New South Wales in January 2014: Hot, dry start to 2014

  • Driest January since 2003
  • Tenth-warmest maximum temperatures on record
  • Three heatwaves break records

Rainfall - Driest January since 2003

The statewide average rainfall during January 2014 was 20.6 mm, well below the historical average of 65.6 mm and the driest January since 2003. Rainfall was below average across most of the state, with much of eastern NSW recording rainfall in the driest 10% of years. Several locations recorded their driest January on record, including Gunnedah and Guyra. The Murray Darling Basin recorded 22.1 mm of rain during the month (average 55.1 mm), also the driest January since 2003.

Conditions were dry for most of the month, with the exception of thunderstorms in parts of central NSW on the 9th and 10th, including localised falls of 77 mm at Parkes. A surface trough also generated widespread light rain across the state on the 24th and 25th, with heavier falls in the Snowy Mountains and on the North Coast.

Lord Howe Island also recorded just 11.4 mm during the month, the driest January since 1890 when 9.6 mm was recorded at the old site.

Some sites had their lowest total January rainfall on record.

Temperature - Three heatwaves for NSW

The statewide average maximum temperature for NSW during January 2014 was 2.7 °C above the historical average and the tenth-warmest on record. Daytime temperatures were more than 2 °C above normal across most of the state, with closer to average temperatures on the coastal strip. Minimum temperatures were also 1.3 °C above normal, with warmer than normal nights across much of the state, with the statewide average temperature consequently 1.9 °C above the historical average. The warm temperatures during the month were associated with the dry, sunny conditions, and three significant heatwaves during periods of warm northwesterly airflow.

January began with very warm temperatures in northern NSW between the 1st and the 3rd, breaking temperature records at 16 locations, many of which were set during the heatwave of January 2013. Temperatures reached 49.1 °C at Walgett on the 3rd, the warmest day anywhere in NSW since 1939, while many stations broke their previous record by more than 2 °C. In Narrabri, the record high daily temperature of 47.8 °C, recorded on January 3, was 3.6 °C above the previous record, the largest such margin on record for anywhere in Australia.

This was followed by several days of cooler conditions, with temperatures more than 6 °C below normal in southwest NSW on the 6th and in central NSW on the 9th, breaking several records. The second heatwave began to develop from the 12th, with temperatures more than 10 °C above normal in southern NSW between the 14th and 18th.While this heatwave broke few records for daily maximum temperature, several stations equalled their record for consecutive hot days including Hay, Albury and Canberra.

Warm temperatures persisted over most of the state until the 21st, with a return to cold temperatures across much of southwest NSW associated with a trough and storms on the 24th. A final heatwave began to develop from the 28th, with several consecutive days above 40 °C in southern NSW extending into the beginning of February.

For further information on heatwave events please see the relevant Special Climate Statements.

See a list of January temperature records.

Other phenomena

Several bushfires occurred in NSW during January, associated with the hot dry conditions. Bushfire activity was particularly widespread between the 17th and 19th, with five houses destroyed in a fire near Wagga Wagga.

Further information

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Extremes in January 2014
Hottest day 49.1 °C at Walgett Airport AWS on the 3rd
Warmest days on average 38.5 °C at Wilcannia Aerodrome AWS
Coolest days on average 18.1 °C at Thredbo AWS
Coldest day 9.5 °C at Thredbo AWS on the 6th
Coldest night -4.3 °C at Perisher Valley AWS on the 7th
Coolest nights on average 6.8 °C at Perisher Valley AWS
Warmest nights on average 24.0 °C at Tibooburra Post Office
Warmest night 31.1 °C at Tibooburra Post Office on the 3rd
Warmest on average overall 31.1 °C at Tibooburra Airport
31.1 °C at Tibooburra Post Office
Coolest on average overall 12.8 °C at Thredbo AWS
Wettest overall 138.0 mm at Parkes Airport AWS
Wettest day 77.0 mm at Parkes Airport AWS on the 9th
Highest wind gust 107 km/h at Thredbo AWS on the 1st

