Monday, 3 August 2009 - Monthly Climate Summary for Queensland - Product code IDCKGC24R0

A dry and warm July 2009

• Lower than expected rainfall for July
• Warmer than average daytime temperatures
• Average minimum temperatures in the south
• Cooler than average minimum temperatures across the north

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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Details

Dry conditions occurred across most of the state, with only parts of the northern districts receiving average rainfall. Area averaged across the state, rainfall was ranked the 5th lowest, based on records since 1900.  

Maximum temperatures were warmer than average, while minimum temperatures were slightly below normal.

Rainfall

Drier than expected conditions occurred across most of the state, however, statistically July is one of the driest months of the year in Queensland. Only some places in the North Tropical Coast district received over 100 mm of rainfall for July, but elsewhere, totals did not exceed 60 mm due to the lack of any significant rain-bearing systems in the state during the month.

Area averaged across the state, July had the 5th lowest rainfall on record, based on figures since 1900. It has also been the driest July since 2007.

The greater southeast of the state expects around 50 mm of rainfall in July, increasing to around 100 mm on average along exposed coastal parts. Other exposed areas along the east coast also expect to receive around 100 mm. Less than 50 mm on average falls in the remaining districts during July, while it is not unusual for the Gulf Country and the western Peninsula regions to receive little or no rainfall at this time of year.

From available figures, some parts of the North Tropical Coast district were the wettest places overall, with 128 mm recorded at Bellenden Ker Top Station, 71 mm of rainfall recorded at Bulgun Creek Alert, and 61 mm at Topaz Alert.

The highest daily rainfall occurred at Bulgun Creek Alert with 33 mm on the 29th, and then Mt Sophia with 26 mm on the 26th. 

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

Temperature

Temperatures in all districts were warmer than average during the day, and close to average, or slightly cooler than average overnight, more so in the northern interior.

Maximum temperature

Preliminary figures of state-wide area averaged maximum temperature rank July as the 9th warmest on record, based on figures since 1950. The area averaged maximum temperature was 1.19°C above the long term average (which is 22.95°C for July).

Warmer than usual daytime temperatures can be attributed to the north to northwest winds directed over the state during the month. Some places had their highest July mean daily maximum temperature on record.

The hottest day was 35.2°C at Century Mine on the 1st. Some record high daily maximum temperatures also occurred at some stations in the central districts due to warm north to northwest winds ahead of a surface trough on the 1st. A map of the maximim temperature anomalies for the 1st of July can be seen here.

The warmest days on average were 31.9°C at Scherger RAAF.

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

Minimum temperature

Average and slightly below average minimum temperatures were recorded over much of the state, with the largest anomalies in the north. Lower than average overnight temperatures were due to the lack of cloud cover during the month. Only the southwest districts experienced slightly above average.

From preliminary figures, the state-wide area averaged minimum temperature was slightly below the long term normal. Based on figures since 1950, the area averaged minimum temperature was −0.11°C below the long term average (which is 8.94°C for July)

The coldest night was −4.0°C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 29th, while the coolest nights on average were 1.4°C, also at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade.

Some sites had their warmest July night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

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

Wind

The strongest wind gust was 96 km/h at Double Island Point Lighthouse and then 91 km/h at Cape Moreton Lighthouse, both on the 10th.

Other phenomena

Widespread dust was observed across the state on the 1st and 2nd.

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	35.2°C at Century Mine on the 1st
Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature	31.9°C at Scherger RAAF
Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature	14.3°C at Applethorpe
Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature	8.6°C at Applethorpe on the 16th
Coldest night Lowest temperature	−4.0°C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 29th
Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature	1.4°C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade
Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature	24.0°C at Coconut Island
Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature	25.0°C at Coconut Island on the 8th and the 10th
Wettest overall Highest total rainfall	128 mm at Bellenden Ker Top Station 71 mm at Bulgun Creek 61 mm at Topaz Alert
Wettest day Highest daily rainfall	33 mm at Bulgun Creek Alert
Highest wind gust	96 km/h at Double Island Point Lighthouse on the 10th 91 km/h at Cape Moreton Lighthouse on the 10th

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Records

Record highest July temperature
	Highest temperature in July 2009 (°C)		Previous highest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Tambo Post Office	30.0	on the 1st	29.6	on the 19th in 1996	53	21.2
Taroom Post Office	30.0	on the 1st	29.4	on the 29th in 1958	53	20.9
Gladstone Radar	29.4	on the 2nd	28.7	on the 14th in 1964	52	22.8
Clermont Sirius St	30.7	on the 1st	30.5	on the 25th in 1996	48	23.0
Monto Township	28.4	on the 1st	28.3	on the 21st in 1963	37	20.8

