Greater Brisbane in January 2021: Cooler than usual; average to above average rainfall

Rainfall was close to or above average across Greater Brisbane, with showers and thunderstorms throughout the month.

Mean maximum temperatures were cooler than usual at most locations. Mean minimum temperatures were cooler than usual at all locations.

Average to above average rainfall

  • Surface troughs and moist onshore flow produced showers and thunderstorms across Greater Brisbane in the first 10 days of January.
  • Thunderstorms generated moderate to heavy falls on the evening of the 6th, with some sites reporting daily rainfall totals in excess of 70 mm to 9am on the 7th.
  • Severe thunderstorms developed over Brisbane on the evening of the 18th, and produced heavy rainfall, and flash-flooding around some eastern suburbs.
  • Showers brought mainly light falls across Brisbane at the end of the month.

Temperatures cooler than usual

  • Mean maximum temperatures were cooler than usual at all locations, except offshore Island locations.
  • It was a particularly cold day on the 8th, and a number of sites had their coldest January day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.
  • Maximum temperatures were warmer than usual on the 15th and 16th, as warm air was drawn down from the north, ahead of surface trough.
  • Mean minimum temperatures were cooler than usual across Greater Brisbane.
  • Minima were generally warmer than usual at the start of the month.
  • Overnight temperatures were cooler than usual from the 9th to the 15th, with the coldest night occurring at Canungra on the 12th, when it dropped to 13.1 °C.
  • Minima were warmer than usual from the 16th to 18th, as warm air was drawn down from the north, ahead of a surface trough.

Brisbane

  • Total rainfall for Brisbane was 86.6 mm, which is 63% of the long-term average of 138.1 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Brisbane was 29.9 °C, which is 0.6 °C below the long-term average of 30.5 °C.
  • The warmest day was 35.3 °C on the 16th, and the coolest day was on the 8th when the temperature reached 23.7 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Brisbane was 21.3 °C, which is 0.4 °C below the long-term average of 21.7 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 18.5 °C on the 12th, and the warmest morning was on the 18th when the minimum temperature was 23.8 °C.

Severe thunderstorms

  • Widespread thunderstorms activity brought heavy falls to south-east Queensland on the 18th. Flash flooding occurred in and around suburbs of Alexandra Hills, Birkdale, Thornside, Capalaba, Upper Coomera, Willow Vale and Ormeau Hills. Redland (Alexandra Hills) reported 120 mm in one hour. The SES had around 205 requests for assistance, mainly around flash flooding. QFES responded to 12 swift water rescue incidents, mainly for vehicles driving through flooded roads.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes in January 2021
Hottest day 38.1 °C at University of Queensland Gatton on the 16th
Warmest days on average 31.7 °C at University of Queensland Gatton
Coolest days on average 28.0 °C at Cape Moreton Lighthouse
Coldest day 21.2 °C at Beerburrum Forest Station on the 8th
Coldest night 13.1 °C at Canungra (Defence) on the 12th
Coolest nights on average 17.7 °C at Canungra (Defence)
Warmest nights on average 22.0 °C at Cape Moreton Lighthouse
Warmest night 24.3 °C at Cape Moreton Lighthouse on the 6th
24.3 °C at Point Lookout on the 16th
Warmest on average overall 25.6 °C at Brisbane
Coolest on average overall 23.1 °C at Canungra (Defence)
Wettest overall 281.3 mm at Caloundra Airport
Wettest day 190.6 mm at Redland (Alexandra Hills) on the 19th
Strongest wind gust 85 km/h at Cape Moreton Lighthouse on the 8th

Record lowest January daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
January
Brisbane Aero 22.9 on the 8th 23.1 on the 24th in 2012 27 29.2
Beerburrum Forest Station 21.2 on the 8th 21.7 on the 16th in 2012 22 30.5
Point Lookout 22.9 on the 8th 23.5 on the 13th in 2000 22 29.6



