Friday, 3 June 2022 - Monthly Climate Summary for Australian Capital Territory - Product code IDCKGC15L0

Australian Capital Territory in May 2022: wet with relatively warm nights

It was the wettest May since 1995 across the Australian Capital Territory, with monthly totals generally arond twice their average. Nights were relatively warm, with mean minimum temperatures around 2 °C above average. Daytime temperatures were around 0.5 °C below average.

Wettest since 1995

• May was wetter than average across the Australian Capital Territory, with many sites reporting around twice their monthly average.
• Canberra Airport recorded 91.0 mm during the month, the wettest May there since 1995.
• Many other sites had their highest total May rainfall on record or their highest total since 1995.
• The highest daily totals were in the middle of the month, with an inland surface trough bringing 40 to 70 mm over the 12th and 13th.
• A cold air mass brought further rain at the end of the month, with up to 20 mm falling in the 24 hours to 9am on the 28th and the 31st.

Relatively warm nights and cool days

• Nights in May were relatively warm across the Australian Capital Territory.
• The May mean minimum temperatures at Canberra Airport and Tuggernong were 2.0 °C and 1.8 °C respectively above their average over recent decades.
• Canberra Airport recorded three nights with a minimum temperature below 0 °C, the fewest there in May since 2009.
• Outbreaks of cold air in the middle and end of the month kept daytime temperatures relatively cool overall.
• May mean maximum temperatures were 0.5 °C to 1.0 °C below their average over recent decades.

Canberra Airport

• Total rainfall for Canberra Airport was 91.0 mm, which is 280% of the average at the current of 32.5 mm, or 212% of the average over all years of 42.9 mm.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Canberra Airport was 16.1 °C, which is 0.5 °C below the average at the current site of 16.6 °C, or 0.4 °C above the average over all years of 15.7 °C.
• The warmest day was 21.5 °C on the 14th, and the coolest day was on the 30th when the temperature reached 8.0 °C.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Canberra Airport was 4.4 °C, which is 2.0 °C above the average at the current site of 2.4 °C, or 1.3 °C above the average over all years of 3.1 °C.
• The coldest morning was -2.9 °C on the 19th, and the warmest morning was on the 15th when the minimum temperature was 14.1 °C.
Note: Observations for “Canberra Airport” are taken from the current site Canberra Airport (070351) which opened in late 2008. Comparisons and averages over all years are made against data from the previous site Canberra Airport Comparison (070014), which ran from 1939 to 2010, combined with the current site from March 2010 onwards.

A cold end to the month

• At the end of the month, a strong low pressure system passed over the south-eastern Australian mainland, bringing a very cold air mass over the Australian Capital Territory.
• On the 30th, Canberra Airport and Tuggeranong recorded their coldest May maximum temperatures since 2000.
• Snow levels in the Brindabellas dropped below 1000 metres.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top