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 lowest total January rainfall
Total rainfall
for January 2014 (mm)
Previous driest
for January
Years of
record
Average for
January
Manilla Post Office 1.8 6.6 in 1940 131 85.0
Uralla (Salisbury Court) 4.4 13.9 in 1903 124 100.6
Krambach Post Office 10.5 13.0 in 1942 101 128.7
Weabonga (Stoneleigh) 5.0 8.8 in 1981 87 99.0
Glen Morrison (Millbank) 0.0 4.4 in 1921 77 101.4
Walcha (Karori) 16.5 21.0 in 1981 69 130.3
Gunnedah Resource Centre 0.2 2.8 in 1981 67 84.0
Walcha Road ( Boxley) 8.0 9.0 in 1985 56 96.6
Carrow Brook 8.0 16.1 in 1966 50 124.2
Craven (Longview) 10.2 11.4 in 2003 45 122.8
Lostock Dam 8.8 13.6 in 2003 45 123.9
Wollombi (Narone Creek Rd) 9.0 9.8 in 2003 45 84.6
Hunter Springs (Wondecla) 24.0 29.4 in 1994 43 125.8
Krambach (Tipperary) 7.0 8.0 in 1985 42 134.5
Guyra Hospital 8.9 37.4 in 1998 33 115.9
Upper Chichester (Simmonds) 25.4 26.0 in 2002 33 127.3
Lord Howe Island Aero 11.4 18.0 in 2007 26 113.4
Millbank 16.0 20.0 in 2008 24 123.2
Braidwood Racecourse AWS 4.8 11.8 in 2003 22 53.8
Tamworth Airport AWS 0.2 3.6 in 2002 22 57.2
Bathurst Airport AWS 12.4 23.0 in 2009 20 58.3
Scone Airport AWS 4.0 19.2 in 2003 20 60.6


Record highest January temperature
Highest temperature
in January 2014 (°C)
Previous warmest
for January
Years of
record
Average for
January
Collarenebri (Albert St) 48.0 on the 3rd 47.8 on the 15th in 1939 101 35.6
Gunnedah Resource Centre 45.9 on the 3rd 42.3 on the 13th in 2013 64 31.9
Coonabarabran (Namoi Street) 44.0 on the 3rd 42.6 on the 4th in 1973 58 31.7
Burrinjuck Dam 42.5 on the 16th = 42.5 on the 12th in 2007 49 29.6
Inverell Research Centre 41.1 on the 3rd 39.9 on the 25th in 2003 49 29.5
Mungindi Post Office 48.2 on the 3rd 46.8 on the 12th in 2013 49 35.4
Murrurundi Post Office 41.2 on the 3rd 40.9 on the 12th in 2013 49 30.7
Barraba Post Office 44.9 on the 3rd 41.3 on the 4th in 1973 48 31.8
Quirindi Post Office 45.1 on the 3rd 42.9 on the 12th in 2013 47 32.2
Dunedoo Post Office 44.2 on the 3rd 43.7 on the 12th in 2013 46 31.9
Tumbarumba Post Office 40.5 on the 16th 40.0 on the 6th in 2013 46 28.7
Pindari Dam 41.5 on the 5th 40.2 on the 8th in 1994 42 31.4
Woolbrook (Danglemah Road) 37.5 on the 3rd 36.5 on the 12th in 2013 42 27.5
Glen Innes Ag Research Stn 36.0 on the 3rd 34.5 on the 27th in 1981 40 25.3
Gulgong Post Office 42.3 on the 3rd 42.0 on the 18th in 2013 40 31.0
Guyra Hospital 34.4 on the 3rd 32.8 on the 31st in 2003 28 24.1
Mudgee Airport AWS 42.5 on the 3rd 41.7 on the 12th in 2013 23 30.6
Tamworth Airport AWS 45.1 on the 3rd 42.5 on the 12th in 2013 22 32.5
Albury Airport AWS 43.6 on the 16th 43.4 on the 5th in 2013 21 32.2
Walgett Airport AWS 49.1 on the 3rd 48.5 on the 13th in 2013 21 35.4


