Sunday, 1 June 2008 - Monthly Climate Summary for Queensland - Product code IDCKGC14L0

Queensland in May 2008

Summary

Mixed rainfall across the state after the development of the east coast low near the end of the month.
Averaged across the state:
-the mean minimum (overnight) temperatures were the 7th lowest for May, based on records since 1950 (1.89°C below the long term average), 
-the mean maximum (day-time) temperatures were close to the long term average for May.

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Rainfall

Overall, the rainfall across the state was mixed, with some areas in the northern districts, and the Wide Bay and Burnett districts receiving above to very much about average falls, while some areas in the Herbert and Lower Burdekin had the lowest rainfall on record.  Some sites had their lowest total May rainfall on record. Though May totals are historically low for inland areas some had at least equal record status.

Up until the 30th of May, rainfall across the state was average to well below average, apart from pockets of the inland northern districts.  Areas of the Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt, Maranoa and Warrego, and the southern end of the Central Highland districts were very much below average until the development of a low pressure system off the Queensland east coast near the end of the month.  The associated rainfall resulted in a return to the long term average in parts of the Capricornia and Central highland districts, and above to very much above average across the Wide Bay and Burnett district. However, parts of the Darling Downs, Granite Belt, Maranoa and Warrego where still below to very much below the monthly average. 

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

The highest daily rainfall was149.6 mm at Kingfisher Bay Resort on the 31st, followed by 127.2 mm at Lady Elliot Island on the 30th, then 115.2 mm at Bambaroo on the 15th.  

Flash flooding occurred in areas of Wide Bay and Burnett on the 30th May. Hervey Bay recorded a two day total of 214.2 mm by 9am on the 31st May, while Maryborough recorded 189.6 mm in the same time period.  These two day totals far exceed the long term average for the month (78 mm for May).
Other significant daily rainfall figures recorded at 9am on the 30th  include Cooroy Composite with 110 mm, Cooran with 105 mm, Coringa with 104 mm, Ball Lookout with 103 mm, Noosa Heads Alert with 103 mm, Eumundi with 103 mm and Cooroy Alert with102 mm.

The wettest overall was 477 mm at Bellenden Ker Top Station, 381.4 mm at Kingfisher Bay Resort, then 347.1 mm at Innisfail.

Brisbane recorded 52 mm of rainfall, where the long term average for May is 74 mm.

Temperature

Averaged across the state, the mean maximum temperatures were slightly above the long term average for May. 

The map of  maximum temperature anomalies shows the northern districts and some coastal pockets about the Central and Capricornia coasts were below average for the month.  The rest of the state however was above average, with the largest anomalies occurring in the south west corner of Queensland.  Also see the map of mean maximum temperatures for May.

Mean minimum temperatures averaged across the state were the 7th lowest on record, based on figures since 1950. 

Looking at the map of minimum temperature anomalies shows most of Queensland, apart from a pocket in the south west to be below the long term average. Some areas of the state were up to 4°C below average for May.  Some sites had their lowest May temperature on record, while some sites had their lowest May mean daily minimum temperature on record.  Also see a map of mean minimum temperatures for May.

Brisbane recorded a mean maximum temperature of 24.3°C (0.9°C above the long term average) and a mean minimum temperature of 11.4 °C (1.0°C below the long term average) during May.

Wind

Due to the low pressure system forming to the east of Fraser Island, the strongest recorded wind gust was 98 km/h at Double Island Point Lighthouse, followed by 93 km/h at Cape Moreton Lighthouse, both occurring on the 30th.  Rundle Island recorded 93 km/h on the 31st.

