Monday, 1 June 2009 - Monthly Climate Summary for Queensland - Product code IDCKGC24R0

Queensland in May 2009

• Well above average rainfall in the southeast districts.
• Cooler day time temperatures in the north
• Below average overnight temperatures in the central interior

An archive of previous monthly summaries for Queensland is also available, as are summaries for other states and many other climate summaries and diagnostics.

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Rainfall

The most significant rainfall that occurred in May was about the greater southeast Queensland area from the 19th to 22nd May. Early on the 20th, a low formed near Cape Moreton and moved slowly south west over the Brisbane area. Near and on the southern side of this low, very heavy rain and gale force winds were observed. An intense upper level low was the main driving force for this significant rainfall. Widespread areas of rain fell over the southeast of the state, with locally heavy falls and isolated thunderstorms.

The wettest single day 332 mm at Godwin Beach, 301.8 mm at Beerburrum Forest Station, 274 mm at Narangba - Browns Crk Road, 257 mm at Morayfield Alert and 254 mm at Deception Bay Alert, all on the 20th. Some sites had their highest May daily rainfall on record.

On Friday the 21st, the upper level low was positioned over southeast Queensland. A surface trough of low pressure extended northeast from Point Lookout into the Pacific, along which a series of lows were forming. Strong to gale force winds and areas of rain were forming to the south of the trough.

By the 22nd, the surface trough was near the New South Wales border and extended northeast into the Pacific, with a low pressure system lying on this trough well offshore of the south Queensland coast.

The wettest overall was 567.8 mm at Beerburrum Forest Station, followed by 515.9 mm at Springbrook Road, followed by 494.8 mm at Daradgee, followed by 488.4 mm at Glengaven, followed by 486.0 mm at Morayfield Alert. Some sites had their highest total May rainfall on record.

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

Maximum temperature

The hottest day was 33.9°C at Burketown Airport on the 1st, and the warmest days on average were 31.9°C at Kowanyama Airport and also at Musgrave.

The coldest day was 12.0°C at Applethorpe on the 20th. Applethorpe also had the coolest days on average, with 17.5°C for May.

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

Minimum temperature

The coldest night was −4.0°C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 15th, and the coolest nights on average were 5.1°C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade.

An upper low that moved into the Wide Bay and Burnett districts on the 22nd was the main mechanism for the rainfall over southeast Queensland and cold nights in the north. Overnight on the 22nd and 23rd, several locations in the far north recorded their lowest minimum temperatures for May, including Palmerville, Weipa and Lockhart River. 

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

Wind

The strongest recorded wind gust was 117 km/h at Gold Coast Seaway on 20th May. This was a result of the East Coast Low that formed near Cape Moreton and moved slowly south west. Cape Moreton Lighthouse recorded 106km/hr, also on the 20th.

Further information

Tamika Tihema
Queensland Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (07) 3239 8662
Email climate.qld@bom.gov.au

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Extremes

Hottest day Highest temperature	33.9°C at Burketown Airport on the 1st 33.9°C at Normanton Airport on the 1st
Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature	31.9°C at Kowanyama Airport 31.9°C at Musgrave
Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature	17.5°C at Applethorpe
Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature	12.0°C at Applethorpe on the 20th 12.0°C at Applethorpe on the 21st
Coldest night Lowest temperature	−4.0°C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 15th
Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature	5.1°C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade
Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature	24.1°C at Willis Island
Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature	26.5°C at Coconut Island on the 13th
Wettest overall Highest total rainfall	567.8 mm at Beerburrum Forest Station 515.9 mm at Springbrook Road 494.8 mm at Daradgee 488.4 mm at Glengaven 486.0 mm at Morayfield Alert
Wettest day Highest daily rainfall	332.0 mm at Godwin Beach on the 20th 301.8 mm at Beerburrum Forest Station on the 20th 274.0 mm at Narangba - Browns Crk Road on the 20th 257.0 mm at Morayfield Alert on the 20th 254.0 mm at Deception Bay Alert on the 20th
Highest wind gust	117 km/h at Gold Coast Seaway on the 20th 106 km/h at Cape Moreton Lighthouse on the 20th 96 km/h at Gold Coast Seaway on the 21st 94 km/h at Coolangatta on the 20th

