Queensland in December 2020: Wetter than average in the north, west and far south-east; record warm December nights

Rainfall was above average in northern, central and western Queensland, and the far south-east. Rainfall was close to or below average along remaining parts of the east coast and southern inland Queensland. Temperatures were above average, with record warm December nights for Queensland at a whole.

Above average rainfall in the north and west, and far south-east

  • Rainfall was above average in northern, western, and central coast areas; also about the south-east and southern Darling Downs.
  • Thunderstorms rapidly developed over the Darling Downs on the afternoon of 2 December, with isolated moderate to heavy falls reported between Dalby, Warwick and Texas; further thunderstorms developed over Charleville the next evening.
  • Severe thunderstorms formed over the south-east on the 8th, associated with a surface trough. The storms produced moderate falls over northern Brisbane to the Wide Bay coast, with large hail reported at Bribie Island.
  • Periods of heavy rain, associated with a surface- and upper-level trough and low pressure system off the south-east Queensland coast, produced heavy falls across parts of far south-east Queensland, and very heavy falls to the Gold Coast Hinterland between the 12th and 18th.
  • Monsoonal activity brought widespread moderate to heavy falls across the north and north-west from the 18th, with some locally heavier falls around Mount Isa on the 22nd. A few sites had their highest December daily rainfall on record.
  • Showers and thunderstorms generated widespread moderate falls across the Cape York Peninsula, the northern and central interior, and along the north-east to central coasts from the 25th to 28th, extending to most of eastern Queensland at the end of the month.

Record warm nights for Queensland; frequent heatwaves

  • Both maximum and mean temperatures were above average in December for Queensland as a whole.
  • Queensland had its warmest December on record in terms of minimum temperature, at 1.99 °C above the long-term average.
  • The state was affected by low-, severe- and extreme-intensity heatwaves throughout December.
  • An extreme-intensity heatwave developed over southern Queensland at the start of the month. Cunnamulla had its hottest December day and night on record on the 1st. Birdsville reported 48.7 °C on 5 December, and this was the hottest day reported in Queensland for December, and for the year 2020.
  • Severe-intensity heatwave conditons expanded over western and southern parts, and then from north-west to south-east at the end of the first week before cooler air eased conditions.
  • A number of sites had their highest December temperature on record, or their warmest December night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
  • Cooler than usual temperatures associated with a southerly flow were reported over southern and south-west parts of the state from the 7th to the 9th, with Miles reporting its lowest December temperature on record.
  • Another low- to severe-intensity heatwave affected most of central to eastern Queensland from the 15th to the 20th.
  • Daily maximum temperatures were cooler than average from central to south-east parts of the state from the 11th to the 14th, due to thick cloud and periods of rain.
  • Cooler than usual maximum temperatures were reported over south-west Queensland on the 21st to the 23rd, with Birdsville and Bedourie both reporting their coldest December day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.
  • A few sites reported their highest December mean daily minimum temperature on record or their highest December mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years.

Heavy rainfall, damaging winds, abnormally high tides and dangerous surf

  • Periods of very heavy rainfall associated with a surface- and upper-level trough affected south-east Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales from the 12 to 18 December.
  • Areas in the Gold Coast Hinterland reported more than 1000 mm in the five days 13 to 17 December (Upper Springbrook Alert), while areas in the Gold Coast reported between 300 mm to 400 mm from 12 to 17 December. Flooding occurred in south-east Queensland around the Logan River.
  • The systems produced an 11 metre maximum wave height at Brisbane Buoy, and 30 cm to 70 cm storm surges at south-east Queensland storm tide gauges. A storm surge of up to 50 cm coincided with high tides to produce coastal flooding in low-lying areas south of Fraser Island.
  • Brisbane recorded at least its fourth-highest daily maximum sea level since records began in 1980. Mooloolaba recorded at least its fifth-highest daily maximum sea level since records began in 1987.