Further information

Tamika Tihema
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	35.1°C at Century Mine on the 2nd
Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature	31.8°C at Scherger RAAF 31.8°C at Weipa Aero
Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature	18.6°C at Applethorpe
Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature	10.5°C at Applethorpe on the 18th
Coldest night Lowest temperature	−1.8°C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 6th
Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature	3.4°C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade
Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature	24.5°C at Horn Island
Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature	25.8°C at Coconut Island on the 1st 25.8°C at Horn Island on the 2nd 25.8°C at Horn Island on the 12th
Wettest overall Highest total rainfall	381.4 mm at Kingfisher Bay Resort 347.1 mm at Innisfail 346.0 mm at Saltwater Creek Alert
Wettest day Highest daily rainfall	149.6 mm at Kingfisher Bay Resort on the 31st 127.2 mm at Lady Elliot Island on the 30th 115.2 mm at Bambaroo on the 15th
Highest wind gust	98 km/h at Double Island Point Lighthouse on the 30th 93 km/h at Cape Moreton Lighthouse on the 30th 93 km/h at Rundle Island on the 31st

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Records

Record lowest total May rainfall
	Total rainfall for May 2008 (mm)	Previous lowest for May		Years of record	Normal for May
Boulia Airport	0.0	= 0.0	in 2001	123	13.1
Croydon Township	0.0	= 0.0	in 2007	120	8.0
Richmond Post Office	0.0	= 0.0	in 2002	119	15.3
Burketown Post Office	0.0	= 0.0	in 2004	117	6.1
Urandangi	0.0	= 0.0	in 2006	117	12.5
Camooweal Township	0.0	= 0.0	in 2003	115	11.1
Kowanyama Airport	0.0	= 0.0	in 2005	97	11.4
Musgrave	0.0	= 0.0	in 2003	97	15.4
Bedourie Police Station	0.0	= 0.0	in 2005	64	11.6
Ayr DPI Research Stn	0.0	= 0.0	in 2001	55	43.4
Roma Peak	2.4	2.5	in 1970	46	48.8
Mount Isa Aero	0.0	= 0.0	in 2003	42	12.6

Record lowest May temperature
	Lowest temperature in May 2008 (°C)		Previous lowest for May		Years of record	Normal for May
Kowanyama Airport	8.5	on the 19th	9.4	on the 29th in 1967	38	19.2

Record lowest May mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for May 2008 (°C)	Previous lowest for May		Years of record	Normal for May
Kowanyama Airport	15.8	= 15.8	in 2001	38	19.2
Coolangatta	12.0	= 12.0	in 2004	21	14.3
Seventeen Seventy	15.6	16.3	in 2006	21	17.1