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Record highest July mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for July 2009 (°C)	Previous highest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Rockhampton Aero	25.0	24.6	in 2004	69	23.1
Gladstone Radar	24.8	24.7	in 2005	51	22.8
Kairi Research Station	23.4	22.9	in 1995	47	21.0
Lockhart River Airport	28.3	28.1	in 1988	43	27.0
Walkamin DPI	24.8	= 24.8	in 1995	40	23.2

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Record highest July daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature in July 2009 (°C)		Previous highest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Low Isles Lighthouse	23.7	on the 1st	23.5	on the 1st in 1981	42	20.4

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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 July 2009
	Maximum temperatures for July (°C)				Minimum temperatures for July (°C)				Rainfall for July (millimetres)
	Mean for July 2009	Diff from average	Highest for July 2009		Mean for July 2009	Diff from average	Lowest for July 2009		Total for July 2009	Average for July	Rank of July 2009	Fraction of July average
North Peninsula (district 27)
Coconut Island	31.4	+2.5	32.5	9th	24.0	+0.3	21.9	3rd	6.2	15.2	low	41%
Coen Airport	29.7		31.4	23rd	16.1		13.2	17th	0
Horn Island	29.4	+0.8	30.1	20th	23.2	+0.3	19.8	15th	2.6	8.5	very low	31%
Scherger RAAF	31.9		33.2	25th	18.1		15.4	17th	1.0
Weipa Aero	31.7	+0.8	33.2	24th	18.3	−0.3	15.2	17th	0	1.1	very low	0%
South Peninsula (district 28)
Lockhart River Airport	28.3	+1.3	29.7	15th	18.1	−1.2	14.9	12th	20.0	41.6	low	48%
Musgrave	31.6	+2.0	33.2	31st	12.6	−0.9	6.9	16th	0	4.0	lowest	0%
Palmerville	30.5	+0.7	33.7	2nd	13.0	−1.0	6.1	16th	0	5.2	lowest	0%
Lower Carpentaria (district 29)
Burketown Airport	28.8		34.6	1st	12.8		8.8	17th	0
Century Mine	28.6		35.2	1st	11.1		4.5	18th	0
Cloncurry Airport	26.4	+0.1	34.4	1st	9.1	−1.3	3.7	18th	0	0.9	very low	0%
Croydon Township	29.3	+0.1	33.8	1st	12.2	−1.8	5.4	16th	0	4.0	lowest	0%
Julia Creek Airport	27.1		34.2	1st	7.3		2.3	18th	0
Kowanyama Airport	31.5	+0.9	33.2	24th	13.9	−1.4	6.3	18th	0	2.5	lowest	0%
Mornington Island	26.5	+0.9	30.7	2nd	15.4	−0.6	10.0	18th	0.2	2.4	average	8%
Mount Isa Aero	25.3	+0.6	33.1	1st	7.5	−1.1	−0.4	18th	0	6.0	lowest	0%
Normanton Airport	29.8		33.6	2nd	15.0		9.6	16th	0.4
Sweers Island	25.9		28.7	2nd	17.2		12.5	7th	1.0	4.0	high	25%
Upper Carpentaria (district 30)
Georgetown Airport	29.0		33.2	2nd	10.8		0.5	16th	0
Hughenden Airport	26.5		33.1	1st	7.0		0.5	17th	0
Richmond Airport	27.1	+0.7	33.5	1st	6.2	−2.5	1.0	18th	0	6.4	very low	0%
Richmond Post Office	27.2	+1.3	34.0	1st	7.8	−0.8	1.9	15th	0	9.4	lowest	0%
