1 February 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Queensland - Product code IDCKGC24R0

Queensland in January 2010

Wet in the north and west, dry and hot in the southeast.

• Heavy rain and flooding across western areas early in January.
• Tropical Cyclones Neville and Olga brought flooding rain to north Queensland.
• Rather hot and dry across the southeast.
• Record low Queensland January minimum temperature on the 19th. 

Heavy rainfall developed over western areas, primarily due to Ex Tropical Cyclone Lawrence, and exacerbated flooding through many interior river catchments that began late in December.

Tropical Cyclone Neville was the first for the season in Queensland and a one day wonder during the 21st. Tropical Cyclone Olga formed a few days later and threatened the north over a longer period. Both cyclones formed in the Coral Sea with Ex Tropical Cyclone Olga crossing the coast south of Cairns early on the 25th and then tracking west to the Gulf Country. It reformed briefly in a cyclone in the southern Gulf waters during the 29th and moved to the southeast Gulf. Both these systems enhanced the seasonal monsoonal activity bring flooding rains to the north. Tropical Cyclone Olga weakened to a tropical rain depression after crossing the coast near Karumba and continued across the interior to be near Longreach at the end of the month and brought exceptionally heavy rainfall to it's vicinity and also along the monsoon trough on the east coast as it shifted south. The heavy rainfall coincided with king tides along the east coast and led to some coastal inundation.

January daytime temperatures were tempered under the cloudy rainy skies through western and northern Queensland but the southeast was comparatively hotter and drier than usual. Parts of the southeast and southern received totals amongst the driest 10% on record and a few locations recorded their highest mean January maximum temperatures.

An abnormal cold outbreak spread across southern Queensland between the 18th and 21st when a new record low Queensland January minimum temperature of 5.4 °C was registered at Applethorpe on the 19th.  

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extensive rain through western Queensland

Surface and upper trough systems, primarily due to Ex Tropical Cyclone Lawrence in Western Australia, combined with ingestion of tropical moisture to develop widespread rain through though the northwest, western and Central Lowlands. Flooding that began in late December over many of the river catchments continued through January due to the heavy falls early in January.

Tropical Cyclones Neville & Olga

Tropical Cyclone Neville developed on the monsoon trough well off the coast northeast of Cooktown early on the 21st but weakened into a tropical low later the same day. Although short lived it brought increased rainfall to the northeast tropical coast.

Tropical Cyclone Olga formed over the Coral Sea near Willis Island to the east of Cairns early on the 23rd and tracked west and deepened to category 2 late that evening.  During the 24th it continued  tracking toward the coast before becoming almost stationary. It weakened below cyclone strength and recurved briefly before making a coastal crossing between Cairns and Innisfail early on the 25th. The combined effects of Tropical Cyclone Olga, Ex Tropical Cyclone Neville, the monsoon and a convergent southeast trade flow to the south brought heavy rainfall and flooding to much of the northeast tropical coast. Ex Tropical Cyclone Olga continued west overland passing by Georgetown before skirting the southern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria beginning a big wet for the Gulf Country. Olga reformed briefly in a cyclone in the southern Gulf waters during the 29th and moved to the southeast Gulf accompanied by heavy rainfall and damaging winds. Both these systems enhanced the seasonal monsoonal activity bring flooding rains to the north. Tropical Cyclone Olga weakened to a tropical rain depression after crossing the coast near Karumba and continued across the interior to be near Longreach at the end of January. Exceptionally heavy rainfall was recorded in the vicinity of the low and also near the monsoon trough as it shifted south along the east coast  to lie to the south of Mackay at the end of the month. The heavy rainfall focused near the monsoon trough along the east coast also coincided with the king tides at this time of year to cause sea water coastal inundation at some locations, including near Townsville and Mackay.

Cold Outbreak

A high in the Great Australian Bight and a deep low southeast of the continent drove snow onto the Southern Australian Alps mid month and this cold dry airmass subsequently arrived in Queensland, spreading near record January minimum temperatures across western and southern areas from the 18th to 21st. Old records fell at Taroom, Stanthorpe, Surat, Injune Applethorpe and Monto. Applethorpe was the coldest with  a chilly 5.4 °C on the morning of the 19th followed by 6.3 °C the following morning. Both Applethorpe and Stanthorpe with 7.0 °C on the 19th beat the official Queensland record low for January of 7.2 °C at Stanthorpe in 1970 and 1965.

Synoptic Summary

At the beginning of January a weakening high pressure system east of New Zealand extended a ridge across the southern Coral Sea and directed moist east to northeast winds across the state. A surface trough of low pressure was moving into southwest Queensland and assisted by an upper trough generated moderate to heavy rainfall over areas of western and northwestern Queensland. Flooding affected inland waterways following rain that developed late in December and warnings were issued for the Paroo River, Macintyre and Dumaresq Rivers, and Landsborough, Thomson, Alice and Barcoo Rivers. The monsoon trough along the Northern Territory Top End coast, extended through northern Torres Strait towards Papua New Guinea with rain areas in the far north. Heavy rainfall also fell along the northeast tropical coast with enhanced shower and storm activity before easing as the atmosphere became more stable. Further south, showers were embedded in the onshore flow with light rain over the southeast inland. 