Record lowest January daily maximum temperature
Lowest daily maximum
temperature
in January 2014 (°C)
Previous coolest
for January
Years of
record
Average for
January
Mudgee Airport AWS 19.1 on the 9th 19.5 on the 31st in 2001 23 30.6
Dubbo Airport AWS 20.1 on the 9th 20.4 on the 19th in 2008 22 33.2
Condobolin Airport AWS 22.0 on the 9th 22.2 on the 21st in 1995 21 34.2


Record highest January mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for January 2014 (°C)
Previous warmest
for January
Years of
record
Average for
January
Braidwood Racecourse AWS 29.7 29.5 in 2009 22 26.7
Mudgee Airport AWS 33.1 = 33.1 in 2013 22 30.6
Tamworth Airport AWS 35.6 35.5 in 2013 21 32.5

Record highest January daily minimum temperature
Highest daily minimum
temperature
in January 2014 (°C)
Previous warmest
for January
Years of
record
Average for
January
Tabulam (Muirne) 26.2 on the 4th 26.1 on the 7th in 1994 44 17.1


Record lowest January temperature
Lowest temperature
in January 2014 (°C)
Previous coolest
for January
Years of
record
Average for
January
Wanaaring Post Office 12.6 on the 5th 12.9 on the 2nd in 1999 22 21.9