Further information

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Extremes in December 2020
Hottest day 48.7 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 5th
Warmest days on average 39.2 °C at Julia Creek Airport
Coolest days on average 26.5 °C at Applethorpe
Coldest day 14.8 °C at Applethorpe on the 12th
Coldest night 8.0 °C at Miles Constance Street on the 9th
Coolest nights on average 15.9 °C at Applethorpe
Warmest nights on average 27.5 °C at Sweers Island
Warmest night 33.3 °C at Windorah Airport on the 3rd
Warmest on average overall 32.7 °C at Lake Julius AWS
Coolest on average overall 21.2 °C at Applethorpe
Wettest overall 964.0 mm at Springbrook Road
Wettest day 318.0 mm at Springbrook Road on the 13th
Strongest wind gust 144 km/h at Dalby Airport on the 2nd

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall
Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures
Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures
Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

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


Record highest December daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Camooweal Township 120.4 on the 22nd 116.3 on the 19th in 1950 128
Trafalgar Station 136.0 on the 30th 112.6 on the 29th in 2011 108
Mount Isa Mine 127.4 on the 22nd 120.2 on the 16th in 1984 88
Lady Elliot Island 168.2 on the 14th 139.4 on the 12th in 2011 82
Ulcanbah 131.0 on the 25th 87.6 on the 29th in 2015 76
Mount Isa Aero 115.0 on the 22nd 109.4 on the 16th in 1984 55
Upper Mudgeeraba Water 190.0 on the 13th 178.2 on the 13th in 1991 47
Springbrook Road 318.0 on the 13th 231.0 on the 13th in 1991 40
Coolangatta 166.0 on the 13th 156.6 on the 8th in 2004 38
Green Hills 91.4 on the 25th 71.0 on the 30th in 1988 35
Islay Plains 66.0 on the 30th 54.0 on the 13th in 2018 28
Julia Creek Airport 74.4 on the 29th 70.0 on the 16th in 2001 20



Record highest December total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Trafalgar Station 308.8 287.4 in 2011 111 84.6
Gilberton 286.1 283.2 in 1956 102 107.4
Springbrook Road 964.0 720.6 in 2010 39 252.9
Coolangatta 534.8 493.8 in 2010 38 155.4
Green Hills 332.2 310.8 in 2009 34 114.8
Frankfield Station 250.0 200.0 in 2010 30 84.3
Logan City Water Treatment Plant 258.1 252.6 in 1995 27 125.0
Richmond Airport 213.8 139.6 in 2010 23 63.2

Highest December total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
December
Oak Park Station 273.0 455.9 in 1916* 104.7
Rollingstone 576.5 892.8 in 1975* 194.2
Ulcanbah 252.8 345.5 in 1975* 65.4
Jochmus 249.0 327.4 in 1975* 61.6
Robin Hood Station 322.0 337.4 in 1973* 105.9
Albro Station 230.0 282.0 in 1975* 81.5
Roseberth Station 58.8 105.9 in 1999 12.9
Camooweal Township 211.0 289.2 in 2000 63.5
Miranda Downs Station 307.9 504.5 in 2000 122.0

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported




Record highest December temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Bollon Mary St 45.7 on the 1st = 45.7 on the 22nd in 2019 64 35.1
Cunnamulla Post Office 46.2 on the 1st 46.0 on the 7th in 1979 64 35.3
University of Queensland Gatton 43.5 on the 6th 43.4 on the 16th in 2019 55 31.4
Applethorpe 37.5 on the 2nd 36.8 on the 24th in 1972 52 26.0
Texas Post Office 43.5 on the 2nd 43.0 on the 7th in 1981 51 32.9
Dalby Airport 42.1 on the 2nd 41.4 on the 29th in 2013 29 31.8
Warwick 40.8 on the 2nd 40.4 on the 29th in 2013 26 29.6



Record lowest December daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Bedourie 22.0 on the 23rd 22.5 on the 14th in 2000 23 38.9
Birdsville Airport 22.1 on the 21st 25.1 on the 15th in 2001 21 39.1