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Records

Record highest May daily rainfall
	Highest daily rainfall in May 2009 (mm)		Previous highest for May		Years of record
Texas Post Office	58.6	on the 22nd	52.1	on the 30th in 1921	113
Alderley	206.2	on the 21st	193.2	on the 2nd in 1996	103
Peachester	207.0	on the 20th	182.0	on the 2nd in 1996	93
Lake Manchester	187.0	on the 21st	120.0	on the 3rd in 1996	92
Pechey Forestry	113.6	on the 20th	95.6	on the 3rd in 1996	83
Somerset Dam	147.6	on the 20th	121.2	on the 3rd in 1996	72
Amberley AMO	142.2	on the 21st	121.0	on the 9th in 1980	68
Meandarra Post Office	105.8	on the 20th	95.3	on the 26th in 1938	68
Beerburrum Forest Station	301.8	on the 20th	203.2	on the 31st in 1903	63
Ballandean Post Office	79.2	on the 22nd	60.6	on the 9th in 1980	43
Namarah	74.8	on the 20th	68.4	on the 1st in 1996	38
Glenlyon Dam	58.0	on the 22nd	53.0	on the 9th in 1980	35
Strathpine Colonial Drive	206.0	on the 20th	196.4	on the 2nd in 1996	33

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Record highest total May rainfall
	Total rainfall for May 2009 (mm)	Previous highest for May		Years of record	Average for May
Beerburrum Forest Station	567.8	478.6	in 1903	60	125.6
Highvale	322.6	318.8	in 1980	42	85.3

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Record lowest May temperature
	Lowest temperature in May 2009 (°C)		Previous lowest for May		Years of record	Average for May
Weipa#	12.7	on the 23rd	15.0	on the 30th in 1960	30	21.3
Palmerville	6.5	on the 22nd	7.8	on the 24th in 1896	56	17.3
Lockhart River Airport	11.5	on the 23rd	13.3	on the 31st in 1965	44	21.9