A new high in the Great Australian Bight pushed a vigorous southerly change up the New South Wales coast that reached southeast Queensland on the morning of the 3rd. An upper trough accompanied the surface trough and assisted the development of showers and thunderstorms through the southeast. The high pushed the inland trough to the west as the change moved northward and then weakened in the Capricorn region. Fresh to strong southeast winds developed and spread north as coastal ridging from the new high pushed through the trough and a low developed in the Soloman Island waters and then moved west toward the north coast. The monsoon trough lay through the Torres Strait with several transient lows passing east to west and continued to trigger further showers and storms over the Peninsula and about the Gulf area. For many days from the 3rd the upper outflow from a monsoon depression in the Northern Territory and Western Australia streamed extensive high cloud into Queensland and showers continued over the west of the state due in part to convergence into the low. Many moderate to heavy daily falls were recorded across most of the state during the first week of January with the highest weekly totals being in the west and north. Flooding continued in western catchments.

Upper instability and surface convergence led to pulse of rain and storm activity affecting southeast and central districts during the 7th and 8th. As the upper trough advanced into the tropics upper ridging brought a stabilising influence to areas further south.

On the 10th the monsoon trough extended across far northern Cape York Peninsula and across the northern Coral Sea with rain areas, showers and thunderstorms over much of the northern tropics. A weakening high near New Zealand extended a ridge along the southern and central coasts of Queensland and directed mostly moderate to strong southeast winds and a few showers onto the remaining east coast. It was fine elsewhere. Winds shifted northeast across much of the interior of the state. The recent widespread rainfall necessitated flood warnings for the Landsborough, Thomson, Barcoo and CooperCreek, Bulloo, Paroo, Flinders, Georgina and Diamantina Rivers.

A trough of low pressure moved into the Channel Country from the southwest bringing a dusty southerly wind change to the area on the 13th and a few days later showers and thunderstorms with some moderate falls developed east of the inland trough in a band from the Gulf Country into the central and southern interior.

Rain, showers and storms with some moderate to heavy falls continued along the north tropical coast and over the Peninsula area driven by the monsoon trough and the southeast trades. On the 16th the monsoon trough extended from a low off northwest Western Australia to a low over the northern Gulf of Carpentaria and to a low in the Coral Sea, generating heavy rain areas over far northern parts of Queensland. Stream showers continued along the remaining east coast and showers and storms continued about the Gulf coast.

A monsoon low was located on the monsoon trough over Cape York Peninsula on the 18th and moved to the east to be northeast of Cooktown on the 19th and the rain continued. The inland surface trough extended from the Gulf Country to the south-east corner of the state on the 18th and was moving slowly eastwards. A few showers and storms occurred east of the trough and dry southerly winds circulated across the state west of the trough. The  trough extended from the Gulf Country to the central interior by the 20th and the dry clear airmass circulating across most of western and southern Queensland led to cool overnight temperatures with several centres registering record January minimum temperatures. Applethorpe was the coldest with  a chilly 5.4 °C. A high in the Great Australian Bight and a deep low southeast of the continent drove snow onto the Southern Alps prior to the cold dry airmass arriving in southern Queensland. In contrast, Cooktown in the far north reported a record low maximum temperature of 23 degrees for January under the  rainy sky with other towns setting records the next day.

Tropical Cyclone Neville developed on the monsoon trough off the northeast tropical coast early on the 21st but weakened into a tropical low later the same morning. The monsoon trough extend from northwest Western Australia, across the far southern Gulf of Carpentaria over Cape York Peninsula and to Tropical Cyclone Olga over the northwest Coral Sea early on the 23rd with heavy rain areas about the northeast tropics in the monsoonal flow and rain areas and isolated thunderstorms elsewhere about the tropics. On the 22nd flood warnings were current for the inland catchments of the Thomson, Barcoo Rivers and Coopers Creek, the Georgina River and Eyre Creek and the Diamantina River and also initiated for the coastal rivers Cooktown to Cairns and extended south to Cardwell on the 23rd and extended further south to Mackay on the 24th due the increased threat from the active monsoon systems.

Whilst the north was preoccupied with cyclonic conditions, areas to the south endured hot and humid days but the weather was fine, apart from some showers about the central coast. A surface trough lay over southwestern parts of Queensland but conditions were too dry to generate showers. Tropical Cyclone Olga reached category 2 as it approached the coast but weakened to a low at the time it crossed the coast south of Cairns early on the 25th. Ex Tropical Cyclone Olga and Ex Tropical Cyclone Neville off the Herbert and Burdekin coast produced heavy rain areas over the northeastern and central tropics.

Ex Tropical Cyclone Olga continued west to skirt the southern Gulf of Carpentaria coast on the 26th and then crossed into the Gulf waters early on the 28th where it redeveloped into a tropical cyclone again as it recurved to track east across the southern Gulf waters and bring damaging winds, heavy rain, significant stream rises and flooding of low-lying areas in the Gulf Country. Tropical Cyclone Olga weakened to a tropical rain depression after crossing the coast near Karumba and continued across the interior to be near Longreach at the end of January. Exceptionally heavy rainfall was recorded in the vicinity of the low and also near the monsoon trough as it shifted south along the east coast  to lie to the south of Mackay at the end of the month. The heavy rainfall focused near the monsoon trough along the east coast also coincided with the king tides at this time of year to cause sea water coastal inundation at some locations, including near Townsville and Mackay.

