27th	20.6		18.5	27th	312.2
Walkamin DPI	26.7	−1.3	30.4	27th	19.7	+0.2	16.2	27th	339.6	214.3	high	158%
Herbert North Coast (district 32)
Cardwell Marine Pde	28.9	−1.8	32.1	28th	23.0	+1.1	21.4	26th	299.3	399.7	normal	75%
Ingham Composite	29.7	−1.1	32.2	27th	22.0	−0.2	18.5	8th	149.4	368.1	low	41%
Innisfail	28.5	−1.3	31.0	28th	22.9	+0.9	20.8	27th	787.4	662.6	normal	119%
Lucinda Point	27.9	−1.9	30.1	27th	24.1	−0.6	22.2	7th	35.6	150.8	lowest	24%
South Johnstone Exp Stn	28.2	−1.7	31.0	28th	22.7	+0.8	20.0	27th	947.8	619.6	high	153%
Townsville Aero	30.7	0.0	32.7	28th	22.6	−0.3	19.5	8th	1.8	180.8	lowest	1%
East Central Coast (district 33)
Alva Beach	29.3	−1.5	31.3	28th	21.9	−1.1	19.9	8th	113.6	79.0	high	144%
Ayr DPI Research Stn	30.5	−0.3	32.5	27th	20.8	−0.6	18.4	8th	62.4	148.9	normal	42%
Bowen Airport	29.8	−1.1	31.6	28th	22.3	−0.4	19.0	25th	6.2	75.2	low	8%
Collinsville Post Office	30.7	−1.2	33.4	27th	18.6	−1.4	16.0	8th	8.0	93.1	very low	9%
Hamilton Island Airport	26.5		28.4	28th	22.8		20.8	29th	160.2
Mackay Aero	28.2	−1.0	29.3	12th	21.0	−0.9	16.2	30th	36.4	197.6	low	18%
Mackay M.O	27.1	−1.5	28.9	28th	21.7	−0.5	17.7	30th	54.8	250.7	very low	22%
Proserpine Airport	28.8	−1.5	31.0	28th	21.1	−0.3	18.8	5th	61.4	142.4	low	43%
Samuel Hill Aero	27.3		29.2	26th	20.3		12.3	31st	110.6
St Lawrence	29.8		31.4	26th	19.7		14.3	30th	53.2
St Lawrence Post Office	30.1	−0.8	31.6	26th	20.0	−1.1	14.6	30th	35.6	132.5	low	27%
Williamson	29.2		31.1	21st	19.8		14.0	30th	35.0
Woolshed	27.0	−0.9	28.8	26th	18.8	−0.9	16.3	8th	44.8	75.5	low	59%
Yeppoon The Esplanade	27.0	−1.6	28.1	27th	20.7	−1.8	14.5	30th	74.6	74.0	normal	101%
West Central Coast (district 34)
Charters Towers Airport	30.6	−1.7	33.3	26th	19.7	−1.2	17.5	8th	22.6	55.8	low	41%
Moranbah Water Treatment Plant	30.1	−2.4	33.0	26th	18.0	−2.2	14.3	31st	9.3	48.7	normal	19%
Central Highlands (district 35)
Blackwater Water Treatment Plant	31.0	−1.7	34.0	26th	18.8	−2.3	12.5	31st	21.9	30.5	normal	72%
Brigalow Research Stn	31.0	−0.8	32.7	25th	16.6	−2.1	13.2	8th	1.4	43.7	lowest	3%
Clermont Sirius St	30.1	−2.0	32.5	26th	17.0	−2.5	12.0	30th	40.4	74.4	normal	54%
Emerald Airport	30.6	−2.7	33.0	26th	17.5	−3.0	12.1	31st	27.0	40.3	normal	67%
Rolleston Warrijo St			31.9	13th	16.0	−2.5	10.5	31st	6.8	60.9	low	11%
Springsure Dame St	29.6	−2.1	32.0	25th	17.2	−1.7	9.6	31st	7.6	68.3	low	11%
Tambo Post Office	31.1	−1.4	33.6	25th	14.3	−3.3	5.8	29th	1.2	57.1	very low	2%
Taroom Post Office	29.8	−1.9	32.8	26th	15.1	−3.1	7.2	31st	3.2	62.1	very low	5%
Central Lowlands (district 36)
Barcaldine Post Office	31.7	−1.5	36.0	25th	19.2	−1.6	13.0	30th	6.6	59.6	low	11%
Blackall Airport	31.4		34.4	24th	16.8		8.3	30th	5.2
Isisford Post Office	32.8	−1.5	35.6	24th	17.6	−2.7	9.2	30th	0.6	59.5	low	1%