# Previous record occurred at a site that is now closed.

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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 2009
	Maximum temperatures for May (°C)				Minimum temperatures for May (°C)				Rainfall for May (millimetres)
	Mean for May 2009	Diff from average	Highest for May 2009		Mean for May 2009	Diff from average	Lowest for May 2009		Total for May 2009	Average for May	Rank of May 2009	Fraction of May average
North Peninsula (district 27)
Coen Airport	30.4		32.4	20th	18.8		8.0	23rd	4.8
Horn Island	29.8	−0.1	30.5	13th	24.0	−0.7	17.7	23rd	180.2	75.4	high	239%
Scherger RAAF	31.3		32.8	18th	20.4		11.9	23rd	12.8
Weipa Aero	31.1	−0.8	32.5	31st	20.7	−0.5	12.7	23rd	17.8	21.6	average	82%
South Peninsula (district 28)
Lockhart River Airport	28.8	+0.2	31.1	18th	21.5	−0.4	11.5	23rd	102.4	110.9	high	92%
Musgrave	31.9	+1.2	33.4	14th	16.3	−0.6	8.2	22nd	1.0	15.3	low	7%
Palmerville	30.7	−0.5	32.9	14th	16.9	−0.5	6.5	22nd	12.2	16.5	average	74%
Lower Carpentaria (district 29)
Burketown Airport	31.3		33.9	1st	18.5		10.9	21st	0
Burketown Post Office	30.3	−0.2	33.1	1st	18.9	+1.9	12.0	21st	9.0	6.1	high	148%
Century Mine	30.2		32.3	1st	16.9		10.5	24th	0
Cloncurry Airport	28.8	−0.6	31.1	1st	15.2	−0.3	10.7	22nd	1.2	5.2	average	23%
Croydon Township	30.1	−1.6	32.3	31st	18.0	+0.1	9.4	22nd	0.6	7.9	average	8%
Julia Creek Airport	29.4		31.8	27th	13.4		7.5	21st	0.8
Kowanyama Airport	31.9	−0.2	33.8	1st	19.2	+0.1	9.5	22nd	2.4	11.3	average	21%
Mornington Island	28.8	−0.1	32.1	28th	20.8	+0.7	13.9	23rd	0	9.3	lowest	0%
Mount Isa Aero	27.4	−0.4	30.4	27th	13.6	−0.4	6.2	21st	0	12.3	lowest	0%
Normanton Airport	30.9		33.9	1st	20.0		12.8	22nd	0.4
Sweers Island	28.0		29.5	30th	21.5		14.4	23rd	0	4.0	very low	0%
Upper Carpentaria (district 30)
Georgetown Airport	29.4		32.4	1st			5.3	22nd	1.2
Hughenden Airport	27.8		30.2	28th	13.6		6.2	22nd	12.4
Richmond Airport	29.0	−0.8	31.9	1st	12.9	−0.2	6.4	21st	0.6	6.3	average	10%
Richmond Post Office	29.1	0.0	31.7	31st	14.4	+1.3	8.0	22nd	1.2	15.2	average	8%
Barron North Coast (district 31)
Cairns Aero	27.3	−0.3	30.1	1st	19.7	−0.2	12.8	23rd	89.4	91.5	average	98%
Cape Flattery	29.1		30.8	21st	22.9		12.2	22nd	48.6
Cooktown Airport	27.9		29.4	21st	21.1		9.1	22nd	24.2
Green Island	25.1	−0.8	27.3	1st	22.5	+0.1	19.2	23rd
Kairi Research Station	23.1	+0.1	26.8	20th	13.9	−0.9	4.8	22nd	37.6	58.0	low	65%
Low Isles Lighthouse	27.2	−0.4	28.8	2nd	22.6	−0.2	19.6	23rd	77.2	98.8	average	78%
Mareeba Airport	26.4		29.6	20th	16.4		8.1	23rd	10.0
Walkamin DPI	24.6	−0.3	28.1	20th	15.5	−0.7	6.8	22nd	18.1	27.0	average	67%
Herbert North Coast (district 32)