Record highest December daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Cunnamulla Post Office 33.2 on the 1st 32.2 on the 29th in 1957 64 20.8
Isisford Post Office 33.1 on the 3rd 32.0 on the 30th in 1966 58 22.0
Texas Post Office 27.2 on the 2nd 26.5 on the 21st in 2017 51 17.4
Archerfield Airport 25.3 on the 7th 24.9 on the 18th in 2012 45 19.1
Blackall Airport 30.3 on the 20th 29.7 on the 25th in 2003 20 22.2
Normanton Airport 30.2 on the 8th = 30.2 on the 22nd in 2018 20 26.0



Record lowest December temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Miles Constance Street 8.0 on the 9th 8.5 on the 6th in 2012 24 19.2



Record highest December mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Tambo Post Office 22.3 21.9 in 2009 88 19.2
Rockhampton Aero 22.9 = 22.9 in 2019 81 21.3
Injune Post Office 20.6 20.5 in 2009 53 18.2
Applethorpe 15.9 = 15.9 in 2009 51 13.8
Monto Township 20.1 19.8 in 2005 46 18.3
Logan City Water Treatment Plant 21.3 21.1 in 1997 28 19.3
Brisbane Aero 21.9 21.8 in 1997 26 20.2
Yeppoon The Esplanade 24.0 23.8 in 2019 26 23.0
Warwick 17.8 17.5 in 2009 25 15.9
Brisbane 22.2 21.9 in 2005 21 20.4

Highest December mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
December
Amberley AMO 20.3 20.6 in 1979 18.4
Archerfield Airport 21.2 21.3 in 1990* 19.1
Coolangatta 21.3 21.9 in 1997 19.7
Gold Coast Seaway 21.7 21.9 in 1997 20.5
Sunshine Coast Airport 21.4 21.6 in 1997 19.8
Thangool Airport 20.4 20.6 in 1997 18.6
University of Queensland Gatton 19.9 20.1 in 1997* 18.1