Summary statistics for January 2021
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
January
2021
Diff
from
average
Highest for
January
2021
Mean for
January
2021
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
January
2021
Total for
January
2021
Average
for
January
Rank of
January
2021
Fraction of
January
average
Amberley AMO 30.4 -0.8 36.0 6th 19.2 -0.4 14.5 24th 152.6 115.7 high 132%
Archerfield Airport 30.1 -0.4 34.5 16th 20.2 -0.2 14.7 12th 60.6 134.9 low 45%
Beaudesert Drumley Street 30.0 -1.6 35.8 5th 18.7 -0.7 14.9 11th 173.8 145.0 average 120%
Beerburrum Forest Station 29.0 -1.5 35.0 16th 19.3 -0.5 16.3 22nd 198.8 195.6 average 102%
Brisbane 29.9 -0.6 35.3 16th 21.3 -0.4 18.5 12th 86.6 138.1 average 63%
Brisbane Aero 28.6 -0.6 31.9 16th 21.1 -0.3 18.0 12th 81.6 124.7 average 65%
Canungra (Defence) 28.5   33.6 5th 17.7   13.1 12th 153.0
Cape Moreton Lighthouse 28.0 +1.0 30.0 6th 22.0 0.0 19.5 9th 193.8 146.6 high 132%
Greenbank (Defence) 30.4   36.1 5th 18.6   14.3 24th 64.6
Logan City Water Treatment Plant 28.9 -1.0 33.0 16th 20.7 0.0 17.1 12th 93.9 126.8 average 74%
Redcliffe 28.3 -0.9 31.1 6th 21.5 -0.8 18.9 9th 115.8 137.5 average 84%
Redland (Alexandra Hills) 28.1   30.6 16th 20.4   17.4 22nd 245.6
University of Queensland Gatton 31.7 0.0 38.1 16th 18.8 -0.3 14.3 24th 85.6 109.5 average 78%

Daily maximum temperatures for January 2021
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Amberley AMO29.530.531.731.236.036.025.523.126.627.728.729.631.132.633.535.030.031.032.727.826.729.530.330.730.131.630.831.031.830.2
Archerfield Airport30.029.930.230.233.833.227.423.227.128.628.930.330.932.634.530.130.732.227.827.329.729.630.929.531.132.230.930.831.328.9
Beaudesert Drumley Street29.630.631.329.335.834.424.923.326.126.627.928.930.631.633.633.830.430.132.526.726.929.130.330.630.232.133.130.230.131.029.2
Beerburrum Forest Station27.229.129.829.732.232.726.921.223.927.527.428.629.529.931.135.028.430.330.626.026.628.428.629.128.830.331.129.729.129.429.9
Brisbane29.429.930.130.232.833.328.223.726.927.828.530.330.830.731.935.329.530.132.127.627.429.229.330.128.930.631.430.630.430.230.4
Brisbane Aero28.128.629.328.930.831.027.922.926.427.227.628.429.229.330.331.927.929.130.126.925.927.828.228.627.828.929.929.129.029.429.3
Canungra (Defence)27.828.428.828.233.632.325.522.725.525.826.028.128.730.031.931.729.728.530.425.525.928.028.529.127.330.031.529.028.129.427.1
Cape Moreton Lighthouse27.529.429.928.929.330.026.322.824.925.627.227.227.628.229.529.727.827.227.826.227.528.529.428.928.129.229.327.927.828.629.5
Greenbank (Defence)28.330.930.930.036.135.226.422.826.227.227.929.630.932.334.334.831.230.332.327.327.130.430.931.730.532.733.631.031.129.3
Logan City Water Treatment Plant28.028.629.428.932.632.326.323.325.827.227.328.629.529.331.233.029.029.630.126.625.928.228.829.228.330.530.829.429.729.8
Point Lookout29.230.931.031.032.027.022.926.127.529.030.030.029.931.929.029.026.930.231.230.932.032.1
Redcliffe27.228.228.628.630.431.128.322.725.126.527.627.929.128.430.430.928.229.528.726.826.127.428.028.428.328.629.628.728.728.929.3
Redland (Alexandra Hills)27.827.927.728.329.530.226.723.025.626.427.228.228.929.228.630.628.227.729.326.726.426.728.129.027.428.529.129.429.429.229.6
University of Queensland Gatton30.931.533.931.937.437.426.323.125.229.429.930.831.833.335.338.131.034.432.629.126.930.031.632.131.233.334.833.032.733.530.6
Values are the maximum temperature, usually in the 24 hours from 9 am on the day indicated,
and typically occurred in the afternoon of that day.
Temperatures coloured according to their difference
from the long-term average for the period
-10.0 -9.0 -8.0 -7.0 -6.0 -5.0 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 +1.0 +2.0 +3.0 +4.0 +5.0 +6.0 +7.0 +8.0 +9.0 +10.0 °C Grey outline marks highest
and lowest for the period