Summary statistics for January 2014
Maximum temperatures
for January
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
for January
(°C)
Rainfall
for January
(millimetres)
Mean for
January
2014
Diff
from
average
Highest for
January
2014
Mean for
January
2014
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
January
2014
Total for
January
2014
Average
for
January
Rank of
January
2014
Fraction of
January
average
Western (Far Northwest) (district 46)
Fowlers Gap AWS 37.5   45.9 2nd 22.9   14.4 5th 11.6
Tibooburra Airport 38.4   48.4 2nd 23.7   16.8 7th 19.0
Tibooburra Post Office 38.3 +2.1 47.6 2nd 24.0 +1.9 15.9 5th 3.2 27.8 average 12%
White Cliffs AWS 37.8   47.9 2nd 23.3   16.0 7th 17.6
Wilcannia (Reid St) 38.1 +2.7 44.8 2nd 21.2 +1.3 12.7 5th 0.6 25.7 low 2%
Wilcannia Aerodrome AWS 38.5   45.3 2nd 20.8   12.4 5th 1.6
Western (Lower Darling) (district 47)
Broken Hill (Patton Street) 36.0 +3.2 43.6 14th 21.2 +2.7 12.8 6th 5.4 25.0 average 22%
Broken Hill Airport AWS 35.8 +2.4 43.4 1st 20.5 +1.5 12.9 6th 4.2 28.2 average 15%
Lake Victoria Storage 35.2 +3.1 43.8 15th 18.7 +2.2 10.8 7th 0.2 19.3 low 1%
Menindee Post Office 37.4 +3.0 44.6 13th 21.1 +2.6 14.7 6th 2.0 23.8 low 8%
Pooncarie Mail Agency 37.0   45.0 31st 20.3   12.3 7th 26.6 23.1 high 115%
Western (Upper Darling) (district 48)
Bourke Airport AWS 38.0   47.3 3rd 21.6   13.1 5th 26.4
Brewarrina Hospital 36.7 +0.5 47.2 3rd 20.9 +0.2 14.4 5th 19.8 51.0 average 39%
Cobar Airport AWS 36.9 +1.7 44.6 2nd 20.6 +0.1 13.3 1st 2.6 36.5 low 7%
Cobar MO 36.2 +2.1 44.3 2nd 21.7 +1.2 14.3 7th 5.0 45.9 low 11%
Collarenebri (Albert St) 37.4 +1.8 48.0 3rd     16.2 5th 0.2 67.5 v low 0%
Lightning Ridge Visitors Information Cen 37.2   48.5 3rd 22.6   16.0 1st 9.9
Wanaaring Post Office 38.0 +1.2 47.8 2nd 21.6 -0.3 12.6 5th 49.0 35.1 high 140%
Western (Southwest Plains) (district 49)
Ivanhoe Aerodrome AWS 37.2   44.0 17th 21.2   12.1 7th 2.8
Central Western Plains (South) (district 50)
Condobolin Ag Research Stn 35.0 +1.2 42.2 19th 18.8 +0.6 10.0 7th 35.2 46.7 average 75%
Condobolin Airport AWS 35.4 +1.2 42.4 19th 19.2 +0.4 9.9 5th 41.0
Peak Hill Post Office 34.2 +1.0 42.0 3rd 20.0 +0.8 11.8 7th 86.8 58.6 high 148%
West Wyalong Airport AWS 34.6   42.6 16th 17.8   10.3 7th 20.6
Central Western Plains (North) (district 51)
Coonamble Airport AWS 35.9   47.6 3rd 20.8   15.5 11th 24.0
Nyngan Airport 36.0 +1.7 45.5 3rd 20.8 +1.3 15.5 7th 17.4 50.6 low 34%
Trangie Research Station AWS 35.1 +1.8 44.9 3rd 19.9 +1.4 13.3 5th 29.8 53.2 average 56%
Northwest Plains (West) (district 52)
Mungindi Post Office 37.7 +2.3 48.2 3rd 22.2 +1.6 15.9 5th 5.2 70.5 v low 7%
Walgett Airport AWS 37.0 +1.6 49.1 3rd 20.9 +0.5 11.2 5th 7.4 57.9 v low 13%
Northwest Plains (East) (district 53)
Moree Aero 35.9   47.3 3rd 20.2   13.0 7th 21.0
Northwest Slopes (North) (district 54)
Barraba Post Office 35.1 +3.3 44.9 3rd 15.1 -1.3 8.5 28th 20.8 87.5 v low 24%
Narrabri Airport AWS 36.7   47.8 3rd 19.8   12.1 7th 5.0
Northwest Slopes (South) (district 55)