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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 May 2008
	Maximum temperatures for May (°C)				Minimum temperatures for May (°C)				Rainfall for May (millimetres)
	Mean for May 2008	Diff from normal	Highest for May 2008		Mean for May 2008	Diff from normal	Lowest for May 2008		Total for May 2008	Normal for May	Rank of May 2008	Fraction of May normal
North Peninsula (district 27)
Coconut Island	30.4	−0.1	31.9	1st	24.3	−1.0	22.9	28th	82.8	67.6	high	122%
Coen Airport	30.1		34.7	6th	17.0		13.2	19th	0
Horn Island	29.5	−0.3	30.8	4th	24.5	−0.2	22.4	27th	14.2	67.9	normal	21%
Scherger RAAF	31.8		33.2	15th	19.5		16.0	23rd	0
Weipa Aero	31.8	−0.1	32.9	18th	20.0	−1.3	16.4	23rd	0	21.8	very low	0%
South Peninsula (district 28)
Lockhart River Airport	28.6	−0.1	29.7	4th	20.4	−1.6	14.9	23rd	15.0	111.1	very low	14%
Musgrave	30.9	+0.2	32.2	18th			12.2	9th	0	15.4	lowest	0%
Palmerville	30.0	−1.2	31.7	15th	14.4	−3.0	8.6	19th	4.4	16.5	normal	27%
Lower Carpentaria (district 29)
Burketown Airport	30.9		34.2	17th	15.7		11.7	20th	0
Burketown Post Office	29.9	−0.6	33.5	17th	16.1	−0.9	12.9	19th	0	6.1	lowest	0%
Century Mine	31.3		35.1	2nd	14.8		10.5	20th	0
Cloncurry Airport	29.7	+0.3	32.4	6th	14.4	−1.1	9.0	19th	0	5.4	very low	0%
Croydon Township	30.2	−1.6	32.4	1st	16.0	−1.9	9.3	19th	0	8.0	lowest	0%
Julia Creek Airport	30.3		33.2	3rd	11.5		4.5	19th	0
Kowanyama Airport	31.2	−0.9	33.0	17th	15.8	−3.4	8.5	19th	0	11.4	lowest	0%
Mornington Island	29.5	+0.7	32.5	2nd	17.7	−2.5	13.3	21st	0	9.4	lowest	0%
Mount Isa Aero	28.8	+0.9	32.9	1st	12.2	−1.8	5.6	19th	0	12.6	lowest	0%
Normanton Airport	31.1		33.6	16th	17.3		12.8	22nd	0
Sweers Island	28.5		30.8	6th	19.7		15.0	21st	0
Upper Carpentaria (district 30)
Georgetown Airport	29.0		31.6	17th	13.8		6.0	19th	0.4
Hughenden Airport	28.0		30.5	16th	12.0		4.5	19th	0
Richmond Airport	29.1	−0.8	31.7	1st	11.0	−2.3	5.8	19th	0	6.9	very low	0%
Richmond Post Office	28.7	−0.4	32.1	3rd	11.1	−1.9	6.2	19th	0	15.3	lowest	0%
Barron North Coast (district 31)
Atherton	22.8	−0.6	26.4	18th	12.2	−1.9	3.9	20th	34.6	59.6	low	58%
Cairns Aero	27.5	−0.1	29.6	3rd	18.3	−1.6	13.0	20th	44.4	91.5	low	49%
Cape Flattery	28.2		29.4	14th	21.8		16.4	31st	24.0
Cooktown Airport	27.2		28.3	18th	18.9		12.3	21st	31.0
Green Island	24.7	−1.2	26.5	4th	21.6	−0.9	18.6	31st
Kairi Research Station	23.0	0.0	27.8	18th	12.8	−2.0	6.0	20th	21.9	58.3	low	38%
Low Isles Lighthouse	27.1	−0.6	29.4	5th	21.8	−1.1	19.9	28th	74.2	99.0	normal	75%
Mareeba Airport	26.0		29.7	18th	14.7		9.7	31st	1.0
Walkamin DPI	24.6	−0.4	28.4	18th	14.1	−2.2	8.3	31st	4.0	27.2	very low	15%
Herbert North Coast (district 32)
Cardwell Marine Pde	25.9	−1.3	28.0	17th	16.8	−0.8	10.2	20th	77.2	95.1	normal	81%