Daily minimum temperatures for January 2021
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Amberley AMO19.420.421.121.720.120.620.720.318.219.116.214.816.219.217.622.722.321.019.620.719.516.817.714.520.216.218.519.819.420.8
Archerfield Airport20.720.721.022.322.021.321.720.018.419.817.514.718.721.218.622.922.722.719.521.619.816.617.717.121.617.519.622.922.720.521.9
Beaudesert Drumley Street19.119.719.820.320.619.920.819.118.518.214.915.115.917.417.422.420.820.819.119.618.715.716.315.519.916.419.220.319.718.221.1
Beerburrum Forest Station20.619.020.720.620.321.421.419.617.918.718.617.017.419.817.221.121.821.119.120.319.416.317.017.319.316.418.620.820.219.220.0
Brisbane21.721.522.223.223.422.322.120.918.619.919.118.520.122.420.823.822.823.819.522.420.718.920.318.921.519.421.723.023.321.323.0
Brisbane Aero21.621.422.323.123.322.122.520.718.520.020.318.019.822.019.923.021.223.119.622.320.418.519.418.721.218.621.323.623.123.022.3
Canungra (Defence)18.918.618.020.418.818.819.619.217.215.913.913.115.016.716.221.319.119.118.318.417.213.414.414.218.415.218.420.620.119.720.8
Cape Moreton Lighthouse20.922.522.322.223.724.322.621.019.519.519.922.622.122.822.423.621.823.419.620.720.321.322.422.621.122.123.521.923.223.322.9
Greenbank (Defence)19.919.818.520.219.920.021.120.118.019.215.314.416.118.316.822.220.721.119.020.118.015.015.814.320.215.017.821.119.118.820.0
Logan City Water Treatment Plant21.420.920.922.321.722.023.020.219.721.320.717.118.420.319.723.022.522.919.421.519.818.318.718.120.818.321.222.522.022.5
Point Lookout22.522.222.622.424.222.921.820.019.920.721.122.121.924.322.820.119.820.721.221.022.223.2
Redcliffe21.521.723.022.923.423.022.920.618.919.720.019.120.621.619.823.022.223.819.623.020.919.420.020.421.219.321.522.623.223.722.8
Redland (Alexandra Hills)21.020.520.522.622.021.622.320.418.420.119.418.619.119.418.723.521.622.118.821.218.917.419.217.820.817.921.421.923.222.121.5
University of Queensland Gatton17.620.420.721.820.021.620.919.918.117.515.215.716.218.617.222.023.021.419.520.518.816.916.214.318.116.118.422.218.418.118.7
Values are the minimum temperature, usually in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated,
and typically occurred that morning.
Temperatures coloured according to their difference
from the long-term average for the period
-10.0 -9.0 -8.0 -7.0 -6.0 -5.0 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 +1.0 +2.0 +3.0 +4.0 +5.0 +6.0 +7.0 +8.0 +9.0 +10.0 °C Grey outline marks highest
and lowest for the period

Daily rainfall for January 2021
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Alderley 2.0 5.4 4.0 1.0 - 1.2 4.4 0.4 8.4 1.2 1.0 - 0.1 - - 1.6 32.6 - 63.6 - 0.4 - - - 3.0 5.0 - 1.8 0.4 - 0.6
Amberley AMO - 1.2 - - - 1.2 112 - 4.0 - - - - - - - 0.4 - 33.0 - 0.2 - - - 0.4 - -
- - -
Archerfield Airport 0.8 1.4 0.2 0.6 - - 7.0 1.8 4.6 - 0.2 - - -
- 20.6 - 18.6 - - - - - 3.4 - - 1.0 - - 0.4
Beaudesert Drumley Street - 1.0 1.2 - - 15.8 84.6 1.8 5.6 - - - - - - 4.8 5.6 - 45.0 0.2 0.2 - - - 1.6 0.2 - 6.2 - - -
Beerburrum Forest Station 16.8 18.2 0.2 - - 1.0 2.4 9.4 16.4 4.8 7.2 0.4 - 0.6 - - 28.8 - 65.6 12.8 5.2 0.2 - 0.2 1.8 0.4 - 1.4 2.2 - 2.8
Blackbutt Post Office - 14.4 0.2 9.2 44.4 2.6 9.8 0.2 - - - 3.0 21.4 - - - - - - - - 1.2 6.0

