Monday, 2 September 2013 - Monthly Climate Summary for Queensland - Product code IDCKGC24R0

Queensland in August 2013: 2nd hottest days on record

• Records:
  • 2 daily maximum temperature records for high temperatures
• Temperatures:
  • 2nd highest mean daily maximum temperatures on record for August for state
  • Near normal minimum temperatures for state
• Rainfall:
  • 5th driest August on record
• Extremes:
  • Hottest day was 37.5 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 31st
  • Coldest night was -5.6 °C at Oakey Aero on the 21st and Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 22nd

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

5th lowest August rainfall on record (12.7 mm, lowest since 2009). Most of the state saw no rainfall this month. While this is usual for the tropical north in August, it is less usual in the southern part of the state. 

The wettest overall was Whyanbeel Valley with 122.0 mm, followed by Mossman South Alchera Drive with 78.8 mm, followed by Daintree Village with 53.0 mm.

The wettest single day was at Whyanbeel Valley with 115.6 mm on the 24th, followed by Mossman South Alchera Drive with 74.0 mm on the 24th, followed by Daintree Village with 42.0 mm on the 24th.

The first significant rainfall event of the month came on the 17th and 18th as a high sat over the Coral Sea and another high was over the Red Centre and between them a trough pushed across the southern border of the state bringing over 5 mm of rainfall to the far southeast corner of the state.

On the 22nd and 23rd a strong ridge reached across most of the continent. While most of the country were seeing clear skies and rising temperatures, the stronger onshore flow brought rainfall to the tropical coast.

Temperature

Across the state, this month, the mean temperature (average of daily maximum and minimum) was 19.1 °C (6th highest on record) which is 1.3 °C warmer than normal for August and the warmest since 2009. This warm mean temperature was driven by warm maximum temperatures while minimum temperatures were near normal for the month (as explained in the sections below).

The warmest on average was Coconut Island with 27.3 °C, followed by Horn Island with 26.3 °C, followed by Weipa Aero with 25.5 °C.

The coolest on average was Stanthorpe Leslie Parade with 9.7 °C, followed by Applethorpe with 9.9 °C, followed by Warwick with 11.7 °C.

Maximum temperature

Persistent high pressure and fewer clouds than normal allowed for daytime maximums to rise higher than usual this month. The monthly mean maximum temperature across Queensland was 27.8 °C, which is 2.6 °C above average (25.1 °C), the 2nd highest on record (record was in August 2009). Maximum temperatures across the state were above average, to very much above average. Maximums in the Channel Country and Maranoa and Warrego three to four degrees above average whereas in the Northern Districts the monthly mean daily maximum temperatures were only around one degree above average.

The hottest day was at Birdsville Airport with 37.5 °C on the 31st, followed by Century Mine with 37.1 °C on the 30th, followed by Urandangi Aerodrome with 37.0 °C on the 31st.

The warmest days on average were at Century Mine with 33.1 °C, followed by Kowanyama Airport with 33.0 °C, followed by Weipa Aero with 32.8 °C.

The coolest days on average were at Applethorpe with 17.4 °C, followed by Stanthorpe Leslie Parade with 18.5 °C, followed by Toowoomba Airport with 20.2 °C.

The coldest day was at Applethorpe with 10.9 °C on the 20th, followed by Applethorpe with 11.4 °C on the 8th, followed by Stanthorpe Leslie Parade with 12.0 °C on the 20th.

Some sites had their highest August mean daily maximum temperature on record.

Minimum temperature

In slight contrast to the maximum temperatures, minimum temperatures across Queensland in August were near normal. On average humidity levels were low this month. This would have allowed for hot days, but for most of that heat to radiate away at night allowing overnight minimums to drop. The mean minimum temperature across the state this month was 10.46 °C which is only 0.03 °C below the long-term mean (10.43 °C) ranking 62 of 104 years of record. This near normal state-wide mean minimum temperature may not represent individual regions of the state. For example, the Channel Country saw minimum temperatures that were between one and three degrees above average, while across the Peninsula mean minimum temperatures that were between one and three degrees below normal for August.