Cardwell Marine Pde	26.4	−0.8	28.4	1st	18.4	+0.8	12.0	22nd	99.5	95.2	average	105%
Ingham Composite	26.6	−0.5	29.2	20th			12.0	23rd	134.2	112.5	high	119%
Innisfail	26.0	−0.4	29.0	1st	19.1	+0.8	13.7	23rd	445.1	302.4	high	147%
Lucinda Point	24.9	−1.2	26.9	1st	20.7	−0.5	17.1	23rd	124.0	65.2	very high	190%
South Johnstone Exp Stn	26.1	−0.2	29.0	1st	18.5	+0.3	11.7	23rd	334.0	270.4	average	124%
Townsville Aero	27.8	+0.1	29.8	1st	17.5	−0.1	11.6	22nd	7.0	33.0	low	21%
East Central Coast (district 33)
Alva Beach	26.4	−0.8	28.5	1st	17.4	−0.3	12.9	24th	22.6	27.1	average	83%
Ayr DPI Research Stn	27.0	−0.6	28.9	1st	16.0	−0.2	10.0	22nd	6.8	42.7	low	16%
Bowen Airport	26.5	−0.7	28.4	2nd	17.6	−0.5	10.4	17th	2.0	44.4	low	5%
Collinsville Post Office	27.3	−0.3	30.0	2nd	13.1	−0.7	7.6	22nd	2.8	32.4	low	9%
Hamilton Island Airport	23.9		26.8	1st	20.3		17.9	21st	116.4
Mackay Aero	25.3	+0.1	27.4	1st	15.6	+0.1	9.0	17th	33.4	94.2	low	35%
Mackay M.O	23.9	−0.3	26.1	1st	17.2	0.0	12.1	17th	79.8	107.7	average	74%
Proserpine Airport	26.1	−0.5	28.0	3rd	15.1	−0.8	8.2	17th	34.2	72.4	average	47%
Samuel Hill Aero	24.2		26.2	1st	13.9		7.4	17th	81.0
St Lawrence	26.7		28.9	3rd	14.3		9.3	17th	5.8
St Lawrence Post Office	26.8	0.0	29.1	3rd	15.2	+0.1	10.7	17th	5.3	47.8	low	11%
Williamson	26.3		28.5	1st	13.0		7.3	17th	4.6
Woolshed	23.3	−0.9	25.7	20th	13.9	−0.6	5.8	24th	13.0	17.0	average	76%
Yeppoon The Esplanade	23.8	−0.5	26.0	1st	15.8	0.0	10.5	17th	38.4	77.6	low	49%
West Central Coast (district 34)
Charters Towers Airport	26.2	−1.4	28.5	14th	14.7	−0.7	7.2	22nd	19.0	21.3	high	89%
Moranbah Water Treatment Plant	25.9	−0.6	28.6	3rd	12.6	−1.8	9.0	17th	2.6	35.9	low	7%
Central Highlands (district 35)
Brigalow Research Stn	26.0	+0.6	28.3	3rd	11.9	+0.4	8.0	16th	13.9	47.9	low	29%
Clermont Sirius St	25.9	−0.1	28.2	29th	10.6	−0.8	6.0	18th	17.8	35.0	average	51%
Emerald Airport	26.3	−0.1	28.4	29th	12.1	−1.1	9.0	21st	8.8	18.8	average	47%
Rolleston	25.9	−0.2	28.1	5th	10.1	−0.6	5.7	16th	20.7	35.7	average	58%
Springsure Dame St	25.2	−0.2	27.2	30th	11.5	+0.5	6.9	21st	5.4	35.7	low	15%
Tambo Post Office	24.9	−0.1	27.9	2nd	9.2	+1.0	4.9	17th	23.3	34.4	average	68%
Taroom Post Office	25.3	+0.8	27.4	2nd	9.8	+0.1	3.0	16th	20.6	40.6	average	51%
Central Lowlands (district 36)
Barcaldine Post Office	26.4	+0.5	29.1	3rd	13.6	+1.3	9.2	21st	3.1	30.8	average	10%
Blackall Airport	25.6		27.7	10th	11.3		8.0	17th	8.8
Isisford Post Office	26.5	+0.3	28.6	26th	12.2	+1.0	8.0	21st	8.2	28.8	average	28%
Longreach Aero	27.6	+0.6	29.6	4th	12.1	+0.1	6.7	21st	0.2	27.0	low	1%
Upper Western (district 37)
Camooweal Township	28.7	−0.2	31.3	25th	13.4	0.0	7.7	21st	0	11.0	lowest	0%