Ingham Composite	26.4	−0.7	29.0	17th	15.9	−1.9	10.2	21st	126.8	112.0	normal	113%
Innisfail	26.1	−0.3	27.9	3rd	17.4	−0.9	12.9	20th	347.1	301.1	normal	115%
Lucinda Point	24.4	−1.8	25.8	4th	19.9	−1.4	16.0	20th	81.4	62.6	high	130%
South Johnstone Exp Stn	25.7	−0.5	28.0	16th	16.5	−1.7	10.0	20th	174.8	269.7	low	65%
Townsville Aero	27.6	0.0	29.4	2nd	15.7	−1.9	9.3	20th	0.8	33.4	very low	2%
East Central Coast (district 33)
Alva Beach	26.2	−1.1	27.8	17th	16.0	−1.8	9.6	19th	2.6	27.5	very low	9%
Ayr DPI Research Stn	26.9	−0.7	29.0	2nd	14.7	−1.5	7.4	19th	0	43.4	lowest	0%
Bowen Airport	27.1	−0.1	29.4	4th	16.4	−1.9	8.9	21st	0	46.4	lowest	0%
Collinsville Post Office	27.0	−0.6	30.0	3rd	11.9	−2.0	5.3	20th	6.2	32.8	low	19%
Hamilton Island Airport	23.8		26.5	17th	20.0		17.3	31st	52.0
Mackay Aero	25.4	+0.3	27.3	17th	14.1	−1.5	6.5	19th	26.2	96.8	very low	27%
Mackay M.O	24.0	−0.2	27.1	17th	16.1	−1.0	10.4	19th	55.4	108.2	low	51%
Proserpine Airport	27.2	+0.6	29.8	17th	13.1	−3.1	5.2	19th	5.6	73.9	lowest	8%
Samuel Hill Aero	24.1		27.9	3rd	10.8		3.9	20th	83.0
St Lawrence	26.4		29.6	3rd	12.7		6.0	19th	5.0
St Lawrence Post Office	26.7	0.0	30.4	3rd	13.9	−1.3	7.6	19th	1.8	48.1	very low	4%
Te Kowai Exp Stn	25.7	+0.1	28.0	5th			7.8	20th	33.5	92.3	low	36%
Williamson	26.1		29.5	3rd	11.1		3.6	19th	12.8
Woolshed	23.6	−0.7	26.5	3rd	12.7	−1.9	3.2	20th	21.0	17.4	normal	121%
Yeppoon The Esplanade	23.2	−1.2	26.3	17th	14.2	−1.8	7.4	20th	68.2	80.4	normal	85%
West Central Coast (district 34)
Charters Towers Airport	26.9	−0.7	29.8	17th	13.9	−1.6	8.6	20th	0	21.5	very low	0%
Moranbah Water Treatment Plant	26.2	−0.4	28.9	3rd	12.2	−2.4	6.2	19th	0.3	36.8	low	1%
Central Highlands (district 35)
Blackwater Water Treatment Plant	26.3	−0.3	29.2	3rd	12.0	−1.2	5.2	19th	8.7	22.7	normal	38%
Brigalow Research Stn	26.1	+0.8	29.0	2nd	8.6	−3.0	2.6	19th	3.0	48.2	low	6%
Clermont Sirius St	26.1	+0.1	29.1	5th	9.0	−2.5	3.4	19th	12.8	35.1	normal	36%
Emerald Airport	26.1	−0.4	29.3	17th	11.2	−2.2	6.3	19th	7.8	19.5	normal	40%
Rolleston Warrijo St	25.6	−0.6	28.2	17th	8.0	−2.9	3.5	21st	4.6	35.8	low	13%
Springsure Dame St	25.1	−0.2	28.9	3rd	10.1	−0.9	5.6	19th	5.2	35.9	low	14%
Tambo Post Office	25.7	+0.8	28.6	2nd	5.9	−2.3	1.7	19th	2.2	34.5	low	6%
Taroom Post Office	25.6	+1.1	28.6	2nd	7.3	−2.5	2.2	21st	30.4	40.8	normal	75%
Central Lowlands (district 36)
Barcaldine Post Office	26.5	+0.6	29.5	6th	11.3	−1.0	5.0	19th	18.2	31.0	normal	59%
Blackall Airport	26.2		28.8	6th	8.4		3.0	20th	0.2
Isisford Post Office	27.3	+1.1	30.0	6th	9.6	−1.7	4.8	19th	5.0	29.0	normal	17%
Longreach Aero	27.7	+0.7	30.5	2nd	10.4	−1.7	3.6	19th	2.0	27.4	normal	7%
Upper Western (district 37)