Rainfall

January rainfall was above to well above average over parts of Cape York, most of the northeast tropical coast and across a broad area of western Queensland and extending east into the Central Lowlands to parts of the central coast. Below average rainfall was recorded along the coast south from Marlborough, extending inland to the eastern edge of the Central Highlands and in the south, and west through the Darling Downs and Maranoa. A portion of the southern Moreton, and large parts of the western Darling Downs and Maranoa recorded decile 1 rainfall, this being the lowest 10% on record and some of this area has a serious rainfall deficiency for the November to January period. Rainfall was also less than areas to the north in the far southwest border parts due to them being to the west of the inland trough for much of the month, the trough and the moist airmass to it's east often being a trigger for storm activity. 

A surface trough of low pressure in the west of the state, upper trough activity, primarily due to Tropical Cyclone Lawrence in Western Australia, and the monsoon in the north led to a deeply unstable airmass that produced widespread rainfall across a large part of the state early in the month and flooding continued in inland waterways following rain that developed late in December.  Colodon and Glenwood in the western part of the Port Curtis district recorded their highest January daily rain totals with 124.4mm and 120.2mm respectively to 9am on the 4th, both of these sites having 51 years of rainfall record. The rainfall observer at Colodan said that this was his highest daily total for any month since 1956. Other notable rainfall rates were 79mm in 1 hour during the 3rd at the Hume Lane Alert* on the Sunshine Coast. Roxborough Dowms TM* in the Upper Western district received 91mm in 2 hours on the 5th and Mt Isa received 44mm in 30 minutes during the 8th. 

The rainfall contracted to the far north during the 10th with the tip of Cape York Peninsular recording heavy falls for the 14th. The highest daily fall across the state and a new record for the station was 338.6 mm at Lockhart River Airport on the 11th when a low pressure system was embedded in the monsoon trough lying across the northern Peninsula. Over the next week showers and storms redeveloped to the east of the inland trough until a dry southerly change spread through southern districts.  The monsoon persisted in the north with the tropical east coast rainfall being enhanced at times by surges in the southeast trade flow.

Later in January the brief development of  Tropical Cyclone Neville and the more significant Tropical Cyclone Olga dominated the control of the atmosphere in the tropics focusing heavy rain and flooding along the northeast tropical coast. Ex Tropical Cyclone Olga tracked over land to recross the coast into the southern Gulf of Carpentaria in the last week bringing heavy rainfall to the Gulf Country. The cyclonic activity and monsoonal stream brought high rainfall to the east coast and was especially heavy between Cape Melville and Townsville and  near Mackay with most recording over 200mm in the week ending the 28th. After reforming into a cyclone Olga tracked east across the southern Gulf of Carpentaria and then weakened into a tropical rain depression as it shifted southeast through the interior. The monsoon trough shifted south along the east coast with the passage of Ex Tropical Cyclone Olga focussing very heavy falls near it's vicinity.  A few new daily rainfall records were created.

Indicative of the high rainfall in the far north, record high January monthly rainfall of 930.4mm was recorded at Lockhart River with a record length of 54 years. 338.6mm of this fell in one day to 9am on the 11th. Coconut Island with 501.6mm and Horn Island with 701.6mm also recorded new high Jauary totals but have a shorter record of 14 years.

The wettest overall was 1469 mm at Bellenden Ker Top Station, followed by 978.4 mm at Innisfail, followed by 972.0 mm at Mt Sophia, followed by 947.0 mm at Nerada Alert.

The driest overall were parts skirting the far southwest corner where amounts less 5 mm were recorded.

Some sites had their highest total January rainfall on record. Some sites had their highest total January rainfall for at least 20 years. Some sites had their lowest total January rainfall on record. Some sites had their lowest total January rainfall for at least 20 years.

The wettest single day 338.6 mm at Lockhart River Airport on the 11th, followed by 337.0 mm at Mount Charlton on the 31st, followed by 321.0 mm at Cardwell Marine Pde on the 1st.

Some sites had their highest January daily rainfall on record. See a map of total rainfall. See a map of rainfall deciles.

* Hume Lane Alert and Roxborough Dowms TM are part of the flood warning network of unmanned automatic gauges and such telemetry data is not validated.

Temperature

Maximum temperature

Mean maximum temperatures graded from the high thirties across the southwest of the state to the mid thirties through the mid west  and southern Gulf Country. Most eastern districts exceeded 30 °C but parts of the northeast tropical coast, the Atherton Tablelands, a small part of the central coast and pockets of the southeast and Darling Downs were a little cooler. 

Mean maximum temperature anomalies were highest near Longreach and Isisford and over 3 °C milder than usual January conditions and also the lowest for 34 and 23 years respectively. To a lesser degree all of western, central interior and northern areas extending south through the Warrego and parts of western Maranoa were also cooler than average due to the many cloud and rain generating systems during the month. The monsoon was quite active across the north and also spawned the development of tropical cyclones Neville and Olga, whilst major rainfall was recorded over western areas.  Mean maximum anomalies were higher than average in the southeast, by more than 2 °C near the southeast border ranges, and fringing the southwest border.