Gunnedah Airport AWS 36.3   46.9 3rd 18.3   11.9 5th 0
Gunnedah Resource Centre 35.5 +3.6 45.9 3rd 20.1 +1.2 16.0 26th 0.2 84.0 lowest 0%
Quirindi Post Office 35.9 +3.7 45.1 3rd 17.9 +1.5 13.0 30th 0.8 80.5 v low 1%
Tamworth Airport AWS 35.6 +3.1 45.1 3rd 17.6 +0.2 13.5 6th 0.2 57.2 lowest 0%
Woolbrook (Danglemah Road) 30.2 +2.7 37.5 3rd 12.4 -0.1 7.4 31st 13.6 97.8 v low 14%
Northern Tablelands (West) (district 56)
Armidale (Tree Group Nursery) 28.5   37.1 3rd 11.9   7.4 31st 17.2
Armidale Airport AWS 27.3   37.0 3rd 12.7   9.8 31st 2.4
Glen Innes Ag Research Stn 27.7 +2.4 36.0 3rd 13.2 -0.3 10.0 12th 39.8 105.5 v low 38%
Glen Innes Airport AWS 27.7   37.0 3rd 12.6   7.8 12th 39.0
Guyra Hospital 26.2 +2.1 34.4 3rd 11.4 -0.7 7.6 19th 8.9 115.9 lowest 8%
Inverell (Raglan St) 32.9   41.9 3rd 14.6   9.6 30th 39.6
Inverell Research Centre 32.7 +3.2 41.1 3rd 16.3 -0.1 12.5 30th 34.0 98.5 low 35%
Tenterfield (Federation Park) 27.1 0.0 37.9 3rd 14.6 +0.2 9.3 19th 63.9 115.3 low 55%
Northern Tablelands (East) (district 57)
Tabulam (Muirne) 28.0 +1.0 39.2 4th 16.8 -0.3 13.4 27th 119.0 188.2 average 63%
Upper North Coast (district 58)
Ballina Airport AWS 28.4 +0.2 37.5 4th 19.4 -0.2 14.6 19th 79.6 178.6 average 45%
Byron Bay (Cape Byron AWS) 28.3   32.0 4th 20.9   17.1 10th 71.4
Casino Airport AWS 30.9   41.4 21st 18.6   14.6 12th 80.8 139.1 average 58%
Evans Head RAAF Bombing Range AWS 28.5   35.6 4th 20.0   17.9 10th 99.4
Grafton Airport AWS 30.1   36.4 21st 18.5   15.1 30th 29.4
Grafton Olympic Pool 30.0 -0.1 36.2 21st 20.0 +0.3 17.4 19th 29.9 143.7 v low 21%
Lismore (Richmond Hill) 29.3   38.7 4th 19.3   16.8 12th 59.4
Lismore Airport AWS 29.6   39.9 3rd 18.2   13.4 18th 83.8
Murwillumbah (Bray Park) 29.3 -0.3 40.6 4th 19.7 0.0 16.4 8th 98.6 211.7 low 47%
Yamba Pilot Station 27.9 +1.2 31.6 4th 21.1 +0.9 18.6 26th 57.2 140.1 low 41%
Lower North Coast (district 59)
Coffs Harbour Airport Comparison 27.5   34.3 2nd 19.3   15.9 31st 49.4
Coffs Harbour MO 27.4 +0.4 33.4 3rd 19.4 -0.1 16.8 30th 45.4 186.9 low 24%
Dorrigo (Old Coramba Rd) 24.2   31.6 3rd 14.7   12.1 15th 102.5
Kempsey (Wide Street) 29.1 -0.1 36.1 2nd 18.4 +0.7 15.4 30th 40.1 134.1 low 30%
Kempsey Airport AWS 28.9   36.9 2nd 16.7   12.3 30th 25.0
South West Rocks (Smoky Cape Lighthouse) 28.9 +2.0 32.0 6th 19.9 +0.4 16.3 8th 51.8 146.8 low 35%
Manning (district 60)
Forster - Tuncurry Marine Rescue 26.6   34.5 2nd 19.5   16.5 8th 42.1 106.9 low 39%
Port Macquarie Airport AWS 27.7   36.9 2nd 17.4   13.9 30th 55.8
Taree Airport AWS 28.9   37.5 2nd 17.6   14.2 29th 21.6
Yarras (Mount Seaview) 30.5 +1.4 37.5 2nd 17.6 +0.1 14.0 19th 78.6 239.7 v low 33%
Hunter (district 61)
Cessnock Airport AWS 31.6 +1.6 38.6 18th 16.1 -0.6 11.6 27th 14.4 70.1 low 21%
Cooranbong (Lake Macquarie AWS) 27.5   37.1 2nd 16.3   11.4 31st 32.2
Gosford AWS 27.8   37.4 2nd 17.7   12.5 27th 22.0
Jerrys Plains Post Office 33.9 +2.2 40.0 18th 17.7 +0.5 11.7 31st 6.2 77.1 v low 8%
Maitland Visitors Centre 30.0   37.0 2nd 18.0   12.7 27th 21.2