Barron North Coast (district 31)
Cairns Aero	27.0	+1.4	29.9	24th	16.6	−0.4	11.4	5th	4.8	29.3	very low	16%
Cape Flattery	27.9		29.3	8th	20.9		15.7	3rd	28.2
Cooktown Airport	27.6		29.1	15th	16.5		11.3	17th	8.4	20.1	low	42%
Green Island	23.8	+0.3	25.3	21st	21.1	+1.0	19.2	17th
Kairi Research Station	23.4	+2.3	27.8	2nd	9.9	−1.2	3.4	17th	5.8	27.2	very low	21%
Mareeba Airport	25.9		30.3	3rd	13.2		9.5	17th	0	5.6	very low	0%
Walkamin DPI	24.8	+1.6	29.4	2nd	12.3	−0.6	7.1	18th	0.6	11.2	very low	5%
Herbert North Coast (district 32)
Cardwell Marine Pde	25.2	+0.4	27.8	3rd	14.4	+0.8	7.6	18th	7.6	31.2	low	24%
Ingham Composite	25.9	+1.0	30.3	2nd	14.0	+0.4	7.5	17th	8.8	34.8	low	25%
Innisfail	25.1	+1.0	27.7	24th	16.1	+0.9	10.8	18th	46.8	134.5	low	35%
Lucinda Point	23.3	+0.2	25.9	14th	18.3	+0.5	14.3	18th	15.4	21.3	average	72%
Townsville Aero	26.2	+1.2	28.8	2nd	13.0	−0.6	6.7	17th	0.2	13.9	low	1%
East Central Coast (district 33)
Alva Beach	24.8	+0.5	26.9	2nd	13.5	−0.5	7.9	17th	0	14.7	very low	0%
Ayr DPI Research Stn	26.1	+1.0	30.4	2nd	11.3	−0.2	4.3	17th	0	14.7	lowest	0%
Bowen Airport	25.5	+1.0	27.8	2nd	13.1	−0.4	6.2	17th	0	19.3	lowest	0%
Collinsville Post Office	26.4	+1.4	31.4	2nd	8.1	−0.9	1.6	18th	0	20.2	lowest	0%
Hamilton Island Airport	21.9		25.6	2nd	18.4		16.8	17th	0.2
Mackay Aero	23.5	+1.1	28.1	14th	9.7	−1.3	3.7	17th	0.4	34.2	very low	1%
Mackay M.O	22.2	+0.9	27.0	2nd	13.0	+0.2	7.5	18th	0.8	39.4	very low	2%
Proserpine Airport	24.9	+0.6	29.1	14th	9.0	−1.9	0.6	17th	0	20.8	lowest	0%
Samuel Hill Aero	23.1		27.3	23rd	7.3		0.7	18th	8.2
St Lawrence	24.8		30.5	2nd	9.0		1.4	18th	0
St Lawrence Post Office	25.1	+1.3	30.3	2nd	10.8	0.0	4.3	18th	0	31.5	lowest	0%
Williamson	24.9		30.2	2nd	7.0		0.1	18th	0
Woolshed	23.1	+1.4	30.1	2nd	10.8	+0.8	1.1	17th	0	22.9	very low	0%
Yeppoon The Esplanade	21.9	+0.6	29.0	2nd	10.7	−1.0	4.7	18th	0.6	26.7	very low	2%
West Central Coast (district 34)
Charters Towers Airport	25.8	+1.0	31.9	2nd	11.1	−0.3	4.4	18th	0	15.9	very low	0%
Moranbah Water Treatment Plant	24.8	+1.1	30.0	1st	9.6	−0.2	3.5	17th	0	18.5	lowest	0%
Central Highlands (district 35)
Brigalow Research Stn	23.3	+1.6	27.7	21st	5.3	−1.1	0.5	15th	0	30.5	lowest	0%
Clermont Sirius St	24.4	+1.4	30.7	1st			−3.5	18th	0	24.9	lowest	0%
Emerald Airport	23.9	+0.6	29.3	1st	7.3	−1.7	2.7	15th	0	12.3	very low	0%
Rolleston	23.7	+0.8	28.9	2nd	4.3	−1.3	−0.5	19th	0	28.9	lowest	0%
Springsure Dame St	22.7	+0.6	29.2	1st	7.2	+1.0	1.6	15th	0	28.6	lowest	0%
Tambo Post Office	22.7	+1.5	30.0	1st	3.2	−0.5	−2.0	17th	0	27.2	lowest	0%
Taroom Post Office	22.5	+1.6	30.0	1st	4.6	−0.4	−0.8	18th	0	33.6	lowest	0%
Central Lowlands (district 36)
Barcaldine Post Office	23.9	+1.2	31.9	1st	8.5	+0.6	2.9	17th	0	22.9	lowest	0%