The Monument Airport	27.1		30.5	26th	12.0		7.8	21st	6.0
Trepell Airport	27.7		30.4	26th	12.8		9.6	21st	6.8
Urandangi	27.3	−0.2	30.0	25th	11.8	−0.2	7.0	23rd	0	12.3	lowest	0%
Winton Airport	28.5		31.2	1st	12.6		7.1	21st	0.8
Winton Post Office	27.7	0.0	30.6	1st	14.1	+1.2	9.1	21st	2.2	20.4	average	11%
Lower Western (district 38)
Birdsville Airport	24.7		29.4	5th	11.2		7.7	15th	9.2
Boulia Airport	26.8	+0.1	29.9	25th	13.3	+0.8	10.5	21st	3.7	13.1	average	28%
Windorah Post Office	25.4	0.0	29.0	26th	12.1	+0.8	8.9	2nd	30.3	18.7	high	162%
Port Curtis South Coast (district 39)
Baralaba Post Office	26.7	+0.1	29.0	3rd	11.7	−0.7	6.0	17th	23.0	41.8	average	55%
Bundaberg Aero	24.3	−0.4	26.2	16th	14.4	+0.2	9.0	16th	83.4	71.2	average	117%
Gayndah Airport	25.0		27.0	8th	10.8		3.3	16th	29.2
Gayndah Post Office	25.5	+0.3	27.8	1st	11.2	+0.8	3.8	16th	38.1	41.0	average	93%
Gladstone Airport	25.4	−0.3	27.7	1st	15.1	−0.5	10.0	17th	9.6	36.0	low	27%
Gladstone Radar	26.0	+0.4	28.2	4th	16.6	−0.4	13.3	16th	10.6	59.6	low	18%
Lady Elliot Island	23.6	−0.5	25.4	1st	18.9	−0.7	12.6	17th	177.4	117.7	high	151%
Monto Township	24.1	−0.1	26.8	3rd	9.1	−1.1	2.8	17th	46.1	45.6	average	101%
Rockhampton Aero	26.4	+0.4	28.9	16th	14.3	+0.1	7.7	17th	10.0	47.6	low	21%
Rundle Island	22.8	−0.8	25.7	23rd	18.9	−0.5	16.1	22nd
Sandy Cape Lighthouse	23.8	−0.3	25.8	2nd	16.9	−0.5	14.4	22nd	168.4	118.3	high	142%
Seventeen Seventy	23.9	−0.3	25.5	15th	16.2	−0.8	13.8	23rd	51.8	110.3	low	47%
Thangool Winston Street	25.6	−1.0	28.0	3rd	10.7	+0.5	4.3	17th	20.0	40.3	average	50%
Moreton South Coast (district 40)
Amberley AMO	23.9	−0.2	26.6	16th	9.4	−0.6	1.8	15th	236.0	54.0	very high	437%
Archerfield Airport	23.5	−0.3	25.8	16th	11.6	−0.3	6.0	15th	237.4	75.7	very high	314%
Beaudesert Drumley Street	23.4		25.9	16th	9.8		2.3	15th	177.4
Beerburrum Forest Station	23.2	−1.0	25.9	16th	12.8	+0.2	8.9	16th	567.8	125.6	highest	452%
Brisbane*	24.0	+0.8	26.2	17th	14.0	+0.7	9.0	16th	240.8	73.7	very high	327%
Brisbane Aero	23.2	−0.4	25.8	16th	13.1	+0.3	7.0	16th	258.0	121.4	high	213%
Cape Moreton Lighthouse	21.7	0.0	23.3	7th	16.6	+0.1	15.0	22nd	203.4	171.4	average	119%
Coolangatta	23.0	0.0	26.3	16th	14.1	−0.1	5.7	16th	229.2	149.9	high	153%
Double Island Point Lighthouse	22.0	−0.3	25.9	14th	17.2	−0.1	15.6	22nd	198.0	147.7	high	134%
Gold Coast Seaway	23.8	+0.4	26.2	17th	15.0	−0.4	11.0	15th	183.4	115.6	high	159%
Gympie	23.1	−1.5	26.0	16th	10.9	+0.1	1.9	16th	79.4	72.1	average	110%
Hervey Bay Airport	23.6	−0.7	25.6	15th	14.1	−0.1	6.7	17th	89.6	106.9	high	84%
Jimna Forestry	19.6		22.5	17th	9.4		2.0	16th	74.4	48.3	high	154%
Kingaroy Airport	21.8		24.4	10th	8.4		−1.0	16th	40.4