The coldest night was at Oakey Aero with -5.6 °C on the 21st, followed by Stanthorpe Leslie Parade with -5.6 °C on the 22nd, followed by Stanthorpe Leslie Parade with -5.3 °C on the 21st, followed by Oakey Aero with -5.0 °C on the 22nd.

The coolest nights on average were at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade with 1.0 °C, followed by Warwick with 2.4 °C, followed by Applethorpe with 2.5 °C, followed by Mitchell Post Office with 2.5 °C.

The warmest nights on average were at Coconut Island with 23.8 °C, followed by Horn Island with 23.1 °C, followed by Willis Island with 22.5 °C.

The warmest night was at Horn Island with 25.2 °C on the 30th, followed by Coconut Island with 24.7 °C on the 30th, followed by Coconut Island with 24.4 °C on the 27th, followed by Coconut Island with 24.4 °C on the 29th, followed by Horn Island with 24.4 °C on the 29th.

Wind

The strongest wind gust was at Cape Moreton Lighthouse with 70 km/h on the 8th, followed by Cape Moreton Lighthouse with 69 km/h on the 15th, followed by Birdsville Airport with 69 km/h on the 31st, followed by Gold Coast Seaway with 67 km/h on the 15th.

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Extremes in August 2013
Hottest day	37.5 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 31st
Warmest days on average	33.1 °C at Century Mine
Coolest days on average	17.4 °C at Applethorpe
Coldest day	10.9 °C at Applethorpe on the 20th
Coldest night	-5.6 °C at Oakey Aero on the 21st -5.6 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade on the 22nd
Coolest nights on average	1.0 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade
Warmest nights on average	23.8 °C at Coconut Island
Warmest night	25.2 °C at Horn Island on the 30th
Warmest on average overall	27.3 °C at Coconut Island
Coolest on average overall	9.7 °C at Stanthorpe Leslie Parade
Wettest overall	122.0 mm at Whyanbeel Valley
Wettest day	115.6 mm at Whyanbeel Valley on the 24th
Highest wind gust	70 km/h at Cape Moreton Lighthouse on the 8th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

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Record highest August mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for August 2013 (°C)	Previous warmest for August		Years of record	Average for August
Cape Moreton Lighthouse	21.8	21.7	in 2009	100	19.7
Double Island Point Lighthouse	23.6	23.1	in 2009	71	20.6