Longreach Aero	34.1	−0.6	37.1	25th	18.5	−1.8	9.7	30th	0.4	55.5	low	1%
Upper Western (district 37)
Camooweal Township	37.1	+1.8	39.9	14th	22.5	+0.7	12.1	31st	1.4	54.7	very low	3%
The Monument Airport	35.0		39.2	24th	20.9		10.6	31st	0
Trepell Airport	35.0		38.1	24th	20.3		12.8	30th	0.4
Urandangi	36.2	+0.5	39.7	24th	20.8	−0.3	9.1	30th	0	41.9	lowest	0%
Winton Airport	34.8		38.1	25th	19.0		13.3	30th	1.8
Winton Post Office	34.6	−0.6	37.9	23rd	19.5	−1.6	13.4	30th	2.2	53.1	low	4%
Lower Western (district 38)
Bedourie Police Station	35.5	−0.8	40.1	15th	19.0	−3.1	13.3	30th	0	17.6	lowest	0%
Birdsville Airport	36.0		39.9	8th	20.9		11.3	29th	0
Boulia Airport	35.4	0.0	39.4	24th	22.0	+0.3	13.9	31st	0	35.7	lowest	0%
Windorah Post Office	34.3	−0.3	38.0	24th	19.8	−1.3	10.0	29th	5.9	38.5	normal	15%
Port Curtis South Coast (district 39)
Baralaba Post Office	31.1	−1.6	33.7	13th	17.9	−1.5	11.6	31st	26.8	73.2	low	37%
Bundaberg Aero	28.7	−0.4	30.9	26th	18.7	−1.2	15.6	31st	48.6	101.6	low	48%
Gayndah Airport	29.4		32.1	21st	16.0		9.1	31st	49.6
Gayndah Post Office	29.8	−1.1	33.0	27th	16.4	−1.8	9.5	31st	51.2	74.1	normal	69%
Gladstone Airport	29.0	−0.9	30.9	13th	20.5	−1.1	15.0	30th	97.4	49.9	high	195%
Gladstone Radar	29.5	−0.7	31.9	26th	20.3	−1.2	16.3	30th	90.8	83.5	normal	109%
Monto Township	28.5	−1.5	32.1	27th	15.3	−1.9	10.6	31st	51.6	76.4	normal	68%
Rockhampton Aero	29.4	−1.2	32.3	26th	19.7	−1.1	13.9	30th	54.2	96.5	normal	56%
Rundle Island	25.3	−2.2	26.3	26th	21.9	−2.0	18.6	29th
Sandy Cape Lighthouse	27.7	−0.8	29.2	26th	20.8	−0.9	17.3	29th	58.0	153.8	low	38%
Seventeen Seventy	27.3	−1.0	28.7	21st	20.1	−1.3	16.0	29th	63.2	116.5	normal	54%
Thangool Airport	30.6	−2.0	33.2	21st			10.9	31st	24.4	59.9	normal	41%
Moreton South Coast (district 40)
Amberley AMO	28.0	−1.4	32.1	26th	14.6	−3.2	6.7	31st	36.4	82.1	normal	44%
Archerfield Airport	27.5	−1.2	31.9	26th	16.1	−2.2	10.1	30th	53.4	125.3	low	43%
Beaudesert Drumley Street	27.8		31.9	26th	14.9		9.0	31st	40.0
Beerburrum Forest Station	26.7	−2.0	30.4	26th	17.0	−1.4	11.7	31st	109.8	170.2	normal	65%
Brisbane*	27.3	−0.7	31.0	26th	18.1	−1.3	12.2	30th	41.8	140.7	low	30%
Brisbane Aero	26.5	−1.6	28.6	26th	17.5	−2.0	10.6	30th	39.6	77.5	low	51%
Cape Moreton Lighthouse	25.4	−0.5	27.1	26th	20.8	−0.4	17.6	30th	31.6	180.5	very low	18%
Coolangatta	26.7	−0.3	28.6	26th	18.1	−1.5	12.7	30th	77.4	176.3	low	44%
Double Island Point Lighthouse	25.9	−0.8	28.1	27th	20.7	−1.1	17.0	29th	54.0	164.5	low	33%
Gold Coast Seaway	27.4	−0.2	32.5	26th	19.1	−1.6	13.4	31st	37.6	89.1	low	42%
Gympie	27.0	−2.4	29.3	26th	16.5	−1.6	10.2	31st	88.2	142.4	normal	62%
Hervey Bay Airport	28.2	−0.9	30.4	26th	19.1	−1.4	15.6	31st	87.8
Hinze Dam			30.8	26th	18.0	−1.3	14.3	31st	112.4	145.4	normal	77%