Logan City Water Treatment	23.6	−0.4	26.2	17th	12.3	−0.1	6.6	16th	252.8	119.6	high	211%
Maleny Tamarind St	20.2		23.2	16th	11.9		10.0	16th	255.8	143.6	high	178%
Maroochydore Aero	22.8	−0.5	25.2	16th	14.0	+0.3	7.3	16th	282.8	181.5	high	156%
Maryborough	23.9	−0.7	25.8	1st	13.1	+0.1	5.1	16th	108.0	79.1	high	137%
Nambour DPI - Hillside	22.9		25.8	16th	13.8		8.2	16th	200.4
Point Lookout	24.4	+0.7	27.0	16th	16.3	−0.7	11.7	16th	379.6	158.0	very high	240%
Rainbow Beach	22.8	−1.0	24.7	15th					174.1	166.9	average	104%
Redcliffe*	22.8	−0.5	25.4	16th	14.4	−0.3	10.9	15th	262.0	105.6	very high	248%
Tewantin RSL Park	22.6	−1.0	25.8	16th	14.8	−0.1	8.8	16th	216.2	178.4	high	121%
Toolara	23.0	−1.5	26.0	1st	14.3	−0.2	12.1	16th	109.6	103.1	average	106%
University of Queensland Gatton	23.9	+0.2	26.0	8th	10.4	+0.2	3.7	15th	97.0	46.1	high	210%
East Darling Downs (district 41)
Applethorpe	17.5	+0.1	20.0	17th	5.5	−0.8	−2.0	15th	164.0	50.5	very high	325%
Dalby Airport	22.5	−0.9	24.8	4th	8.6	+0.1	1.0	16th	56.6	39.4	high	144%
Goondiwindi Airport	22.8	−0.5	26.0	8th	9.2	+0.6	2.4	1st	68.2	38.9	high	175%
Inglewood Forest	22.3		26.0	8th	9.5		5.7	1st	71.0	30.6	very high	232%
Oakey Aero	21.9	−0.3	24.5	8th	8.4	+0.4	0.0	16th	73.4	41.1	high	179%
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade	18.0	−0.4	21.1	9th	5.1	−0.3	−4.0	15th	139.6	46.8	very high	298%
Texas Post Office	22.8	−0.3	25.7	8th	8.7	+0.8	2.2	16th	98.6	39.7	very high	248%
Toowoomba Airport	19.5	−0.5	21.5	10th	10.0	+0.1	6.2	1st	49.4	33.9	high	146%
Warwick	20.5	−0.8	23.4	17th	8.0	+1.2	−1.5	15th	82.2	41.7	high	197%
West Darling Downs (district 42)
Miles Constance Street	23.6	−0.5	26.1	3rd	9.0	+1.0	0.6	16th	34.0	22.7	high	150%
Maranoa (district 43)
Injune Post Office	24.1	+0.6	26.6	9th	7.0	−0.9	1.6	1st	24.0	33.6	average	71%
Mitchell Post Office	23.9	+0.8	27.0	3rd	7.3	+0.2	1.1	1st	24.6	32.7	average	75%
Roma Airport	23.5	−0.3	26.7	9th	8.5	+0.5	0.9	1st	48.0	37.7	average	127%
St George Airport	23.1	−0.1	26.8	3rd	9.1	+0.2	2.5	1st	62.2	30.5	high	204%
Surat	23.7	+0.2	27.4	12th	8.1	−0.8	1.5	1st	34.0	34.7	average	98%
Warrego (district 44)
Bollon Mary St	23.9	+0.9	26.4	10th	8.8	+0.1	2.9	1st	37.5	32.8	average	114%
Charleville Aero	23.9	+0.7	26.6	4th	9.3	+0.3	4.2	1st	11.6	32.1	average	36%
Cunnamulla Post Office	23.6	+0.7	27.2	26th	10.3	+0.5	5.4	1st	3.8	30.2	low	13%
Far Southwest (district 45)
Ballera Gas Field	24.0		28.2	25th	11.7		7.7	30th	2.0
Quilpie Airport	24.9	+0.9	28.0	26th	11.3	+0.3	5.0	17th	13.0	27.1	average	48%
Thargomindah Airport	23.6		27.5	26th	11.8		6.8	16th	16.0	15.9	average	101%

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Notes