Blackall Airport	23.1		31.2	1st	5.7		0.0	17th	0
Isisford Post Office	24.2	+1.6	31.9	1st	6.8	+0.3	1.4	17th	0	20.7	lowest	0%
Longreach Aero	24.9	+1.4	33.6	1st	6.2	−0.8	1.0	19th	0.2	18.8	average	1%
Upper Western (district 37)
Camooweal Township	26.4	+0.7	33.7	1st	8.6	−0.1	3.2	18th	0	5.5	lowest	0%
The Monument Airport	24.3		32.0	22nd	6.8		1.5	18th	0
Trepell Airport	24.7		31.5	22nd	6.7		3.2	17th	0
Urandangi	24.5	+0.5	32.5	22nd	6.6	−0.4	3.0	16th	0	8.9	lowest	0%
Winton Airport	25.8		33.7	1st	6.7		1.8	18th	0
Winton Post Office	25.2	+0.8	32.6	1st	8.2	+0.1	2.6	18th	0	14.8	lowest	0%
Lower Western (district 38)
Bedourie Police Station	23.5	+0.2	33.0	1st			5.2	8th	0	10.2	lowest	0%
Birdsville Airport	22.0		31.1	21st	7.4		3.5	18th	0	3.7	very low	0%
Boulia Airport	24.0	+1.1	32.4	21st	8.0	+0.3	3.4	18th	0	9.3	lowest	0%
Windorah Post Office	22.5	+1.1	30.0	21st	7.0	+0.5	2.8	19th	0	14.8	lowest	0%
Port Curtis South Coast (district 39)
Baralaba Post Office	24.3	+1.2	29.4	1st	6.6	−0.8	1.7	18th	0	29.3	lowest	0%
Bundaberg Aero	22.6	+0.6	26.7	2nd	10.5	+0.3	5.6	17th	0.2	41.7	very low	0%
Gayndah Airport	22.6		26.3	23rd	5.8		1.3	17th	0.8
Gladstone Airport	23.7	+0.9	29.6	2nd	11.2	−0.6	6.1	18th	0	22.4	very low	0%
Gladstone Radar	24.8	+2.1	29.4	2nd	13.6	+0.2	10.7	17th	0.8	34.4	very low	2%
Lady Elliot Island	21.5	+0.5	24.3	23rd	16.6	0.0	12.9	1st	19.8	92.9	low	21%
Monto Township	22.4	+1.7	28.4	1st	4.1	−1.2	−1.1	18th	0	36.1	lowest	0%
Rockhampton Aero	25.0	+1.9	29.9	2nd	9.3	−0.1	3.2	18th	0.2	29.2	very low	1%
Rundle Island	20.8	+0.2	23.3	23rd	16.0	0.0	12.7	17th
Sandy Cape Lighthouse	21.6	+0.5	24.6	21st	14.6	+0.4	10.8	5th	20.1	89.9	low	22%
Seventeen Seventy	22.2	+1.0	23.6	20th	13.8	0.0	10.0	6th	0	40.4	lowest	0%
Thangool Winston Street	23.4	+0.2	27.1	23rd	5.4	−0.1	−0.4	17th	0	29.1	lowest	0%
Moreton South Coast (district 40)
Amberley AMO	21.6	+0.4	26.2	23rd	4.8	−0.5	0.3	15th	2.6	39.5	very low	7%
Archerfield Airport	21.2	+0.1	25.7	23rd	7.5	0.0	3.0	15th	2.2	49.7	very low	4%
Beaudesert Drumley Street	21.1		25.6	23rd	4.9		−0.9	17th	0.2
Beerburrum Forest Station	21.4	−0.4	26.2	23rd	8.9	−0.2	5.2	17th	13.8	67.3	low	21%
Brisbane*	21.4	+1.0	25.8	23rd	10.2	+0.7	6.2	15th	3.6	56.5	very low	6%
Brisbane Aero*	20.8	+0.2	25.3	13th	8.8	−0.7	3.7	15th	3.0	62.6	very low	5%
Cape Moreton Lighthouse	19.2	+0.3	22.0	27th	13.8	+0.6	10.1	17th	51.8	115.6	low	45%
Coolangatta	20.8	+0.3	25.9	23rd	9.5	−0.7	3.1	4th	15.8	74.8	low	21%
Double Island Point Lighthouse	20.0	+0.5	23.9	2nd	14.0	+0.1	8.5	17th	7.0	87.0	very low	8%
Gold Coast Seaway	21.4	+0.3	25.7	23rd	11.4	−0.6	6.8	15th	7.2	44.6	average	16%
Gympie	21.8	−0.1	26.3	23rd	6.0	−0.2	1.2	18th	3.0	53.0	low	6%