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported




Summary statistics for December 2020
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
December
2020
Diff
from
average
Highest for
December
2020
Mean for
December
2020
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
December
2020
Total for
December
2020
Average
for
December
Rank of
December
2020
Fraction of
December
average
North Peninsula (district 27)
Coen Airport 34.8 -0.1 39.0 7th 23.9 +0.2 21.8 6th 215.4 131.1 high 164%
Horn Island 31.7 -0.3 33.1 21st 25.8 0.0 24.2 4th 170.4 174.4 average 98%
Scherger RAAF 33.7 -1.4 37.1 7th 24.3 +0.2 23.1 5th 453.2 204.0 high 222%
Weipa Aero 33.4 -0.7 36.7 6th 24.5 +0.3 23.5 5th 373.6 274.7 high 136%
South Peninsula (district 28)
Lockhart River Airport 32.6 +0.3 35.5 8th 24.4 +0.7 22.1 30th 366.0 206.8 high 177%
Palmerville 36.5 +1.1 39.7 1st 23.7 +1.0 19.1 5th 113.4 153.6 average 74%
Lower Carpentaria (district 29)
Burketown Airport 36.5 -0.1 41.8 9th 26.2 +0.7 23.7 31st 91.8 92.6 average 99%
Century Mine 38.3 -0.4 42.0 9th 26.4 +1.2 22.5 31st 63.4 97.3 average 65%
Cloncurry Airport 38.6 -0.2 44.2 6th 25.8 +0.8 21.4 30th 160.8 75.5 high 213%
Julia Creek Airport 39.2 -0.7 45.3 6th 25.1 +1.2 21.1 9th 172.2 62.8 v high 274%
Kowanyama Airport 34.2 -0.8 38.8 3rd 24.8 +0.4 22.7 8th 276.0 176.9 high 156%
Lake Julius AWS 38.6   43.8 1st 26.6   21.8 23rd 104.2
Mornington Island Airport 32.5   37.3 8th 26.8   23.2 16th 160.4
Mount Isa Aero 38.1 +0.8 43.7 5th 25.0 +1.9 21.0 23rd 174.4 73.1 v high 239%
Normanton Airport 35.6 -0.8 42.2 8th 26.1 +0.1 23.4 22nd 85.2 113.3 average 75%
Sweers Island 33.1 -0.6 37.1 8th 27.5 +0.4 23.4 10th 119.1 144.3 average 83%
Upper Carpentaria (district 30)
Georgetown Airport 35.9 -0.6 40.2 7th 24.3 +0.5 21.0 5th 146.6 120.3 average 122%
Richmond Airport 38.3 -0.2 43.7 7th 24.3 +0.8 21.1 13th 213.8 63.2 highest 338%
Barron North Coast (district 31)
Cairns Aero 32.9 +1.4 35.3 19th 24.3 +0.9 21.0 5th 202.4 182.9 high 111%
Cairns Racecourse 32.4   35.0 15th 23.7   19.8 5th 165.0
Cape Flattery 33.1 +0.5 34.8 23rd 25.2 +0.3 21.9 7th 105.2
Cooktown Airport 32.5 +0.1 34.7 30th 24.5 0.0 21.0 7th 247.2 174.5 average 142%
Low Isles Lighthouse 33.7 +1.3 36.9 8th 26.1 +0.8 24.2 27th 237.6 209.9 average 113%
Mareeba Airport 32.8 +0.6 36.6 7th 21.7 +0.9 18.6 5th 87.0 92.3 average 94%
Walkamin Research Station 31.6 +0.8 35.5 7th 20.5 +0.7 16.6 5th 123.0 120.6 average 102%
Herbert North Coast (district 32)
Cardwell Marine Pde 31.2 -0.3 34.6 19th 24.1 +1.8 21.8 6th 208.1 197.1 average 106%
Cowley Beach (Defence) 32.4   34.2 19th 23.5   19.7 5th 312.6
Innisfail Aerodrome 32.9   35.5 23rd 22.5   18.3 5th 274.6
Lucinda Point 29.7 +0.1 31.4 16th 25.5 +0.2 23.2 1st
Mount Stuart (Defence) 33.3   37.3 15th 23.8   21.5 5th 100.8
South Johnstone Exp Stn 32.2 +1.0 35.2 23rd 23.0 +1.1 19.3 5th 259.4 263.0 average 99%