Extensive cloud streamed the upper outflow from a monsoon depression in the Northern Territory and Western Australia across a large part of Queensland for many days from the 3rd tempering day time temperatures in the west. Daily maxima were especially below average in a band under this cloud between the 5th and 8th, at times by more than 10 °C.

Hot conditions were experienced in central eastern and southeastern districts between the 17th and 21st and generally through southern districts from the 22nd. These areas were relatively cloud free in comparison to the northern tropics where the monsoonal flow generated extensive cloud. Birdsville recorded the highest daily temperatures, reaching  45 °C on the 23rd and 45.4 °C the next day. 

Late in the month cloudy skies and rain over large parts of the state kept daytime temperatures well below average and several inland locations recorded their lowest January daily maximum temperature.

Record high mean daily maximum temperatures were recorded at Cape Moreton, Coolangatta and Seventeen Seventy under unusually clear dry January skies.

The hottest day was 45.4 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 24th, followed by 45.0 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 23rd, followed by 44.8 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 25th.

The warmest days on average were 39.6 °C at Birdsville Airport, followed by 38.4 °C at Ballera Gas Field, followed by 38.2 °C at Bedourie Police Station.

The coolest days on average were 27.6 °C at Woolshed, followed by 27.8 °C at Maleny Tamarind St, followed by 28.4 °C at Middle Percy Island.

The coldest day was 21.5 °C at Applethorpe on the 4th, followed by 21.6 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 4th, followed by 21.9 °C at Mitchell Post Office on the 31st.

Some sites had their highest January temperature on record. Some sites had their coldest January day (lowest maximum temperature) on record. Some sites had their highest January mean daily maximum temperature on record. Some sites had their lowest January mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years. See a map of mean maximum temperatures. See a map of maximum temperature anomalies.

Minimum temperature

Mean minimum temperatures graded from the mid to high twenties across the Peninsula, around the Gulf Country and along the central and northeast coastal fringe to less than 20 °C on the Darling Downs. 

Cool mean minimum anomalies were recorded in a broad swath extending from the west through the central interior. The remaining areas were a little warmer than average, moreso in the southwest corner.  

A high in the Great Australian Bight and a deep low southeast of the continent drove snow onto the Southern Australian Alps mid month and this cold dry airmass subsequently arrived in Queensland, spreading near record January minimum temperatures across western and southern areas from the 18th to 21st. Old records fell at Taroom, Stanthorpe, Surat, Injune Applethorpe and Monto. Applethorpe was the coldest with  a chilly 5.4 °C on the morning of the 19th followed by 6.3 °C the following morning. Both Applethorpe and 7.0 °C at Stanthorpe on the 19th, beat the official Queensland record low for January of 7.2 °C at Stanthorpe in 1970 and 1965.

The coldest night was 5.4 °C at Applethorpe on the 19th, followed by 6.3 °C at Applethorpe on the 20th, followed by 7.0 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 19th.

The coolest nights on average were 14.7 °C at Applethorpe, followed by 15.6 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade, followed by 16.8 °C at Warwick.

The warmest nights on average were 26.1 °C at Sweers Island, followed by 25.8 °C at Birdsville Airport, followed by 25.8 °C at Mornington Island, followed by 25.7 °C at Green Island, followed by 25.7 °C at Willis Island.

The warmest night was 31.8 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 26th, followed by 31.1 °C at Ballera Gas Field on the 26th, followed by 29.3 °C at Sweers Island on the 22nd.

Some sites had their lowest January temperature on record. Some sites had their highest January mean daily minimum temperature on record. Some sites had their highest January mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years. See a map of mean minimum temperatures. See a map of minimum temperature anomalies.

Wind

The strongest wind gust was 122 km/h at Willis Island on the 23rd, followed by 120 km/h at Sweers Island on the 29th coinciding with the passage of Tropical Cyclone Olga, followed by 109 km/h at University of Queensland Gatton on the 29th.

Further information

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

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Extremes in January 2010
Hottest day	45.4 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 24th 45.0 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 23rd 44.8 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 25th
Warmest days on average	39.6 °C at Birdsville Airport 38.4 °C at Ballera Gas Field 38.2 °C at Bedourie Police Station
Coolest days on average	27.6 °C at Woolshed 27.8 °C at Maleny Tamarind St 28.4 °C at Middle Percy Island
Coldest day	21.5 °C at Applethorpe on the 4th 21.6 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 4th 21.9 °C at Mitchell Post Office on the 31st
Coldest night	5.4 °C at Applethorpe on the 19th 6.3 °C at Applethorpe on the 20th 7.0 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 19th
Coolest nights on average	14.7 °C at Applethorpe 15.6 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade 16.8 °C at Warwick
Warmest nights on average	26.1 °C at Sweers Island 25.8 °C at Birdsville Airport 25.8 °C at Mornington Island 25.7 °C at Green Island 25.7 °C at Willis Island
Warmest night	31.8 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 26th 31.1 °C at Ballera Gas Field on the 26th 29.3 °C at Sweers Island on the 22nd
Wettest overall	1469 mm at Bellenden Ker Top Station 1016 mm at Bellenden Ker Bottom Station 978.4 mm at Innisfail 972.0 mm at Mt Sophia
Driest overall	Parts skirting the far southwest corner where amounts less 5 mm were recorded
Wettest day	338.6 mm at Lockhart River Airport on the 11th 337.0 mm at Mount Charlton on the 31st 321.0 mm at Cardwell Marine Pde on the 1st
Highest wind gust	122 km/h at Willis Island on the 23rd 120 km/h at Sweers Island on the 29th 109 km/h at University of Queensland Gatton on the 29th

