Canberra: Climate and water

  • Total annual rainfall during the 2021-22 year was the region's third wettest year on record.
  • Heavy rainfall in November 2021 resulted in very high streamflows and minor flooding across the region.
  • Soil moisture in the root zone (0 - 1m depth) remained at near-saturated levels following extensive rainfall during the 2021-22 year.

Schematic representation of the Canberra region. In 2021–22, rainfall was 1,231 mm, well above average for the first time in four years. Streamflow in Queanbeyan River in 2021–22 was 256 GL compared to the average value of 50 GL. Soil moisture was above average.

For further information on the region's climate and water conditions during the 2021–22 year scroll down this page or click on the links below:

 

About the region

  • The Canberra region has a relatively dry, continental climate with warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters. Rainfall in the region is relatively uniform throughout the year with a long-term monthly average of 50–75 mm.
  • Higher streamflows in the region's rivers typically occur during winter and spring following higher runoff from partially saturated catchments in autumn and winter. Streamflows in the Murrumbidgee River can also be influenced by water diversions from the Snowy Mountain Scheme.

 

Climate conditions

Rainfall

Figure C1 Annual and monthly rainfall deciles for the Canberra region during the 2021–22 year

  • Total area-averaged rainfall for the 2021-22 year was 1,231 mm, 54% above the mean value of 797 mm.
  • In November 2021, heavy rainfall, associated with a coastal low, resulted in the region's wettest November on record, with rainfall totals more than double the monthly average. More information on this event can be found in the Bureau's Special Climate Statement 75.
  • The development of the La Niña event in November 2021, which remained active until April 2022, contributed to the region's third wettest spring, the seventh wettest summer, and the twelfth wettest autumn on record.
  • By June 2022, oceanic indicators of ENSO returned to neutral, and despite some atmospheric indicators showing a La Niña-like signal, rainfall in June 2022 was 36% below average. It was the first month since April 2021 to record below-average rainfall.
  • More information on Australia's climate and water over the 2021-22 year can be found at: Financial year climate and water report 2021–22.

 

Figure C2 Total monthly rainfall for the Canberra region during the 2021–22 year compared with the average and percentiles for the region

  • Rainfall in November 2021 and January 2022 was well above the 90th percentile for those months.
  • November 2021 was the region's wettest November, with rainfall being more than double the monthly average.
  • January 2022 was the region's eighth wettest January on record.
  • Rainfall in June 2022 was below average for that month.

 

Actual evapotranspiration

Figure C3 Annual and monthly actual evapotranspiration for the Canberra region during the 2021–22 year

  • Total area-averaged actual evapotranspiration was average to above average for most of the 2021-22 year, with the north eastern area experiencing their highest evapotranspiration on record.
  • In December 2021, January and May 2022, evapotranspiration was well above average across almost the entire region due to increased water availability following high rainfall in September-November 2021 and January 2022.
  • In November 2021, evapotranspiration was average across most of the region due to average rainfall occuring in October 2021.
  • Evapotranspiration was above average over the entire region all year, except November 2021, due to increased water availability following the very high rainfall in spring-summer 2021 and early winter 2022.
  • Following the development of La Nina in November, evapotranspiration was generally above average to very much above average across the summer months due to increased water availability following high rainfall occuring from November onwards.

 

Soil moisture

Figure C4 Annual and monthly soil moisture deciles for the Canberra region during the 2021–22 year

  • Soil moisture in the root zone (0–1 m depth) was very much above average across the entire region during the 2021-22 year.
  • Soil moisture was average to above average in July-September 2021; and it was above average or very much above average for most of the year, reflecting the average the to above-average rainfall experienced across the region during most months of the year
  • Between November 2021 and January 2022 soil moisture was generally well above average after the region experienced highest on record rainfall during this period because of the La Nina event.
  • Despite below average rainfall in June 2022, soil moisture was mostly above average.
  • More information on soil moisture distribution across the Canberra region is available in the Australian Water Outlook.

 

Streamflow responses

Map of key gauging stations. Molonglo River at Burbong, station number 410705, is located east of Queanbeyan, upstream of the confluence of the Molonglo and Queanbeyan River. Cotter River at Gingera, station number 410730, is in the west of the region. Queanbeyan River Upstream Googong Dam, station number 410781, is in the central east part of the region.
Figure C5 Key flow gauging stations along the main rivers within the Canberra region

  • The Cotter and Queanbeyan rivers contribute most of the inflows to the storages in the Canberra region.
  • Molonglo River, one of the major tributaries of the Murrumbidgee River, flows through the Canberra city centre where it is dammed to form Lake Burley Griffin.

 

Figure C6 Total monthly flow for major rivers in the Canberra region during the 2021–22 year compared with the average and percentiles

  • Streamflows were above average for most of 2021–22, reflecting the wet conditions experienced across the region. For example, total annual flow in the Queanbeyan River upstream of Googong Dam (Station 410781) was 256 GL compared to the average value of 50 GL.
  • This was the second year of high streamflows in the region's rivers since 2016.
  • From November 2021 to May 2022, streamflows at most sites increased to flow volumes well-above the 90th percentile following well above average rainfall over the entire region during November 2021 and January 2022 respectively (see Rainfall). From November 2021 to June 2022, streamflows for Queanbeyan remained well above the 90th percentile due to La Nina during spring and summer, resulting in the wettest November on record.
  • Very high streamflow occured in November 2021 due to heavy rainfall during the month. The rainfall caused minor to moderate flooding in some parts of the region (see the Bureau's Special Climate Statement 75 for more information).