Mangrove Mountain AWS 28.0   36.4 2nd 15.9   11.5 27th 39.2 102.0 v low 38%
Merriwa (Roscommon) 33.4   38.8 19th 16.3   10.9 27th 22.8 77.8 low 29%
Murrurundi Gap AWS 30.3   38.2 3rd 15.6   11.6 7th 13.8
Murrurundi Post Office 32.8 +2.1 41.2 3rd 14.7 -0.5 7.6 30th 8.6 90.8 v low 9%
Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) 26.7 -0.6 35.0 2nd 20.1 +1.5 17.7 27th 42.1 99.3 low 42%
Newcastle Nobbys Signal Station AWS 25.2 -0.4 36.1 2nd 19.8 +0.6 18.1 26th 11.0 87.9 v low 13%
Newcastle University 28.8   33.7 18th 18.7   13.8 9th 11.2
Norah Head AWS 26.3   29.0 17th 19.3   17.2 27th 9.4
Paterson (Tocal AWS) 31.2 +1.5 38.6 2nd 17.3 -0.3 12.7 27th 21.0 102.6 v low 20%
Scone Airport AWS 34.3 +3.0 39.3 16th 16.3 -0.5 10.6 27th 4.0 60.6 lowest 7%
Singleton STP 32.4   38.3 18th 16.7   10.6 31st 13.2
Williamtown RAAF 29.2 +1.2 38.7 2nd 17.4 -0.6 12.0 27th 12.6 96.6 v low 13%
Central Tablelands (North) (district 62)
Gulgong Post Office 33.2 +2.2 42.3 3rd 16.7 0.0 11.7 7th 37.8 70.2 average 54%
Mudgee Airport AWS 33.1 +2.5 42.5 3rd 16.2 +0.5 9.6 5th 31.0 65.1 low 48%
Nullo Mountain AWS 26.5 +2.6 34.2 3rd 13.3 -0.2 9.0 26th 17.6 92.3 v low 19%
Central Tablelands (South) (district 63)
Bathurst Agricultural Station 31.9 +3.9 39.0 31st 13.1 -0.2 6.0 7th 2.0 67.9 v low 3%
Bathurst Airport AWS 31.7 +3.3 38.7 29th 13.2 -0.4 5.4 5th 12.4 58.3 lowest 21%
Katoomba (Murri St) 24.9 +1.6 34.4 18th 13.6 +0.8 9.8 9th 70.2 161.6 low 43%
Lithgow (Cooerwull) 27.2   34.5 31st 12.0   4.5 5th 14.4 83.3 low 17%
Mount Boyce AWS 25.4 +1.5 34.4 18th 13.1 -0.1 9.1 26th 57.2 113.8 low 50%
Oberon (Springbank) 27.3 +2.5 35.0 3rd 11.1 +0.3 3.5 7th 15.0 80.0 v low 19%
Orange Agricultural Institute 28.8 +2.3 35.5 31st 13.6 +0.2 7.4 7th 31.6 85.4 low 37%
Orange Airport AWS 29.0   35.5 3rd 12.3   4.1 7th 23.4
Springwood (Valley Heights) 28.6   37.3 18th 16.0   12.7 27th 41.8 125.0 low 33%
Central Western Slopes (North) (district 64)
Coonabarabran (Namoi Street) 33.8 +2.1 44.0 3rd 15.1 +0.1 8.0 5th 4.4 90.2 v low 5%
Coonabarabran Airport AWS 32.9   44.0 3rd 17.8   12.5 27th 10.0
Dunedoo Post Office 34.9 +3.0 44.2 3rd 18.3 +1.4 11.8 5th 33.8 69.5 low 49%
Central Western Slopes (South) (district 65)
Cowra Airport AWS 34.4   41.0 16th 16.2   6.3 7th 10.8
Dubbo Airport AWS 34.2 +1.0 43.1 3rd 18.2 +0.1 11.2 5th 49.8
Forbes Airport AWS 34.1   40.0 19th 17.5   9.6 7th 56.4
Parkes Airport AWS 33.4   40.4 3rd 17.1   7.6 7th 138.0 64.6 high 214%
Wellington (Agrowplow) 33.9 +1.0 41.9 3rd 17.8 +0.9 11.5 5th 31.4 59.0 average 53%
Metropolitan (East) (district 66)
Bankstown Airport AWS 29.3 +1.1 35.9 2nd 17.6 -0.5 13.5 27th 14.4 90.0 v low 16%
Canterbury Racecourse AWS 27.7   35.8 2nd 17.4   13.8 27th 17.6
Holsworthy Aerodrome AWS 29.1   36.4 2nd 17.3   13.2 27th 17.0
Holsworthy Control Range 29.4   36.2 2nd 16.3   12.4 27th 12.8
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) 29.0 +0.6 36.5 18th 17.0 -0.5 11.8 27th 22.2 100.7 low 22%