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Record highest January daily rainfall
	Highest daily rainfall in January 2010 (mm)		Previous highest for January		Years of record
Holmleigh	111.8	on the 31st	100.3	on the 5th in 1972	88
Lockhart River Airport	338.6	on the 11th	181.4	on the 2nd in 2005	54
Colodan	124.4	on the 4th	121.9	on the 3rd in 1962	51
Glenwood	102.2	on the 4th	94.6	on the 23rd in 2009	51
Jochmus	123.0	on the 31st	122.4	on the 28th in 1984	42

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Record highest total January rainfall
	Total rainfall for January 2010 (mm)	Previous highest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Lockhart River Airport	930.4	783.9	in 1965	54	401.3

Highest total January rainfall for at least 20 years
	Total rainfall for January 2010 (mm)	Most recent higher for January		Years since higher	Average for January
Barcaldine Post Office	268.9	481.2	in 1974	36	86.1
Longreach Aero	241.0	420.4	in 1974	36	80.6
Muttaburra	302.6	591.1	in 1974	36	89.5
Mahrigong	294.6	373.0	in 1976	34	89.0
Glenwood	155.6	164.2	in 1989	21	89.2

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Lowest total January rainfall for at least 20 years
	Total rainfall for January 2010 (mm)	Most recent lower for January		Years since lower	Average for January
Pinnacle	96.0	62.8	in 1990	20	277.0

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Record highest January temperature
	Highest temperature in January 2010 (°C)		Previous highest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Coolangatta	35.9	on the 18th	34.9	on the 29th in 2004	23	28.1

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Record lowest January daily maximum temperature
	Lowest daily maximum temperature in January 2010 (°C)		Previous lowest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Springsure Comet St	22.1	on the 31st	22.2	on the 19th in 1967	45	34.0
Longreach Aero	22.4	on the 31st	22.7	on the 8th in 1996	43	37.0
Mitchell Post Office	21.9	on the 31st	22.3	on the 4th in 1991	41	34.0
Rolleston	22.9	on the 31st	23.9	on the 8th in 1996	21	34.9

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Record highest January mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for January 2010 (°C)	Previous highest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Cape Moreton Lighthouse	29.1	28.7	in 2006	97	26.8
Coolangatta	30.1	29.5	in 2004	22	28.1
Seventeen Seventy	30.5	30.3	in 2006	22	29.2

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Lowest January mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
	Mean daily maximum temperature for January 2010 (°C)	Most recent lower for January		Years since lower	Average for January
Longreach Aero	33.1	33.0	in 1976	34	37.0
Isisford Post Office	33.3	33.0	in 1984	23	36.9

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Record lowest January temperature
	Lowest temperature in January 2010 (°C)		Previous lowest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Taroom Post Office	12.6	on the 20th	13.3	on the 19th in 1984	54	20.6
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade	7.0	on the 19th	7.2	on the 3rd in 1970	49	15.6
Surat	11.2	on the 20th	11.5	on the 9th in 1997	46	20.6
Injune Post Office	10.6	on the 20th	= 10.6	on the 17th in 1983	43	19.6
Applethorpe	5.4	on the 19th	5.5	on the 1st in 1994	41	15.2
Monto Township	12.7	on the 20th	12.9	on the 5th in 2007	37	19.3

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Record highest January mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for January 2010 (°C)	Previous highest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Cape Moreton Lighthouse	23.4	= 23.4	in 2003	97	21.9
Lockhart River Airport	24.6	24.5	in 2007	44	23.7

Highest January mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
	Mean daily minimum temperature for January 2010 (°C)	Most recent higher for January		Years since higher	Average for January
Musgrave	24.2	25.1	in 1910	34	23.1