Jimna Forestry	23.5		27.8	26th	14.3		5.4	31st	68.8
Kingaroy Airport	25.9		30.1	26th	14.0		4.4	31st	21.8
Logan City Water Treatment	26.7	−1.7	28.4	20th	17.3	−1.5	12.4	31st	44.0	115.3	very low	38%
Maleny Tamarind St	23.5		27.4	26th	15.5		11.5	30th	142.6	285.8	normal	50%
Maroochydore Aero	26.6	−1.0	27.6	26th	18.8	−1.0	10.9	30th	80.2	112.5	low	71%
Maryborough	28.1	−1.0	30.0	27th	18.5	−0.9	16.0	5th	35.0	155.5	low	23%
Nambour DPI - Hillside	26.3		29.5	26th	17.9		10.6	30th	87.2
Point Lookout	27.5	−0.8	29.8	15th	20.8	−1.2	16.5	30th	55.3	113.1	low	49%
Rainbow Beach	26.4	−1.6	27.5	30th	19.8	−0.7	13.0	31st	94.6	115.3	normal	82%
Redcliffe	26.2		27.9	26th	18.5		12.4	30th	67.2
Tewantin RSL Park	25.9	−1.6	27.7	26th	19.2	−1.4	13.0	30th	166.2	163.3	normal	102%
Toolara	27.6	−2.4	30.7	27th	17.9	−1.8	15.0	30th	97.8	89.4	high	109%
University of Queensland Gatton	28.1	−1.5	31.8	26th	14.1	−3.2	6.7	31st	43.8	78.1	low	56%
East Darling Downs (district 41)
Applethorpe	23.0	−0.9	26.3	26th	11.2	−2.1	0.3	30th	9.0	67.2	very low	13%
Dalby Airport	28.1	−2.4	31.7	26th	13.5	−2.8	5.3	31st	18.0	38.6	normal	47%
Goondiwindi Airport	30.5	−0.6	33.6	14th	14.7	−2.4	6.8	29th	0	48.9	very low	0%
Inglewood Forest	29.2		33.4	13th	13.5		7.5	29th	11.6
Oakey Aero	26.8	−2.0	31.0	26th	13.5	−2.2	2.3	31st	3.6	43.5	low	8%
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade	23.5	−1.5	27.4	26th	11.5	−2.3	−0.2	30th	6.8	65.5	very low	10%
Texas Post Office	30.6	−0.7	34.7	13th	13.7	−2.1	4.9	29th	1.0	55.7	very low	2%
Toowoomba Airport	24.2	−2.4	29.2	26th	14.4	−1.8	10.6	30th	44.2	55.9	normal	79%
Warwick	26.3	−1.7	30.2	26th	12.5	−2.5	2.9	31st	24.4	52.4	low	47%
West Darling Downs (district 42)
Miles Constance Street	30.0	−1.7	32.4	14th	14.8	−3.2	4.3	30th	0.4	43.5	low	1%
Maranoa (district 43)
Injune Post Office	28.3	−2.7	31.1	21st	13.3	−3.1	3.6	31st	10.2	61.0	low	17%
Mitchell Post Office	30.5	−0.5	33.4	21st	14.2	−2.5	4.0	29th	0	60.0	lowest	0%
Roma Airport	30.0	−1.5	32.8	21st	15.3	−2.1	4.3	30th	2.6	43.7	lowest	6%
St George Airport	30.3	−2.1	33.6	14th	16.2	−2.6	6.2	29th	3.4	37.7	low	9%
Surat	30.5	−1.4	33.4	14th	15.7	−2.2	5.5	29th	5.2	57.4	low	9%
Warrego (district 44)
Charleville Aero	30.5	−1.6	34.1	8th	15.9	−2.8	6.2	29th	1.8	54.6	low	3%
Cunnamulla Post Office	32.0	−0.4	35.8	14th	17.4	−1.4	9.0	29th	26.4	39.8	normal	66%
Far Southwest (district 45)
Ballera Gas Field	34.6		38.4	8th	20.7		11.1	29th	4.2
Quilpie Airport	33.1	−0.4	36.8	15th	18.4	−2.2	9.6	29th	58.5	39.5	high	148%
Thargomindah Airport	33.8		38.2	15th	19.9		9.4	30th	4.0

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Notes

Further information

Queensland Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (07) 3239 8700
Email climate.qld@bom.gov.au

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