Brisbane 2.4 1.8 - - 1.0 0.4 2.8 - 5.6 0.6 - - - - - - 31.6 - 35.4 - - - - - 4.4 - 0.2 0.4 - - -
Brisbane Aero 3.8 3.8 - 1.0 - 1.0 1.8 - 8.8 0.2 0.4 - - - 0.2 - 24.0 0.2 27.0 - 0.2 - - - 4.6 0.2 1.0 0.2 1.0 - 2.2
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-Tha 1.6 11.0 - 1.0 - - 7.2 - 8.6 1.0 - - - - - - 10.0 - 52.0 - - - - - - - - - 0.2 - 1.0
Caloundra Airport 80.0 - 7.0 1.6 - 0.8 0.1 44.0 30.0 17.0 6.0 - - 0.2 - - 45.0 2.0 29.0 1.2 7.0 - - 2.0 7.0 - - - 1.4 -
Canungra (Defence) 3.8 10.0 - - 11.6 19.4 11.2 0.2 6.4 - 0.6 0.2 - - - 5.0 0.2 - 54.8 - 0.4 - - - 2.4 3.8 - 14.0 1.8 - 7.2
Capalaba Water Treat 4.6 2.0 0.8 - - - 1.6 - 6.6 0.2 - - - - - - 10.0 13.0 71.0 - - - - - 6.0 - - 1.4 - - 0.8
Cape Moreton Lighthouse 11.4 0.2 1.0 0.2 0.2 - 8.2 0.8 4.0 1.6 1.2 - 0.4 - - - 17.6 4.0 119 9.8 0.6 - - - 13.6 0.2 - 0.2 - - -
Carneys Creek The Ranch - 9.0 58.0 3.6 - - 15.0 5.0 4.8 - - - - - - 15.8 - - 138 14.0 - - - - - - - 2.2


Clontarf 20.8 5.6 0.2 2.0 - 0.8 2.2 1.4 13.4 1.4 2.0 - - - - - 8.8 - 46.4 - - - - - 1.6 - - 5.0 0.4 - 4.0
Dunwich
27.6 0.2 0.2 3.2 4.8 - -
31.6 - 0.2 - - - 33.2 66.8 0.2 2.8 - - - 3.0
1.6 6.4 0.2

Ebbw Vale - - - - 3.8 1.2 75.8























Esk Post Office - 10.2 2.2 - - 27.8 18.6 - 8.8 - 1.0 - - - - - 1.4 - 65.4 - 2.6 - - - 1.0 - - - 1.6

Godwin Beach 23.4 13.4 4.6 1.4 0.2 - 3.6 0.6 23.0 3.6 8.4 1.6 0.2 2.4 - - 22.0 0.2 71.6 0.6 3.4 - - 0.2 5.0 2.0 - 0.8 3.4 - 1.2
Greenbank (Defence) 0.8 1.4 0.2 1.2 - 0.4 21.0 0.4 2.8 0.2 1.6 - - 0.2 - 0.6 0.6 1.0 26.8 - 0.6 - - - 0.2 0.2 - 2.8
0.8 0.8
Greenbank Thompson Road 0.2 2.0 - - 2.6 2.2 19.4 - 2.8 - 0.8 0.2 - - - 1.0 0.2 - 29.0 - 0.2 - - - 1.2 - - 7.4 1.6 2.2 0.6
Harrisville Mary Street 0.8 0.8 - 1.0 - - 49.4 0.4 2.0 0.1 0.8 - - - - - 6.8 - 12.8 1.4 - - - - 0.4 - - 0.6 - - 1.4
Highvale 4.0 12.0 1.6 0.2 - 2.6 20.0 0.2 9.0 0.8 0.4 - - - - 1.0 7.6 - 100 0.2 0.2 - - 0.2 0.2 - - 0.4 - - 2.8
Kalbar State School - - 14.6 10.6 - - 34.2 - 8.0 - - - - - - 2.0 - - 36.8











Karalee 4.0 1.8 - - 7.6 0.4 97.4 0.2 - 0.2 - - - - - - 2.0 - 31.2 1.6 - - - - 1.4 1.6 - 5.6


Karragarra Island - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.8 149 3.0 1.6 - - - 9.9 0.2 1.2 5.5


Landsborough 18.8 0.4 2.6 2.0 - - 2.8 3.0 30.2 11.4 8.4 - 0.8 0.6 - - 41.8 0.6 23.0 15.0 8.6 1.8 - - 4.4 0.4 - 6.2 2.4 2.8 1.0
Lindfield 6.2 9.8 0.4 - 3.2 - 9.6 1.4 16.6 5.8 1.0 - - - - - 8.4 - 52.8 - 0.4 - - - 0.4 - - 0.4 2.6 0.4 0.6
Logan City Water Treatment Plant 10.6 6.0 0.2 0.8 - 5.6 2.2 2.6 4.2 - - - 0.4 0.6 - 1.3 11.6 0.6 39.6 3.8 0.2 - - - 1.4 - - 1.2 0.6 0.4
Lowood Don St - 0.1 0.6 - - 22.8 13.6 0.4 5.3 0.2 - - - - - - - - 68.6 0.1 - - - - - 2.4 - 1.4 - - -
Manly Railway Station 5.0 0.6 - 0.1 - - 13.3 - - - - - - - 86.0 - - - - - 3.0 0.4 1.0 - 0.5 - 0.3
Maroon Dam - 3.0 19.8 27.2 - 2.2 15.0 2.0 2.8 - - - - - - 10.6 0.8 - 33.0 2.6 - - - - - - - 1.0 - 2.8 -
Moogerah Dam - - 28.0 5.0 - 9.0 17.0 8.0






