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for January 2010
	Maximum temperatures for January (°C)				Minimum temperatures for January (°C)				Rainfall for January (millimetres)
	Mean for January 2010	Diff from average	Highest for January 2010		Mean for January 2010	Diff from average	Lowest for January 2010		Total for January 2010	Average for January	Rank of January 2010	Fraction of January average
North Peninsula (district 27)
Coconut Island	30.7	-1.2	34.4	2nd	25.6	-0.2	23.4	24th	501.6	274.3	v high	183%
Coen Airport	31.7		35.9	8th	24.0		21.1	25th	320.2
Horn Island	30.3	-0.5	32.5	5th	24.9	-0.3	23.5	22nd	701.6	379.9	v high	185%
Scherger RAAF	31.3		34.9	6th	24.5		23.2	22nd	570.8
Weipa Aero	31.2	-0.7	34.7	6th	24.6	+0.4	23.1	17th	650.2	452.1	high	144%
South Peninsula (district 28)
Lockhart River Airport	31.2	-0.4	33.6	8th	24.6	+0.9	23.2	22nd	930.4	401.3	highest	232%
Musgrave	33.2	0.0	37.8	14th	24.2	+1.1	20.9	22nd	227.3	270.1	average	84%
Palmerville	31.9	-1.5	35.9	14th	23.5	+0.6	20.9	21st	535.0	266.4	v high	201%
Lower Carpentaria (district 29)
Burketown Airport	34.2		41.7	24th	25.3		21.9	20th	526.2
Century Mine	35.5		40.9	17th	24.8		21.6	21st	219.2
Cloncurry Airport	35.0	-1.1	40.0	23rd	24.3	-0.2	19.1	20th	272.6	198.3	high	137%
Croydon Township	33.3	-2.2	37.5	19th	24.9	+0.7	22.4	29th	458.2	221.9	v high	206%
Julia Creek Airport	35.5		40.4	17th	23.0		14.8	20th	299.6
Kowanyama Airport	32.3	-0.7	34.5	15th	24.6	+0.3	23.3	18th	422.2	340.1	high	124%
Mornington Island	32.2	+0.1	36.5	20th	25.8	+0.4	23.9	2nd	518.4	326.9	high	159%
Mount Isa Aero	35.1	-1.2	39.4	17th	22.8	-1.0	16.9	21st	131.8	119.1	average	111%
Normanton Airport	34.1		38.9	20th	25.6		22.0	18th	223.6
Sweers Island	32.3		36.0	24th	26.1		22.6	14th	686.5	362.3	high	189%
Upper Carpentaria (district 30)
Georgetown Airport	32.9		37.0	19th	23.5		20.9	31st	232.2
Hughenden Airport	33.4		37.3	17th	22.8		18.2	19th	235.0
Richmond Airport	34.8	-1.4	39.6	17th	22.5	-0.7	15.8	20th	243.4	146.8	high	166%
Richmond Post Office	34.6	-2.3	39.6	17th	22.8	-0.2	17.0	20th	261.0	123.7	v high	211%
Barron North Coast (district 31)
Cairns Aero	31.1	-0.3	34.4	31st	24.2	+0.5	22.4	20th	705.4	396.8	v high	178%
Cape Flattery	31.3		33.8	16th	24.8		20.9	20th	611.0
Cooktown Airport	30.8		33.8	31st	24.5		20.9	21st	497.0
Green Island	29.9	-1.3	32.3	5th	25.7	+0.5	23.8	10th
Kairi Research Station	28.6	+0.4	31.9	7th	19.7	+0.5	17.4	14th	399.8	250.8	high	159%
Low Isles Lighthouse			34.2	18th	25.5	-0.1	23.7	1st	729.8	399.8	v high	183%
Mareeba Airport	30.0		33.7	7th	21.7		19.5	14th	335.0	206.2	high	162%
Walkamin Research Station	29.0	-0.9	32.9	7th	20.9	+0.6	18.3	14th	355.0	214.7	high	165%
Herbert North Coast (district 32)
Cardwell Marine Pde	31.5	0.0	34.4	31st	24.2	+1.3	21.5	14th	696.3	442.0	high	158%
Ingham Composite	31.5	-0.8	35.1	19th	23.8	+0.9	21.5	12th	516.3	391.6	high	132%
Innisfail	31.3	+0.5	33.7	31st	24.1	+1.3	22.3	14th	978.4	513.2	high	191%
Lucinda Point	30.0	-0.1	32.7	31st	25.4	+0.1	23.9	28th	250.8	186.1	high	135%
South Johnstone Exp Stn	30.7	-0.5	33.0	18th	23.7	+1.2	21.0	14th	685.4	523.2	high	131%
Townsville Aero	30.9	-0.4	34.0	21st	24.7	+0.5	22.2	11th	544.6	278.0	high	196%
East Central Coast (district 33)
Alva Beach	31.1	-0.1	32.8	23rd	24.9	+0.3	21.4	11th	362.4	262.5	average	138%
Ayr DPI Research Stn	31.8	0.0	36.1	18th	23.7	+1.0	20.5	11th	488.6	221.1	high	221%
Bowen Airport			34.0	21st	24.3	+0.5	22.0	11th	258.6	176.7	average	146%
Collinsville Post Office	33.8	+0.4	40.8	18th	22.6	+0.7	18.1	11th	89.6	134.0	average	67%
Hamilton Island Airport	29.2		31.8	19th	25.0		22.9	10th	229.8