Sydney (Observatory Hill) 26.9 +1.0 36.5 2nd 19.8 +1.1 16.0 27th 17.4 101.1 v low 17%
Sydney Airport AMO 27.9 +1.4 36.8 2nd 19.8 +1.0 16.6 26th 11.2 93.6 v low 12%
Sydney Harbour (Wedding Cake West) 24.0   35.3 2nd 19.9   16.9 8th
Sydney Olympic Park AWS (Archery Centre) 28.5   35.8 2nd 18.1   13.5 27th 18.4
Terrey Hills AWS 26.3   34.7 2nd 17.5   13.5 27th 32.2
Metropolitan (West) (district 67)
Badgerys Creek AWS 30.6   39.8 18th 16.5   11.7 27th 13.6
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS 30.1   37.9 18th 17.0   13.0 27th 16.2
Penrith Lakes AWS 31.4   40.8 18th 18.0   13.1 27th 27.4
Prospect Reservoir 29.7 +1.3 37.3 18th 17.3 -0.4 12.0 27th 20.9 93.8 v low 22%
Richmond RAAF 30.0 0.0 38.5 29th 16.1   11.1 27th 21.6 75.7 v low 29%
Illawarra (district 68)
Albion Park (Wollongong Airport) 26.2   33.8 2nd 15.7   11.7 14th 42.4
Bellambi AWS 24.0   33.5 2nd 18.5   14.8 8th 57.8
Bowral (Parry Drive) 26.7 +1.2 36.2 18th 13.5 +0.1 9.7 6th 20.2 81.9 low 25%
Camden Airport AWS 30.9 +1.4 39.7 18th 15.9 -0.9 11.2 27th 22.2 76.6 low 29%
Campbelltown (Mount Annan) 30.3   38.2 18th 15.8   11.7 27th 24.8
Jervis Bay (Point Perpendicular AWS) 25.0   30.8 2nd 18.1   15.4 7th 18.8
Kiama (Bombo Headland) 24.6   29.2 6th 18.5   15.5 8th 26.2
Moss Vale AWS 26.6   36.5 18th 13.2   9.7 13th 16.2
Nowra RAN Air Station AWS 27.8   34.9 2nd 15.4   11.5 27th 34.8
Port Kembla NTC AWS 23.5   33.5 2nd 19.2   15.2 8th
South Coast (district 69)
Batemans Bay (Catalina Country Club) 26.6 +0.8 32.6 6th 14.9 -0.7 9.5 26th 41.2 80.6 average 51%
Bega AWS 28.3 +1.2 38.1 17th 13.5 -1.4 7.6 26th 17.0 48.1 low 35%
Braidwood Racecourse AWS 29.7 +3.0 38.3 17th 10.4 -1.7 2.9 26th 4.8 53.8 lowest 9%
Green Cape AWS 23.2   27.9 18th 17.2   13.4 8th 23.4 61.7 average 38%
Merimbula Airport AWS 24.9   29.9 16th 14.5   9.4 26th 31.8
Montague Island Lighthouse 23.4 +0.4 25.5 18th 18.0 +0.6 14.7 26th 8.6 67.9 v low 13%
Moruya Airport AWS 25.1   31.7 5th 14.9   9.5 26th 14.4
Moruya Heads Pilot Station 23.6 -0.3 30.0 5th 16.2 +0.1 10.9 26th 15.0 93.6 v low 16%
Narooma (Marine Rescue) 23.6 0.0 28.5 18th 16.4 -0.1 11.2 26th 10.2 89.8 v low 11%
Nerriga AWS 28.9   38.6 15th 12.3   7.5 5th 10.2
Ulladulla AWS 24.3 +0.2 30.6 2nd 17.3 +0.1 13.2 8th 30.8
Southern Tablelands (Goulburn-Monaro) (district 70)
Bombala (Therry Street) 27.5 +2.0 38.6 17th 10.2 -0.1 4.3 8th 22.0 62.9 low 35%
Bombala AWS 26.9 +1.5 38.6 17th 9.8 -0.9 2.4 8th 38.0 40.8 average 93%
Canberra Airport 31.6   40.2 15th 12.1   6.1 5th 4.8
Cooma Airport AWS 28.8 +2.2 37.6 17th 9.7 -1.0 3.9 7th 7.2 49.0 v low 15%
Cooma Visitors Centre 29.7 +2.4 38.0 15th 10.0 -0.7 3.1 5th 25.0 56.6 low 44%
Goulburn Airport AWS 29.9 +2.1 38.5 15th 11.3 -1.3 4.7 5th 10.4 45.3 low 23%
Goulburn TAFE 30.1 +2.3 38.7 18th 13.6 0.0 7.6 5th 11.4 60.0 v low 19%
Mount Ginini AWS 22.0   31.1 18th 9.7   2.1 6th 21.4
Taralga Post Office 28.7 +2.7 37.4 31st 11.5 -0.4 3.4 7th 11.9 72.3 v low 16%
Tuggeranong (Isabella Plains) AWS 31.2   40.0 16th 13.2   6.4 5th 13.2
Southern Tablelands (Snowy Mountains) (district 71)