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for August 2013
	Maximum temperatures for August (°C)				Minimum temperatures for August (°C)				Rainfall for August (millimetres)
	Mean for August 2013	Diff from average	Highest for August 2013		Mean for August 2013	Diff from average	Lowest for August 2013		Total for August 2013	Average for August	Rank of August 2013	Fraction of August average
North Peninsula (district 27)
Coconut Island	31.0	+1.3	32.7	18th	23.8	+0.2	22.3	9th	1.4	8.3	average	17%
Coen Airport	30.4	+0.6	33.1	21st	15.6	-1.5	11.2	11th	0.2	2.8	low	7%
Horn Island	29.4	+0.4	30.6	30th	23.1	+0.2	19.5	21st	0.4	5.2	low	8%
Scherger RAAF	32.5		34.7	21st	18.0		14.8	9th	28.0
Weipa Aero	32.8	+0.8	34.7	20th	18.2	-0.5	15.1	10th
South Peninsula (district 28)
Lockhart River Airport	28.3	+0.6	30.0	22nd	18.2	-1.0	12.7	9th	3.6	28.8	v low	13%
Palmerville	32.0	+0.8	35.0	20th	13.6	-0.9	8.8	10th	2.6	3.4	high	76%
Lower Carpentaria (district 29)
Burketown Airport	31.5	+1.1	36.3	19th	15.1	0.0	10.3	7th	0.6	0.5	high	120%
Century Mine	33.1	+2.4	37.1	30th	12.9	-0.4	7.2	5th	0	0.6	v low	0%
Cloncurry Airport	30.9	+2.1	35.7	16th	12.5	+0.4	8.1	6th	0	3.1	lowest	0%
Croydon Township	32.4	+1.2	35.6	19th	16.1	+0.4	10.4	8th	0	2.6	lowest	0%
Julia Creek Airport	32.0	+2.5	36.7	30th	9.3	-0.3	4.2	23rd	0	3.9	v low	0%
Kowanyama Airport	33.0	+0.8	35.1	19th	15.9	-0.3	11.8	9th	0.2	2.4	average	8%
Mornington Island	29.4	+1.7	32.6	30th	17.3	+0.1	11.9	9th	0.2	0.8	average	25%
Mount Isa Aero	30.2	+2.9	35.1	16th	9.2	-1.0	2.3	7th	0	3.6	lowest	0%
Normanton Airport	32.7	+1.2	36.3	20th	17.0	+0.3	12.8	10th	0	0.9	v low	0%
Sweers Island	27.5	+0.7	31.4	20th	19.6	+1.2	14.6	8th	1.1	1.9	high	58%
Upper Carpentaria (district 30)
Georgetown Airport	31.7	+1.6	36.9	14th	12.6	-0.9	5.9	8th	0	2.6	v low	0%
Hughenden Airport	30.4	+2.5	34.6	18th	9.4	-0.9	2.0	22nd	0	9.2	v low	0%
Richmond Airport	31.2	+2.2	35.7	16th	9.6	-0.2	3.0	5th	0	5.5	v low	0%
Richmond Post Office	30.9	+2.4	35.0	15th	10.7	+0.6	3.4	5th	0	4.2	lowest	0%
Barron North Coast (district 31)
Cairns Aero	27.9	+1.3	29.2	31st	16.2	-1.2	11.0	9th	3.2	26.6	v low	12%
Cairns Racecourse	27.4		28.7	21st	14.9		10.6	9th	6.4
Cape Flattery	27.9	+0.6	29.0	31st	21.3	+0.3	13.7	9th	1.8	18.1	v low	10%
Cooktown Airport	28.0	+1.0	29.2	17th	17.5	-0.7	10.5	9th	3.0	16.6	low	18%
Low Isles Lighthouse	26.9	+0.2	29.7	21st	21.2	+0.5	18.3	9th	19.6	37.1	average	53%
Mareeba Airport	27.1	+1.0	31.2	20th	12.8	-0.9	9.4	7th	0.6	9.2	low	7%
Herbert North Coast (district 32)
Cape Ferguson NTC AWS	23.2		26.8	20th	18.4		14.5	9th