Mackay Aero	30.4	+0.3	32.9	18th	23.9	+1.0	21.2	14th	330.2	322.4	average	102%
Mackay M.O	30.0	-0.1	32.5	18th	24.5	+1.0	21.6	14th	324.8	279.0	average	116%
Proserpine Airport	30.7	-0.8	35.3	18th	23.3	+0.7	20.9	14th	299.0	297.4	average	101%
Samuel Hill Aero	30.1		33.1	18th	22.1		19.1	20th	53.0	164.6	low	32%
St Lawrence	31.4		35.9	19th	23.3		20.8	10th	219.6
St Lawrence Post Office	31.7	0.0	36.7	19th	23.3	+0.8	20.3	10th	221.7	206.5	average	107%
Williamson	30.8		34.4	19th	23.2		21.1	31st	129.4
Woolshed	27.6	-0.7	31.6	18th	21.0	+0.3	18.9	11th	774.2	253.9	v high	305%
Yeppoon The Esplanade	28.9	-0.5	30.8	19th	23.8	+0.1	21.0	18th	94.2	122.4	average	77%
West Central Coast (district 34)
Charters Towers Airport	32.7	-0.9	39.6	19th	22.7	+0.3	18.1	11th	151.1	164.7	average	92%
Central Highlands (district 35)
Clermont Sirius St	32.3	-2.0	37.9	18th	21.4	-0.2	19.2	10th	148.3	117.6	average	126%
Emerald Airport	32.7	-1.8	39.4	18th	21.4	-0.9	17.3	20th	117.4	90.0	high	130%
Rolleston	33.3	-1.6	38.2	18th	20.4	-0.7	15.2	20th	70.7	93.2	average	76%
Tambo Post Office	32.8	-2.1	37.2	24th	20.7	+0.3	11.5	19th	57.5	81.2	average	71%
Taroom Post Office	33.7	0.0	37.9	17th	20.7	+0.1	12.6	20th	101.2	97.9	average	103%
Central Lowlands (district 36)
Barcaldine Post Office	32.8	-2.8	36.8	21st	22.9	-0.2	18.2	31st	268.9	86.1	v high	312%
Blackall Airport	32.8		37.6	24th	21.6		15.9	20th	144.2
Isisford Post Office	33.3	-3.6	38.1	17th	22.4	-0.6	16.3	20th	186.9	70.6	v high	265%
Longreach Aero	33.1	-3.9	37.2	21st	21.9	-1.2	17.9	19th	241.0	80.6	v high	299%
Upper Western (district 37)
Camooweal Township	35.5	-1.8	39.6	24th	24.1	-0.2	17.2	20th	151.6	99.4	high	153%
The Monument Airport	35.8		40.6	23rd	23.4		16.8	20th	108.0	78.0	high	138%
Trepell Airport	34.8		40.1	23rd	23.2		17.5	20th	101.6
Urandangi	36.8	-1.7	41.3	26th	22.8	-1.2	15.0	20th	163.4	63.1	v high	259%
Winton Airport	34.5		39.2	17th	22.9		17.2	20th	179.8
Winton Post Office	34.9	-2.6	40.0	17th	23.5	0.0	19.5	31st	174.4	83.6	high	209%
Lower Western (district 38)
Bedourie Police Station	38.2	-0.6	44.2	25th	22.9	-2.2	16.8	19th	87.6	33.7	v high	260%
Birdsville Airport	39.6		45.4	24th	25.8		18.4	20th	19.2	18.7	high	103%
Boulia Airport	36.7	-1.8	41.6	24th	23.7	-0.8	19.5	19th	64.6	48.8	high	132%
Windorah Post Office	36.1	-2.0	41.7	24th	24.2	+0.1	18.7	20th	30.9	42.7	average	72%
Port Curtis South Coast (district 39)
Baralaba Post Office	34.2	-0.2	37.8	18th	21.4	0.0	17.0	20th	59.0	93.0	average	63%
Bundaberg Aero	30.8	+0.7	35.8	19th	22.1	+0.7	20.4	11th	77.8	166.4	low	47%
Gayndah Airport	33.3		38.3	18th	20.3		15.4	20th	41.8
Gladstone Airport	30.8	+0.1	34.3	18th	23.3	+0.3	21.0	20th	80.0	111.9	average	71%
Gladstone Radar	32.1	+0.9	35.4	19th	23.3	+0.8	21.4	8th	71.6	142.0	average	50%
Lady Elliot Island	29.9	+0.7	31.6	27th	24.7	+0.8	22.8	8th	40.8	121.1	low	34%
Monto Township	31.5	-0.5	36.6	18th	19.2	-0.1	12.7	20th	93.6	108.4	average	86%
Rockhampton Aero	32.0	+0.1	36.7	18th	23.1	+1.0	21.3	11th	63.4	126.7	average	50%
Rundle Island	28.6	+0.5	30.9	21st	25.4	+1.1	22.0	8th
Sandy Cape Lighthouse	30.3	+0.9	33.2	19th	22.9	+0.6	21.4	4th	34.9	159.4	v low	22%
Seventeen Seventy	30.5	+1.3	32.5	29th	23.7	+0.8	21.8	5th	155.0	150.0	average	103%
Thangool Airport	34.1	+0.5	39.0	18th	19.1	-0.7	12.9	20th	21.6	95.7	v low	23%
Moreton South Coast (district 40)
Amberley AMO	32.6	+1.5	38.0	18th	19.1	-0.5	12.3	19th	30.2	110.6	v low	27%
Archerfield Airport	31.3	+1.0	36.1	18th	20.7	+0.5	16.8	19th	46.4	133.3	low	35%
Beaudesert Drumley Street	32.8		38.1	27th	18.8		13.0	19th	43.6