Mt Alford - - 9.6 3.0 - 10.0 19.0 - 2.5 - - - - - - - - - 71.0 0.8 - - 0.4





Mt Tamborine Fern St 6.0 9.2 0.8 0.6 - 29.0 14.0 0.2 5.2 0.4 2.4 2.0 1.4 - - 3.0 - 0.6 86.0 - 1.4 - - 0.4 7.8 - - 10.0 2.0 1.0 6.8
Mt Tarampa - 0.2 1.0 0.2 - 25.0 20.6 - 6.4 - - - - - - - - - 60.8 - - - - - - - - 4.8 2.6

Ormiston College 23.0 - - - - - - - 9.6 - - - - - 30.0 133 - - - - - 5.4





Peachester 18.2 6.5 - 2.5 - - 4.0 5.0 21.5 6.5 - - - 0.8 - - 69.0 - 49.0 6.8 6.5 - - - 5.0 2.5 - 8.0 5.5

Point Lookout 11.2 3.0 - 0.6 - - 2.8 2.4 12.2 3.2 2.2 - - 1.2 - 3.6 68.0 13.2 - 17.2 0.2 1.4 - 1.0
Redcliffe 21.6 5.4 - 0.2 - 0.4 2.6 1.2 15.6 1.4 2.2 - -
- - 11.2 - 41.0 - 0.2 - - - 5.2 - - 5.8 0.2 1.2 0.4
Redland (Alexandra Hills) 7.2 2.8 0.2 0.2 - 0.2 1.4 - 7.2 0.4 0.8 - - 0.2 - - 7.0 24.2 191 - - - - - 0.2 0.2 - 1.2 - 0.2 1.4
Regents Park 3.0 6.2 - - - 2.2 6.8 1.0 3.4 - 3.0 - - - - 0.6 10.4 0.2 28.0 - - - - - 0.4 - - 2.0 - 0.2 0.4
Rocky Point Sugar Mill - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.2 - 16.4 86.4 3.2 0.6 - 2.6 2.4 1.8


Somerset Dam 3.2 1.6 1.6 - 0.4 4.8 23.0 1.8 15.2 2.2 - - - - - - 1.0 0.2 87.4 0.4 - - - - - - - 2.6 2.4 - -
University of Queensland Gatton - 0.6 0.4 - 0.2 8.4 46.8 - 7.8 - - - - - - 0.2 - - 20.4 - - - - - - - - 0.8 - - -
Wallen Wallen
28.8 0.1

























Wamuran 7.3 9.0 - 0.7 0.5 1.4 6.8 1.0 11.7 2.2 1.9 - - 2.3 - - 10.3 0.4 82.1 3.0 - -








Wivenhoe Dam - - - 1.4 - 2.8 13.0 0.6 6.4 - - - - - - - - - 42.2







0.4


Woodford Stanmore 11.2 22.6 - 1.2 - 34.8 8.6 4.6 12.8 9.5 4.0 - - - - - 25.0 - 90.8 - 4.0 - - - 0.8 - - - 3.0 1.8 3.6
Most values are the precipitation in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated. Days marked with → are part of a longer accumulation, which is shown on the final day.
Values over 100 mm have been rounded to the nearest whole millimetre.
Days marked with - have a rainfall report of zero; days left blank have no rainfall report (which often indicates no rain fell).
Rainfalls coloured
according to the amount
0 1.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 25.0 50.0 100 150 200 300 400 600 millimetres

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists the main features of the weather in Greater Brisbane 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 summary includes data from observing sites in or near the Greater Brisbane “Greater Capital City Statistical Area” (GCCSA). The Australian Bureau of Statistics designed the GCCSAs to “include the population within the urban area of the city, as well as people who regularly socialise, shop or work within the city, and live in small towns and rural areas surrounding the city. It is important to note that GCCSAs do not define the built up edge of the city. They provide a stable definition for these cities and are designed for the output of a range of social and economic survey data.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Monday 1 February 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

Media
(03) 9669 4057

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