Hervey Bay Airport	21.5	−0.1	23.7	21st	9.7	−0.1	3.8	17th	2.8	51.4	low	5%
Jimna Forestry	17.7		23.0	1st	4.5		−0.3	30th	3.8	24.4	low	16%
Kingaroy Airport	19.5		24.3	1st	3.0		−2.3	15th	0.4
Logan City Water Treatment	21.4	0.0	26.5	23rd	9.7	+1.3	6.0	15th	4.6	35.6	low	13%
Maleny Tamarind St	18.7		23.4	23rd	9.5		5.8	5th	16.4	90.0	low	18%
Maroochydore Aero	21.1	+0.3	25.6	23rd	8.8	−0.5	4.1	5th	4.8	67.0	low	7%
Maryborough	22.4	+0.4	26.2	23rd	8.2	−0.4	3.0	5th	1.8	52.5	very low	3%
Nambour DPI - Hillside	21.2		25.1	23rd	10.0		5.5	15th	12.2
Point Lookout	21.5	+0.7	24.4	3rd	12.7	−1.0	8.3	18th	39.1	102.7	low	38%
Rainbow Beach	21.0	−0.2	25.1	2nd					5.4	78.1	very low	7%
Redcliffe*	20.3	−0.4	26.3	23rd	10.5	+0.6	6.3	5th	4.0	51.3	very low	8%
Tewantin RSL Park	21.2	0.0	26.1	2nd	10.6	−0.3	6.3	17th	1.8	78.7	very low	2%
Toolara	21.3	−0.6	24.1	21st	10.9	−0.4	4.8	17th	5.2	58.1	low	9%
University of Queensland Gatton	21.4	+0.7	26.5	1st	5.0	−1.2	1.5	30th	1.0	37.7	very low	3%
East Darling Downs (district 41)
Applethorpe	14.3	+0.4	19.5	1st	2.3	+0.5	−3.7	29th	15.0	44.6	low	34%
Dalby Airport	19.4	−0.3	24.3	1st	2.8	−1.3	−1.4	28th	3.0	23.5	low	13%
Goondiwindi Airport	19.0	−0.1	24.4	1st	5.2	+0.7	1.2	6th	8.0	31.2	average	26%
Inglewood Forest	18.6		23.7	1st	6.1		2.1	29th	15.4	23.2	average	66%
Oakey Aero	18.8	+0.3	23.4	1st	2.5	−0.2	−3.3	29th	2.4	30.5	low	8%
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade	15.2	+0.4	20.0	1st	1.4	+0.5	−4.0	29th	11.6	49.0	low	24%
Texas Post Office	18.5	−0.3	22.3	22nd	4.1	+0.6	−0.1	29th	11.8	41.8	low	28%
Toowoomba Airport	16.6	+0.1	22.2	1st	5.9	−0.4	1.4	5th	3.8	30.2	low	13%
Warwick	17.7	−0.3	23.3	1st	3.2	+0.6	−3.2	20th	4.6	24.5	average	19%
West Darling Downs (district 42)
Miles Constance Street	20.1	+0.2	25.9	1st	3.4	−0.7	−2.0	29th	1.2	15.8	low	8%
Maranoa (district 43)
Injune Post Office	21.2	+1.3	29.5	1st	2.1	−1.0	−3.3	18th	0.2	29.9	low	1%
Mitchell Post Office	20.9	+1.6	27.8	1st	2.1	−0.7	−3.2	18th	2.0	33.5	low	6%
Roma Airport	20.1	0.0	26.1	1st	2.8	−1.1	−2.1	18th	1.6	23.9	low	7%
St George Airport	19.7	+0.2	25.3	1st	5.5	+0.7	0.7	25th	5.8	25.1	average	23%
Surat	20.0	+0.3	25.6	1st	4.5	+0.3	−0.4	19th	2.2	38.6	low	6%
Warrego (district 44)
Bollon Mary St	20.3	+1.3	25.7	22nd	5.3	+1.1	0.5	25th	8.5	27.4	average	31%
Charleville Aero	20.6	+1.1	25.9	26th	4.5	+0.3	−0.9	18th	0.8	24.5	low	3%
Cunnamulla Post Office	19.8	+1.0	25.6	12th	7.0	+1.4	2.8	29th	4.6	22.5	average	20%
Far Southwest (district 45)
Ballera Gas Field	20.6		30.2	21st	7.2		2.9	25th	0.4
Quilpie Airport	20.8	+0.7	27.0	21st	6.5	+0.4	1.4	19th	0	15.8	lowest	0%
Thargomindah Airport	20.3	−0.1	27.9	22nd	7.4	+0.7	1.6	18th	0.2	6.4	low	3%

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Notes