Camooweal Township	30.2	+1.3	34.4	1st	12.1	−1.4	7.4	19th	0	11.1	lowest	0%
The Monument Airport	28.0		31.8	1st	10.8		7.2	20th	0
Urandangi	28.8	+1.3	32.6	2nd	10.6	−1.5	5.7	19th	0	12.5	lowest	0%
Winton Airport	28.5		30.9	3rd	10.9		6.2	19th	10.4
Winton Post Office	28.3	+0.5	30.7	6th	11.9	−1.1	6.2	19th	11.6	20.5	normal	57%
Lower Western (district 38)
Bedourie Police Station	28.3	+1.6	31.4	2nd	11.2	−0.6	8.1	19th	0	11.6	lowest	0%
Birdsville Airport	26.8		30.8	2nd	10.7		8.3	21st	0
Boulia Airport	28.5	+1.8	31.8	1st	13.0	+0.5	9.9	18th	0	13.1	lowest	0%
Windorah Post Office	27.2	+1.9	30.7	13th	11.8	+0.4	6.6	18th	3.4	18.6	normal	18%
Port Curtis South Coast (district 39)
Baralaba Post Office	26.6	0.0	28.8	13th	9.6	−2.8	3.3	21st	18.4	42.1	normal	44%
Bundaberg Aero	24.8	+0.1	29.4	3rd	13.4	−0.8	7.8	19th	159.0	70.9	very high	224%
Gayndah Airport	25.6		28.7	8th	8.8		3.0	21st	53.6
Gayndah Post Office	26.0	+0.8	29.4	8th	9.3	−1.0	3.5	21st	59.7	41.0	high	146%
Gladstone Airport	25.0	−0.7	29.1	3rd	13.8	−2.0	7.7	19th	43.2	37.9	normal	114%
Gladstone Radar	26.1	+0.5	30.1	3rd	16.3	−0.7	11.9	20th	44.2	60.5	normal	73%
Lady Elliot Island	23.6	−0.4	26.2	2nd	18.7	−0.9	12.0	21st	254.0	116.9	very high	217%
Monto Township	24.4	+0.1	27.6	3rd	7.4	−2.9	1.9	21st	63.9	45.5	high	140%
Rockhampton Aero	25.9	−0.1	29.7	3rd	13.2	−1.0	6.8	19th	41.4	48.1	normal	86%
Rundle Island	22.6	−1.1	25.7	7th	18.6	−0.9	15.3	19th
Sandy Cape Lighthouse	23.7	−0.4	25.8	8th	16.8	−0.7	13.9	18th	214.6	117.9	very high	182%
Seventeen Seventy	24.3	+0.1	27.5	6th	15.6	−1.5	12.5	19th	135.0	113.1	high	119%
Thangool Airport	26.7	+0.1	30.3	2nd	8.3	−1.9	1.7	21st	22.6	40.5	normal	56%
Moreton South Coast (district 40)
Amberley AMO	24.9	+0.9	27.9	7th	6.7	−3.5	1.3	20th	16.8	51.3	low	33%
Archerfield Airport	24.5	+0.6	27.6	2nd	9.7	−2.3	5.9	25th	60.6	73.5	normal	82%
Beaudesert Drumley Street	24.3		27.5	2nd	7.5		3.2	8th	45.4
Beerburrum Forest Station	23.9	−0.3	27.4	7th	11.0	−1.8	7.3	21st	62.6	118.1	normal	53%
Brisbane*	24.3	+0.9	27.8	7th	12.3	−1.0	8.6	20th	52.0	73.7	normal	71%
Brisbane Aero	23.5	−0.2	27.8	7th	11.4	−1.5	7.5	20th	54.6	110.7	normal	49%
Cape Moreton Lighthouse	22.1	+0.4	25.7	7th	16.6	+0.1	12.0	18th	59.4	171.2	low	35%
Coolangatta	23.5	+0.4	26.8	7th	12.0	−2.3	6.2	20th	63.2	146.6	low	43%
Double Island Point Lighthouse	22.1	−0.2	26.4	3rd	16.9	−0.4	11.4	18th	98.6	147.2	normal	67%
Gold Coast Seaway	24.5	+1.1	27.8	17th	13.7	−1.8	8.2	20th	47.6	110.7	normal	43%
Gympie	24.5	0.0	28.0	3rd	8.3	−2.5	2.4	20th	83.0	72.0	normal	115%
Hervey Bay Airport	23.7	−0.7	27.1	7th	12.9	−1.3	6.2	20th	266.2	108.7	high	245%
Hinze Dam	23.4	0.0	26.2	7th	12.8	−1.2	9.4	21st	43.6	130.1	normal	34%
Jimna Forestry	21.0		23.9	3rd	6.9		2.1	21st	69.2
Kingaroy Airport	22.5		25.5	8th	5.6		0.0	7th	30.6