Cardwell Marine Pde	25.8	-0.1	27.5	16th	15.1	+0.8	10.6	9th	6.0	29.2	low	21%
Ingham Composite	27.5	+1.4	32.1	20th	13.6	-0.8	10.0	9th	7.4	37.9	low	20%
Innisfail	26.0	+0.9	27.2	17th	15.9	+0.4	11.6	9th	30.4	116.6	low	26%
Lucinda Point	24.2	+0.3	27.6	17th	18.8	-0.1	16.4	9th	15.2	26.3	average	58%
South Johnstone Exp Stn	26.4	+1.2	28.6	20th	14.6	-0.9	9.7	9th	14.2	87.0	v low	16%
Townsville Aero	27.2	+1.2	32.8	20th	14.1	-0.6	8.7	9th	0.2	15.7	low	1%
East Central Coast (district 33)
Alva Beach	25.5	+0.5	31.0	20th	15.4	+0.1	11.1	10th	0.2	14.1	low	1%
Ayr DPI Research Stn	27.8	+1.7	33.7	20th	13.0	+0.3	8.7	10th	0.2	15.4	low	1%
Bowen Airport	26.3	+0.9	28.4	20th	12.6	-1.6	6.4	10th	0	22.2	lowest	0%
Collinsville Post Office	28.9	+2.0	32.3	18th	10.3	-0.3	4.8	10th	0	17.5	lowest	0%
Hamilton Island Airport	23.7	+1.0	26.7	20th	18.7	+0.5	17.1	7th	2.0	18.1	v low	11%
Mackay Aero	25.3	+1.7	27.9	8th	11.5	-0.4	7.5	10th	1.2	34.5	low	3%
Mackay M.O	24.4	+1.9	27.4	14th	14.0	0.0	10.9	10th	1.6	30.4	low	5%
Proserpine Airport	27.2	+1.6	31.3	20th	9.8	-1.9	4.5	10th	0.2	25.9	low	1%
Rosslyn Bay NTC AWS	22.2		26.9	8th	15.6		11.5	9th
Samuel Hill Aero	25.1	+1.4	28.1	12th	9.0	-0.1	3.2	22nd	1.8	41.5	v low	4%
St Lawrence	26.1	+1.3	29.7	15th	10.6	-0.5	3.8	22nd	0.6	29.4	low	2%
Williamson	26.0		28.7	8th	9.0		1.6	22nd	0.2	28.0	v low	1%
Woolshed	25.2	+2.0	30.3	20th	12.3	0.0	6.3	8th	1.8	14.0	average	13%
Yeppoon The Esplanade	23.2	+1.1	27.1	8th	12.2	-0.4	5.3	22nd	1.2	36.7	low	3%
West Central Coast (district 34)
Charters Towers Airport	28.8	+2.2	32.7	19th	12.2	-0.1	7.2	5th	0	17.9	lowest	0%
Moranbah Airport	28.3		32.4	19th	7.2		1.9	10th	0
Central Highlands (district 35)
Blackwater Airport	27.9		31.4	19th	8.5		2.7	10th	0
Clermont Airport	27.7		32.6	19th	5.7		-1.3	10th	0
Emerald Airport	27.5	+2.2	31.4	14th	9.2	-0.8	5.0	8th	0	22.2	lowest	0%
Lochington	27.9		32.6	14th	6.1		0.9	10th	0
Rolleston Airport	27.5		31.2	13th	5.9		-0.3	22nd	0
Springsure Comet St	26.7	+2.7	30.7	14th	8.1	+0.6	2.0	22nd	0	24.0	lowest	0%
Tambo Post Office	26.8	+3.3	31.0	31st	4.5	-0.6	-1.9	22nd	0	18.5	lowest	0%
Taroom Post Office	27.4	+4.4	31.6	14th	6.5	0.0	-1.6	22nd	3.0	28.0	low	11%
Central Lowlands (district 36)
Barcaldine Post Office	28.0	+3.1	32.7	13th	10.2	+0.8	3.9	22nd	0	15.7	lowest	0%
Blackall Airport	27.9	+2.7	33.2	17th	6.4	-1.2	-1.3	22nd	0	12.5	v low	0%
Isisford Post Office	28.5	+3.3	33.2	30th	7.6	-0.4	2.1	22nd	0	12.0	lowest	0%
Longreach Aero	28.9	+2.9	34.4	16th	8.2	-0.3	2.4	10th	0	10.9	lowest	0%
Upper Western (district 37)