Perisher Valley AWS 20.3   28.6 15th 6.8   -4.3 7th 107.6
Thredbo AWS 18.1 +1.8 26.5 16th 7.4 +0.7 -2.1 7th 100.2 89.1 average 112%
Thredbo Village 23.5 +2.2 32.5 17th 7.5 +0.3 -1.5 7th 103.9 104.3 average 100%
Southwest Slopes (South) (district 72)
Albury Airport AWS 34.0 +1.8 43.6 16th 16.9 +0.5 8.4 5th 35.4
Cabramurra SMHEA AWS 23.3   32.4 16th 12.2   2.6 7th 45.4
Hume Reservoir 33.2 +2.4 42.5 17th 18.1 +1.6 8.5 5th 43.2 45.2 average 96%
Khancoban AWS 33.0   42.4 16th 12.9   5.3 7th 72.0
Tumbarumba Post Office 31.2 +2.5 40.5 16th 12.9 +0.9 5.5 7th 33.0 61.8 low 53%
Wagga Wagga AMO 33.9 +2.2 42.8 16th 17.5 +1.3 6.2 7th 17.8 39.8 low 45%
Southwest Slopes (North) (district 73)
Burrinjuck Dam 34.1 +4.5 42.5 16th 16.7 +1.2 10.0 5th 14.0 61.4 low 23%
Cootamundra Airport 33.3   41.4 16th 15.9   5.6 7th 18.8
Grenfell (Manganese Rd) 33.6 +1.8 40.6 16th 16.5 +0.2 8.0 7th 19.2 51.5 average 37%
Gundagai (William St) 34.1   43.1 16th 16.9   8.4 7th 12.8
Quandialla Post Office 35.2 +2.1 43.0 16th 18.3 +1.1 8.7 7th 15.0 48.0 low 31%
Temora Airport 34.2   42.5 16th 16.7   6.5 5th 21.0
Wyalong Post Office 34.4 +1.6 42.6 16th 18.4 +0.9 10.5 7th 22.2 41.5 average 53%
Young Airport 33.7 +2.0 41.2 16th 14.6 0.0 4.0 7th 16.0 37.8 low 42%
Riverina (East) (district 74)
Corowa Airport 33.9 +1.9 43.5 17th 16.9 +1.2 8.5 5th 36.8 36.4 average 101%
Deniliquin Airport AWS 34.8   44.4 16th 17.4   8.7 7th 5.0
Narrandera Airport 34.9   43.9 16th 18.7   9.7 5th 22.6 34.2 average 66%
Tocumwal Airport 33.9 +2.1 44.1 16th 17.3 +1.3 8.7 5th 18.5 32.3 average 57%
Yanco Agricultural Institute 34.6   44.1 16th 19.5   10.2 7th 25.6 29.1 average 88%
Riverina (West) (district 75)
Griffith Airport AWS 34.6 +1.7 43.3 17th 18.8 +1.8 10.6 5th 34.6 33.1 average 105%
Hay (Miller Street) 35.5 +2.5 44.2 16th 18.9 +2.3 10.1 7th 14.2 27.5 average 52%
Hay Airport AWS 35.9   45.4 17th 18.4   9.8 7th 6.6
Lake Cargelligo Airport 34.9 +0.8 42.0 18th 19.4 +0.9 11.3 7th 56.2 39.4 high 143%
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Lord Howe Island Aero 24.8 -0.5 28.3 22nd 19.8 -0.8 14.1 13th 11.4 113.4 lowest 10%
Norfolk Island Aero 24.6 +0.1 27.0 4th 19.4 +0.3 17.8 1st 45.2 85.6 average 53%

Notes

A Monthly Climate Summary is prepared to list the main features of the weather in New South Wales using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review, usually published in the fourth week of the month.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 8 am on Monday 3 February 2014. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Averages 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 20 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.

The ACORN-SAT dataset is being used for temperature area averages from December 2012 onwards. The major change from earlier datasets is that the ACORN-SAT dataset commences in 1910, rather than 1950, and hence rankings are calculated using a larger set of years.

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