Townsville Aero 32.5 +0.9 34.9 19th 25.1 +1.0 21.6 27th 279.4* 125.7 v high 222%
Townsville- Air Weapons Range (Defence) 33.8   37.9 15th 22.2   18.3 1st 51.0
East Central Coast (district 33)
Alva Beach 30.5 -0.3 32.5 22nd 25.3 +0.5 22.2 13th 155.0 104.7 high 148%
Ayr DPI Research Stn 32.9 +0.8 36.0 23rd 23.3 +1.2 19.6 1st 114.8 99.0 high 116%
Bowen Airport AWS 32.5   34.8 23rd 24.1   19.4 5th 175.0
Collinsville Post Office 35.3 +1.2 39.1 2nd 22.6 +1.2 18.6 5th 191.6 93.5 v high 205%
Hamilton Island Airport 30.0 +0.1 32.3 17th 24.7 +0.2 20.4 9th 286.2 142.4 high 201%
Mackay Aero 31.2 +0.4 33.7 7th 23.1 +0.9 19.2 5th 209.0 138.5 high 151%
Mackay M.O 31.9 +1.7 35.4 22nd 23.9 +0.9 20.5 14th 226.2 185.0 high 122%
Ooralea Racecourse (Mackay Turf Club) 30.8   33.8 23rd 22.5   18.8 1st
Proserpine Airport 33.4 +1.2 37.0 23rd 22.2 +0.5 18.5 1st 237.8 169.0 high 141%
Samuel Hill Aero 31.3 +0.5 34.5 18th 20.4 +0.4 14.7 5th 75.8 140.8 average 54%
St Lawrence 31.8 +0.1 35.0 19th 23.4 +1.3 19.1 26th 98.6 120.2 average 82%
Townsville- Fanning River (Defence) 34.9   39.5 17th 22.1   18.9 1st 87.2
Williamson 31.5 +0.1 33.8 19th 22.7 +0.7 18.1 5th 153.8 136.3 average 113%
Woolshed 30.5 +1.1 34.4 15th 21.3 +0.8 18.7 13th 150.4 101.4 high 148%
Yeppoon The Esplanade 29.3 +0.5 33.5 8th 24.0 +1.0 20.3 5th 150.8 111.5 high 135%
West Central Coast (district 34)
Charters Towers Airport 36.3 +1.6 40.2 18th 23.0 +1.0 19.8 14th 105.4 78.6 average 134%
Moranbah Airport 35.7   41.3 6th 21.8   17.5 1st 115.0
Central Highlands (district 35)
Blackwater Airport 35.4   41.1 6th 21.8   17.5 9th 65.6
Clermont Airport 35.2 +0.6 41.1 6th 22.5 +1.8 17.9 26th 119.0 77.2 high 154%
Emerald Airport 35.7 +1.2 42.0 6th 22.8 +1.4 19.4 26th 42.6 81.5 average 52%
Lochington 35.0 +0.2 42.3 6th 22.4 +1.7 16.9 9th 126.2 111.1 average 114%
Rolleston Airport 35.1 +0.7 41.5 6th 21.6 +1.4 15.5 9th 65.6 84.1 average 78%
Springsure Comet St 34.4 +0.3 40.7 2nd 21.1 +1.3 17.0 27th 67.4 91.4 average 74%
Tambo Post Office 35.1 +0.2 42.0 2nd 22.3 +3.1 12.0 9th 21.2 69.3 low 31%
Taroom Post Office 34.2 +0.6 42.3 2nd 21.1 +1.4 12.4 9th 88.6 88.8 average 100%
Central Lowlands (district 36)
Barcaldine Post Office 35.9 +0.1 43.0 6th 24.6 +2.2 17.5 25th 111.4 63.0 high 177%
Blackall Airport 36.4 0.0 43.9 6th 23.5 +1.3 14.9 9th 86.6 80.8 average 107%
Isisford Post Office 37.1 0.0 44.9 6th 24.0 +2.0 14.8 25th 76.8 53.0 high 145%
Longreach Aero 37.4 -0.2 46.0 6th 24.0 +1.7 15.1 9th 49.8 53.5 average 93%
Upper Western (district 37)
Camooweal Township 37.9 -0.2 43.6 3rd 26.0 +2.1 20.4 25th 211.0 63.5 v high 332%
Carters Bore 37.4   43.2 3rd 25.4   20.5 29th 158.4
New May Downs 37.6   42.9 5th 25.1   20.5 29th 156.2
The Monument Airport 38.3 0.0 44.9 2nd 24.9 +1.1 20.4 23rd 92.4 51.2 high 180%
Trepell Airport 39.0 +0.2 44.3 3rd 25.2 +1.2 19.0 9th 56.6 40.6 high 139%
Urandangi Aerodrome 38.3   45.1 3rd 25.6   16.8 24th 107.2