Camooweal Township	31.4	+3.0	36.2	31st	11.9	+1.0	6.0	5th	0	2.8	lowest	0%
The Monument Airport	29.3	+2.4	35.5	16th	10.2	+1.3	3.7	4th	0	2.1	v low	0%
Trepell Airport	29.8	+2.5	36.3	16th	11.1	+1.7	6.8	4th	0	2.9	v low	0%
Urandangi Aerodrome	30.1		37.0	31st	8.4		3.1	5th	0
Winton Airport	30.2	+2.6	35.9	16th	10.2	+0.6	4.0	23rd	0	8.3	v low	0%
Lower Western (district 38)
Birdsville Airport	27.5	+2.9	37.5	31st	9.8	+1.1	4.1	21st	0	3.8	v low	0%
Boulia Airport			28.0	1st	11.7	+2.2	5.5	6th	0	6.2	lowest	0%
Windorah Post Office	27.7	+3.6	35.0	31st	9.6	+1.5	4.0	21st	0	9.6	lowest	0%
Port Curtis South Coast (district 39)
Bundaberg Aero	25.6	+2.3	28.1	8th	9.7	-1.2	3.3	22nd	0.8	34.3	v low	2%
Gayndah Airport	26.7	+2.2	30.7	14th	6.9	-0.7	0.8	23rd	1.2	26.3	low	5%
Gladstone Airport	25.6	+1.9	29.0	15th	12.1	-0.5	6.0	22nd	0	34.4	lowest	0%
Gladstone Radar	26.4	+2.3	29.0	15th	14.9	+0.6	10.3	23rd	0	32.0	lowest	0%
Lady Elliot Island	23.6	+1.7	25.8	14th	17.7	+0.5	8.4	22nd	0	57.8	lowest	0%
Monto Township	25.7	+2.7	29.4	31st	5.4	-1.1	-1.3	22nd	0	24.8	lowest	0%
Rockhampton Aero	27.0	+2.2	29.9	15th	11.0	+0.3	4.8	22nd	0.4	28.1	low	1%
Sandy Cape Lighthouse	23.7	+1.4	27.0	24th	16.6	+1.6	9.8	21st	7.8	63.0	v low	12%
Seventeen Seventy	23.7	+1.7	26.5	21st	15.4	+0.9	10.5	9th	0	45.1	lowest	0%
Thangool Airport	26.5	+1.6	29.2	31st	5.3	-1.1	-0.3	23rd	0.2	23.2	low	1%
Moreton South Coast (district 40)
Amberley AMO	25.2	+2.5	29.6	31st	5.3	-0.9	-1.4	21st	6.4	28.8	low	22%
Archerfield Airport	24.9	+2.4	28.7	12th	8.4	+0.4	3.0	22nd	4.4	37.2	v low	12%
Beaudesert Drumley Street	24.5		28.9	31st	5.7		-1.2	21st	4.4
Beerburrum Forest Station	25.4	+2.3	32.7	30th	9.5	+0.2	3.4	23rd	0.2	44.7	v low	0%
Brisbane	24.8	+1.7	28.5	28th	10.8	+0.3	6.0	23rd	0.2	38.4	v low	1%
Brisbane Aero	23.3	+1.5	26.2	13th	9.8	+0.2	4.1	21st	0	38.5	lowest	0%
Cape Moreton Lighthouse	21.8	+2.1	24.1	15th	15.5	+1.6	10.0	21st	0	76.0	lowest	0%
Coolangatta	23.4	+2.1	26.3	27th	9.7	-0.7	2.7	23rd	2.8	55.7	low	5%
Double Island Point Lighthouse	23.6	+3.0	27.4	31st	15.8	+1.2	10.3	21st	0	62.6	lowest	0%
Gold Coast Seaway	23.9	+2.1	26.5	31st	12.5	+0.1	5.6	21st	1.8	57.1	low	3%
Gympie	25.2	+1.9	29.7	13th	6.8	-0.2	-0.3	22nd	1.2	40.2	v low	3%
Hervey Bay Airport	24.1	+1.6	27.4	15th	9.7	-0.8	2.2	22nd	0.4	55.0	v low	1%
Jimna Forestry	21.3	+1.5	26.5	31st	5.4	-0.2	-1.9	23rd	1.4	35.2	v low	4%
Kingaroy Airport	23.3	+1.9	28.1	31st	3.1	-1.0	-4.4	22nd	4.4	28.7	low	15%
Logan City Water Treatment Plant	24.6	+2.1	28.1	28th	9.8	+0.6	4.3	22nd	1.6	44.8	v low	4%
Maleny Tamarind St	22.1	+1.9	26.2	13th	10.8	+1.0	4.6	21st	0	62.9	lowest	0%