Beerburrum Forest Station	31.2	+1.0	37.2	18th	19.3	-0.4	15.2	19th	100.0	187.0	low	53%
Brisbane	31.1	+0.8	35.1	18th	21.9	+0.6	17.3	19th	40.2	95.9	low	42%
Brisbane Aero	29.7	+0.7	32.1	18th	21.5	+0.4	17.8	19th	47.8	108.9	low	44%
Cape Moreton Lighthouse	29.1	+2.3	30.5	20th	23.4	+1.5	21.7	30th	12.8	149.1	v low	9%
Coolangatta	30.1	+2.0	35.9	18th	21.0	+0.1	17.1	20th	70.6	138.2	average	51%
Double Island Point Lighthouse	30.4	+2.7	33.9	18th	23.2	+0.9	21.2	30th	92.4	162.1	average	57%
Gold Coast Seaway	30.4	+1.9	37.9	18th	22.0	+0.2	19.6	19th	73.8	104.7	low	70%
Gympie	31.8	+0.6	37.1	28th	19.3	-0.3	16.4	19th	89.0	161.5	low	55%
Hervey Bay Airport	30.6	+0.6	34.8	19th	21.9	-0.2	18.7	14th	59.2	126.5	average	47%
Jimna Forestry	28.9	+0.8	34.7	27th	17.2	-0.2	12.6	20th	86.8	78.4	average	111%
Kingaroy Airport	31.1		35.9	27th	17.5		11.1	19th	32.8	67.8	average	48%
Logan City Water Treatment	31.1	+1.4	37.7	18th	21.2	+0.8	17.6	19th	60.5	107.5	low	56%
Maleny Tamarind St	27.8		33.8	18th	19.0		16.8	17th	154.6	274.6	low	56%
Maroochydore Aero	30.3	+1.7	34.1	18th	20.2	-1.1	15.7	19th	78.0	115.7	average	67%
Maryborough	31.6	+0.9	34.5	28th	20.6	0.0	17.6	14th	72.4	162.2	low	45%
Nambour DPI - Hillside	30.4		36.3	18th	20.1		17.8	20th	114.8
Point Lookout	30.0	+1.1	31.6	23rd	22.9	+0.3	19.6	19th	46.2	108.5	low	43%
Rainbow Beach	29.4	+0.6	32.7	18th					115.4	150.7	average	77%
Redcliffe	29.9		32.1	18th	22.1		20.0	19th	49.8
Tewantin RSL Park	29.3	+0.9	34.6	18th	21.9	0.0	19.7	14th	102.0	132.6	average	77%
Toolara (Kelly)	32.4	+1.2	37.5	18th	20.8	+0.1	19.3	13th	162.2	140.5	average	115%
University of Queensland Gatton	33.9	+2.4	39.2	27th	19.0	-0.1	15.5	20th	76.8	110.9	average	69%
East Darling Downs (district 41)
Applethorpe	28.8	+2.4	34.3	25th	14.7	-0.5	5.4	19th	42.0	92.8	low	45%
Dalby Airport	33.7	+1.2	40.0	27th	18.3	-0.5	10.0	20th	8.6	70.4	v low	12%
Goondiwindi Airport	34.7	+0.6	39.3	24th	21.3	+1.1	12.5	20th	86.8	84.9	average	102%
Inglewood Forest	33.9		38.8	24th	18.9		11.9	19th	34.0	44.5	average	76%
Oakey Aero	32.5	+1.7	37.8	27th	18.3	+0.5	11.1	19th	17.2	77.2	low	22%
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade	28.9	+1.5	35.5	27th	15.6	0.0	7.0	19th	48.6	96.2	low	51%
Texas Post Office	33.8	0.0	39.1	24th	19.5	+1.0	11.2	20th	42.4	87.0	low	49%
Toowoomba Airport	29.3	+1.2	35.1	27th	17.9	+0.4	13.8	19th	55.6	64.8	average	86%
Warwick	31.2	+1.2	36.9	27th	16.8	-0.1	9.6	19th	78.8	80.2	average	98%
West Darling Downs (district 42)
Miles Constance Street	33.7	-0.2	38.7	25th	20.4	0.0	11.4	20th	23.8	63.9	low	37%
Maranoa (district 43)
Injune Post Office	33.1	-0.5	37.7	27th	19.6	0.0	10.6	20th	50.0	89.6	average	56%
Mitchell Post Office	34.2	+0.2	38.9	28th	20.3	+0.3	10.5	20th	19.7	81.4	low	24%
Roma Airport	33.5	-0.7	38.4	28th	21.2	+0.2	11.2	20th	18.0	69.6	average	26%
St George Airport	34.0	-0.8	39.2	28th	21.8	-0.1	12.6	19th	24.6	58.8	v low	42%
Surat	33.6	-0.6	38.4	28th	21.7	+1.1	11.2	20th	49.3	72.0	average	68%
Warrego (district 44)
Bollon Mary St	34.9	-0.6	40.0	28th	22.0	+0.5	12.0	19th	43.1	63.1	average	68%
Charleville Aero	34.1	-0.9	38.5	25th	21.6	-0.1	12.9	20th	95.8	74.5	high	129%
Cunnamulla Post Office	35.3	-0.7	40.5	23rd	22.5	+0.3	15.1	20th	57.0	46.6	high	122%
Far Southwest (district 45)
Ballera Gas Field	38.4		44.3	24th	24.7		16.8	19th	24.0	31.8	average	75%
Quilpie Airport	36.4	-0.5	42.0	24th	23.7	0.0	16.6	20th	58.6	53.3	average	110%
Thargomindah Airport	37.3	-1.0	42.8	24th	24.7	-0.8	17.2	20th	121.8	39.3	v high	310%

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Further information

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