Logan City Water Treatment	24.1	+0.1	27.6	2nd	11.2	−1.3	7.1	20th	64.3	111.3	normal	58%
Maleny Tamarind St	21.1		24.4	7th	11.3		7.0	18th	123.6	142.4	normal	87%
Maroochydore Aero	23.2	−0.1	26.4	7th	11.8	−2.1	6.9	20th	163.6	174.3	normal	94%
Maryborough	25.1	+0.5	29.2	3rd	11.3	−1.8	4.3	20th	197.4	78.8	very high	251%
Nambour DPI - Hillside	23.7		27.2	7th	12.2		8.6	20th	154.2
Point Lookout	23.9	+0.3	27.2	2nd	15.8	−1.3	10.5	18th	112.9	139.5	normal	81%
Rainbow Beach	23.3	−0.6	26.6	3rd	12.7	−1.7	6.5	20th	179.0	166.5	normal	108%
Redcliffe	23.0		26.1	6th	13.1		9.8	20th	68.8
Redlands HRS	23.8	+0.6	27.0	7th	9.7	−2.9	7.1	21st	86.6	112.7	normal	77%
Tewantin RSL Park	23.1	−0.6	26.7	7th	13.6	−1.4	9.2	20th	199.4	175.5	normal	114%
Toolara	24.4	−0.1	28.1	3rd	13.8	−0.8	9.4	19th	164.0	102.5	high	160%
University of Queensland Gatton	24.8	+1.1	27.8	2nd	8.0	−2.2	2.6	7th	10.8	45.7	low	24%
East Darling Downs (district 41)
Applethorpe	18.6	+1.3	22.1	8th	3.8	−2.5	−1.1	20th	24.8	47.7	normal	52%
Dalby Airport	23.8	+0.4	26.2	16th	5.9	−2.8	0.4	20th	8.0	38.4	low	21%
Goondiwindi Airport	24.1	+0.8	27.1	2nd	7.4	−1.3	2.7	20th	4.3	37.1	very low	12%
Inglewood Forest	23.3		26.6	2nd	8.8		2.8	18th	15.8
Oakey Aero	23.0	+0.7	25.6	2nd	5.5	−2.5	−0.6	21st	6.2	40.3	low	15%
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade	19.4	+1.1	22.8	8th	3.4	−2.1	−1.8	6th	29.9	46.1	normal	65%
Texas Post Office	23.7	+0.7	26.6	2nd	6.9	−1.1	0.6	20th	6.2	39.2	low	16%
Toowoomba Airport	20.2	+0.3	23.0	17th	9.5	−0.5	2.6	18th	7.2	32.7	very low	22%
Warwick	21.4	+0.1	24.2	2nd	4.7	−2.2	−0.3	7th	23.6	38.6	normal	61%
West Darling Downs (district 42)
Miles Constance Street	25.5	+1.5	28.8	23rd	6.2	−2.0	0.7	21st	21.0	21.5	normal	98%
Maranoa (district 43)
Injune Post Office	24.7	+1.2	28.6	2nd	4.7	−3.3	0.1	21st	5.8	33.7	low	17%
Mitchell Post Office	25.0	+2.0	29.2	2nd	4.2	−2.9	0.0	21st	1.0	32.7	low	3%
Roma Airport	24.5	+0.7	28.6	2nd	5.6	−2.6	0.7	20th	7.0	37.2	low	19%
St George Airport	24.1	+1.0	28.1	2nd	7.7	−1.3	2.9	6th	15.4	27.9	normal	55%
Surat	24.4	+0.9	28.3	2nd	7.2	−1.8	2.2	20th	7.6	34.7	low	22%
Warrego (district 44)
Bollon Mary St	24.9	+1.9	28.5	13th	7.7	−1.0	3.5	6th	8.9	32.7	low	27%
Charleville Aero	24.9	+1.7	28.1	2nd	6.8	−2.2	2.4	21st	0.4	32.4	very low	1%
Cunnamulla Post Office	24.2	+1.3	28.1	12th	9.2	−0.6	5.1	18th	2.4	30.4	low	8%
Far Southwest (district 45)
Ballera Gas Field	25.5		29.6	13th	11.6		6.3	18th	11.6
Quilpie Airport	25.9	+1.9	29.2	14th	9.8	−1.2	6.0	20th	51.6	27.8	high	186%
Thargomindah Airport	24.5		28.0	26th	10.3		6.3	18th	3.0

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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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