Monday, 3 September 2012 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Canberra - Product code IDCKGC15R0

Canberra in winter 2012: Mild days and cold nights for Canberra

• Below average rainfall
• Above average maximum temperatures, fewest cold days on record
• Below average minimum temperatures, coldest since 1997

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Below average rainfall

Canberra Airport recorded 119.5 mm of rainfall during winter, slightly below the historical average of 127.9 mm. Rain was close to normal throughout the winter, with 25 days of rain during the season (average 31). The wettest day was on the 11th of July as a surface trough crossed the state, with 22.4 mm at Canberra Airport and 33 mm at Mt Ginini. Canberra Airport also recorded two days above 15 mm associated with a surface trough in early June, with falls reaching 26.5 mm at Tidbinbilla.

Mild days and cold nights

The average maximum temperature at Canberra Airport during winter was 13.2 °C, 0.9 °C above the historical average and the equal 11th warmest on record. Temperatures were above average throughout the season but particularly mild during July, which was the 3rd warmest on record for Canberra. The warm temperatures were associated with generally clear conditions during the season and a lack of cool days.

The coldest day at Canberra Airport during winter was 9.2 °C, on the 24th of August; this is the first winter on record with no days below 9 °C. Only five days during the season failed to reach 10 °C, the equal fewest on record (average 19 days). In comparison, 12 days reached 15 °C, average for winter, with the warmest day reaching 19.4 °C on August 22.

The average minimum temperature was -0.3 °C, 0.9 °C below the winter average. This was the coolest winter for night-time temperatures since 1997, although only the 16th coolest on record. There were 49 nights of 0 °C or less, the most since 2002, of which 20 dropped below -4 °C, the most since 1997. In early July there were seven consecutive nights below -4 °C, only the fourth such spell on record for Canberra, while temperatures dropped to -6.6 °C in early August, the coldest night since July 2004.

The average temperature at Canberra Airport during winter was consequently 6.5 °C, equal to the historical average.

Other Phenomena

The prevailing winds during winter were westerly to northerly, forming 70% of 3pm winds, with 24% of winds from a southerly direction. This is slightly more southerly than normal for winter (15%), contributing to cooler night-time temperatures. There were 14 strong wind days at the airport, with the windiest day on August 10th, with wind gusts reaching 74 km/hr at the airport and 98 km/hr at Mt Ginini.

Canberra recorded an average of 5.8 hours of sunshine during winter, close to the historical average of 6 hours. There were no thunderstorms observed at the airport, with four reported anywhere in the ACT. The airport recorded 22 fogs (average 20), with snow observed on August 17 for the first time since 2005.

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top