Maryborough	25.5	+2.1	29.2	13th	9.0	-0.3	1.3	22nd	0.4	40.6	v low	1%
Nambour DPI - Hillside	24.7		28.7	13th	10.4		4.8	23rd	0.4
Rainbow Beach	23.8	+1.7	27.6	13th					0	86.9	lowest	0%
Redcliffe	23.2	+1.3	26.4	12th	11.5	+0.2	6.3	22nd	0	37.6	v low	0%
Sunshine Coast Airport	24.3	+2.5	28.6	28th	9.1	-0.7	1.9	22nd	1.4	72.6	v low	2%
Tewantin RSL Park	24.0	+1.9	27.9	13th	11.6	+0.1	6.0	21st	1.0	85.2	v low	1%
Toolara (Kelly)	24.6	+1.1	28.3	13th	12.5	+0.4	7.1	22nd	0.4	70.2	v low	1%
University of Queensland Gatton	25.0	+2.6	30.0	12th	6.4	-0.3	1.4	4th	3.8	26.7	low	14%
East Darling Downs (district 41)
Applethorpe	17.4	+1.9	23.3	31st	2.5	-0.3	-4.3	22nd	3.2	40.9	v low	8%
Dalby Airport	23.5	+1.8	29.2	31st	3.9	-0.9	-4.2	21st	2.8	23.5	low	12%
Goondiwindi Airport	23.3	+1.9	30.6	12th	5.4	-0.2	-1.4	22nd	4.8	29.5	low	16%
Oakey Aero	22.9	+2.6	28.5	31st	2.7	-0.9	-5.6	21st	9.0	26.1	average	34%
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade	18.5	+2.2	24.2	31st	1.0	-1.0	-5.6	22nd	5.4	42.3	low	13%
Texas Post Office	22.1	+1.3	28.1	12th	4.1	-0.4	-2.8	21st	5.4	33.4	low	16%
Toowoomba Airport	20.2	+1.7	26.2	31st	8.2	+0.7	-0.1	21st	4.8	32.6	low	15%
Warwick	21.0	+1.1	26.2	31st	2.4	-0.8	-4.5	21st	5.0	23.0	average	22%
West Darling Downs (district 42)
Miles Constance Street	25.0	+2.5	31.2	31st	4.1	-1.2	-3.4	22nd	0	33.6	v low	0%
Maranoa (district 43)
Injune Post Office	26.1	+3.8	31.4	14th	3.9	-0.5	-2.2	22nd	6.2	25.2	low	25%
Mitchell Post Office	25.6	+3.9	32.5	30th	2.5	-1.4	-3.1	22nd	0	23.3	lowest	0%
Roma Airport	25.7	+3.3	33.3	31st	2.8	-2.1	-4.1	21st	0	22.7	lowest	0%
St George Airport	24.4	+2.3	31.2	30th	5.7	-0.5	-1.0	21st	2.0	19.3	low	10%
Surat	24.6	+2.9	31.2	31st	4.5	-1.1	-2.8	22nd	0	27.1	lowest	0%
Warrego (district 44)
Bollon Mary St	25.1	+3.7	32.0	31st	5.3	-0.3	-1.5	21st	1.2	21.8	low	6%
Charleville Aero	25.5	+3.6	32.2	31st	5.4	-0.5	-1.3	22nd	0	19.2	lowest	0%
Cunnamulla Post Office	25.0	+3.6	31.5	29th	7.8	+0.7	2.5	21st	0	17.0	lowest	0%
Far Southwest (district 45)
Ballera Gas Field	25.8	+2.3	33.8	31st			2.8	21st	0	5.6	v low	0%
Quilpie Airport	25.9	+3.3	32.6	29th	7.3	-0.4	2.1	21st	0	12.5	lowest	0%
Thargomindah Airport	25.1	+2.2	33.2	29th	7.5	-0.8	2.6	22nd	0	7.5	v low	0%
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Middle Percy Island	22.7	+1.3	24.8	12th	17.1	+0.6	14.3	22nd	2.2	28.5	low	8%
Willis Island	26.6	+0.3	27.5	15th	22.5	+0.6	21.1	1st	5.2	23.3	low	22%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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