Winton Airport 38.8 -0.4 46.0 6th 24.6 +0.7 19.4 25th 81.6 35.8 v high 228%
Lower Western (district 38)
Bedourie 37.4 -1.5 46.1 1st 24.5 +0.9 16.3 25th 72.2 16.9 v high 427%
Birdsville Airport 37.9 -1.2 48.7 5th 24.9 +0.7 16.9 9th 18.6 11.1 high 168%
Boulia Airport       25.7 +2.1 15.6 26th 23.8 30.9 average 77%
Windorah Airport 37.5   45.9 1st 25.8   17.5 25th 26.6
Port Curtis South Coast (district 39)
Bundaberg Aero 30.5 +0.8 34.2 23rd 22.0 +1.5 19.0 14th 131.4 124.8 average 105%
Gayndah Airport 34.0 +1.2 41.2 6th 21.1 +1.6 17.3 9th 43.4 80.5 low 54%
Gladstone Airport 31.0 +0.8 33.9 7th 23.5 +1.3 20.5 14th 94.0 104.5 average 90%
Gladstone Radar 32.4 +1.3 35.8 6th 23.2 +1.3 19.5 14th 143.6 124.6 high 115%
Lady Elliot Island 29.6 +1.0 31.5 2nd 23.9 +0.7 18.0 14th 246.4 92.1 v high 268%
Monto Township 33.5 +1.4 40.1 6th 20.1 +1.8 14.8 9th 65.5 93.6 average 70%
Rockhampton Aero 33.8 +1.6 39.0 6th 22.9 +1.6 20.1 5th 79.0 102.7 average 77%
Thangool Airport 34.4 +1.3 40.7 6th 20.4 +1.8 16.2 4th 92.0 92.7 average 99%
Moreton South Coast (district 40)
Amberley AMO 31.8 +0.9 39.9 6th 20.3 +1.9 15.3 27th 116.8 118.5 average 99%
Archerfield Airport 30.6 +0.9 35.6 6th 21.2 +2.1 16.6 26th 169.0 124.7 high 136%
Beaudesert Drumley Street 31.2 +0.5 39.0 6th 20.2 +2.1 15.3 9th 158.0 114.7 high 138%
Beerburrum Forest Station 30.4 +0.6 38.5 6th 20.0 +1.6 15.3 27th 241.0 155.3 v high 155%
Brisbane 29.9 +0.3 33.9 7th 22.2 +1.8 17.3 12th 127.2 129.1 average 99%
Brisbane Aero 29.0 +0.8 33.2 8th 21.9 +1.7 17.2 12th 120.2 120.0 average 100%
Canungra (Defence) 29.5   37.1 6th 18.9   12.9 9th 389.4
Cape Moreton Lighthouse 27.9 +1.7 30.6 8th 22.2 +1.2 17.4 12th 94.0 124.8 average 75%
Coolangatta 28.0 +0.6 32.7 4th 21.3 +1.6 17.0 12th 534.8 155.4 highest 344%
Double Island Point Lighthouse 29.2 +1.7 33.0 29th 22.5 +0.9 18.6 12th 68.8 126.2 low 55%
Gold Coast Seaway 28.0 0.0 31.2 22nd 21.7 +1.2 17.3 12th 300.2 135.4 v high 222%
Greenbank (Defence) 31.1   38.1 6th 20.0   14.8 27th 190.4
Gympie 31.2 -0.1 38.5 6th 19.9 +1.3 15.7 27th 179.6 136.3 high 132%
Hervey Bay Airport 29.8 +0.3 32.1 1st 21.8 +0.8 17.1 11th 99.8 126.2 average 79%
Kingaroy Airport 31.0 +0.7 37.8 6th 18.2 +1.5 10.9 9th 79.0 94.2 average 84%
Logan City Water Treatment Plant 29.5 +0.3 35.0 7th 21.3 +2.0 14.9 12th 258.1 125.0 highest 206%
Maryborough 31.1 +0.5 34.3 4th 20.3 +0.7 16.7 10th 113.6 127.9 average 89%
Nambour Daff - Hillside 29.4 +0.3 38.4 6th 20.4 +1.0 17.1 10th 354.4 170.7 high 208%
Rainbow Beach 28.8 +0.5 33.7 7th       120.0 121.7 average 99%
Redcliffe 28.9 +0.5 33.6 7th 22.4 +1.4 17.4 12th 150.4 115.3 high 130%
Redland (Alexandra Hills) 28.2   32.0 8th 21.3   16.6 12th 231.4
Sunshine Coast Airport 28.6 +0.2 33.1 7th 21.4 +1.6 17.9 12th 341.4 149.9 v high 228%
Tewantin RSL Park 28.7 +0.6 35.0 6th 21.7 +1.0 17.9 12th 239.0 139.4 high 171%
Tin Can Bay (Defence) 29.7   33.8 7th 20.6   17.7 28th 126.6
University of Queensland Gatton 33.3 +1.9 43.5 6th 19.9 +1.8 14.0 27th 47.0 98.2 low 48%
East Darling Downs (district 41)
Applethorpe 26.5 +0.5 37.5 2nd 15.9 +2.1 9.9 9th 148.4 98.0 high 151%
Dalby Airport 32.9 +1.1 42.1 2nd 19.3 +1.7 9.7 9th 75.4 92.0 average 82%
Oakey Aero 31.5 +1.1 40.3 6th 18.8 +2.1 10.4 9th 75.8 90.3 average 84%
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade 27.1 -0.1 36.8 2nd 16.2 +1.9 9.1 13th 184.8 95.1 v high 194%
Texas Post Office 32.3 -0.6 43.5 2nd 19.7 +2.3 12.2 9th 89.8 80.2 average 112%
Toowoomba Airport 28.3 +0.6 37.4 6th 17.8 +1.1 13.2 12th 125.0 101.6 high 123%
Warwick 30.0 +0.4 40.8 2nd 17.8 +1.9 12.9 9th 100.8 102.2 average 99%
West Darling Downs (district 42)
Miles Constance Street 33.9 +0.8 42.9 2nd 20.7 +1.5 8.0 9th 57.8 87.1 average 66%
Maranoa (district 43)
Injune Post Office 35.3 +2.0 43.7 2nd 20.6 +2.4 10.4 9th 21.8 87.9 low 25%
Mitchell Post Office 35.5 +1.7 44.1 2nd 21.1 +2.5 10.3 9th 67.0 70.8 average 95%
Roma Airport 34.6 +0.9 44.7 2nd 20.8 +1.4 10.1 9th 43.4 77.0 low 56%
St George Airport 34.6 +0.3 45.0 1st 21.7 +1.1 11.2 9th 44.0 64.3 average 68%
Surat 34.3 +0.4 43.8 2nd 21.7 +2.2 12.4 9th 69.4 71.2 average 97%
Warrego (district 44)
Charleville Aero 35.9 +1.0 44.7 2nd 22.9 +2.4 14.3 9th 47.2 54.8 average 86%
Cunnamulla Post Office 35.8 +0.5 46.2 1st 23.2 +2.4 15.3 9th 43.2 38.8 average 111%
Far Southwest (district 45)
Ballera Gas Field 37.3 -0.9 46.3 5th 23.9 -0.1 16.7 25th 22.8 10.6 high 215%
Thargomindah Airport 36.6 -0.5 47.0 1st 24.3 +0.7 16.2 25th 27.8 23.8 average 117%
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Bougainville Reef 29.3   33.0 31st 26.7   23.7 13th
Cato Island 27.2   30.0 23rd 24.0   22.2 14th
Creal Reef 27.5   29.7 17th 25.4   21.3 10th
Flinders Reef 28.8   31.4 8th 26.3   23.4 12th
Frederick Reef 27.4   30.6 15th 25.0   22.8 12th
Gannet Cay 27.3   29.7 23rd 25.0   22.1 13th
Holmes Reef 29.1   31.4 31st 26.9   25.0 31st
Marion Reef 28.1   30.3 15th 25.8   24.3 27th
Middle Percy Island 28.3 0.0 29.9 22nd 22.9 +0.1 20.2 26th 247.2 125.1 high 198%
Willis Island 31.3 +0.6 33.0 27th 26.4 +0.9 24.5 30th 54.0 95.5 average 57%

* note: rainfall was estimated from surrounding sites


Notes

The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists the main features of the weather in Queensland using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Friday 6 January 2021. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites are long-term means based on observations from all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site. They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of long-term average rain.

The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site, based on the decile ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3, average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Further information

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