Monday, 5 January 2015 - Monthly Climate Summary for Queensland - Product code IDCKGC14R0

Queensland in December 2014: Wet across the south of the State; warm nights and hot days in the far north

December 2014 was warm with both maximum (+1.00 °C) and minimum (+1.47 °C) temperatures well above the historical average. Daytime temperatures were much warmer than usual in the far north of the Cape York Peninsula and areas of the far southwest, with above average days occurring along the north tropical coast and through the central west, and in pockets of the southeast and small areas of the Gulf Country. Warmer than usual nights were experienced throughout large areas of the State, except in parts of the east coast in the far north and from about Townsville down to the Sunshine Coast where near-average nights were recorded.

The state-wide average rainfall was 5% above the historical average, with well above average rainfall in the southern half of the State. Small areas of the southern Darling Downs recorded their highest December rainfall on record. Surface troughs formed over the State during the first half of the month, generating moderate rainfall totals over parts of northern, central and southeastern Queensland. A broad surface trough extended across northern Queensland and produced thunderstorms and showers across eastern parts in the middle of the month. This was followed by a deepening surface trough which extended from southwestern Queensland eastwards along the New South Wales-Queensland border, with heavy rain falling in parts of central and southern Queensland. Surface troughs dominated the State for the remainder of the month, with some heavy falls recorded through the southeast on the 27th, with 152.6 mm at Coolangatta on the 28th the highest daily total for the State.

  • State-wide averaged minimum temperature fifth-warmest on record
  • State-wide averaged mean temperature equal-ninth-warmest on record
  • Above-average rainfall across the southern half of the State

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Extremes in December 2014
Hottest day 45.7 °C at Boulia Airport on the 16th
Warmest days on average 40.1 °C at Julia Creek Airport
Coolest days on average 26.7 °C at Applethorpe
Coldest day 17.4 °C at Applethorpe on the 27th
Coldest night 10.4 °C at Applethorpe on the 16th
Coolest nights on average 14.7 °C at Applethorpe
Warmest nights on average 27.8 °C at Sweers Island
Warmest night 32.2 °C at Trepell Airport on the 17th
Warmest on average overall 32.4 °C at Century Mine
Coolest on average overall 20.7 °C at Applethorpe
Wettest overall 369.6 mm at Rewan Station
Wettest day 152.6 mm at Coolangatta on the 28th
Strongest wind gust 115 km/h at Kingaroy Airport on the 17th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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

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Record highest December daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record
Wallangarra Post Office 114.8 on the 12th 103.2 on the 11th in 1984 122
Ripple Downs 56.4 on the 7th 52.0 on the 5th in 1992 28
Frankfield Station 78.0 on the 6th 77.0 on the 12th in 2003 26
Cooby Creek Dam 75.2 on the 12th 70.6 on the 8th in 1993 25
Crystal Brook 105.0 on the 13th =105.0 on the 31st in 2012 22
Wivenhoe Dam 74.0 on the 10th 69.8 on the 24th in 1997 20


Record highest December total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
December
Wallangarra Post Office 268.8 263.9 in 1959 124 101.0
Applethorpe 229.4 217.8 in 1975 46 98.3
Girraween Nat Park 251.1 180.8 in 1996 40 104.2

Highest December total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
higher		Years since
higher		 Average for
December
Bogarella 212.0 237.2 in 1942* 59 78.0
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade 259.1 265.5 in 1959* 49 94.7
Woleebee Nevasa 181.6 286.6 in 1970* 43 86.7
Augathella Post Office 190.6 237.2 in 1971* 41 63.6
Camboon Station 181.0 198.2 in 1975* 38 93.7
Ballandean Post Office 264.7 266.2 in 1989* 23 102.5
Belvedere 246.0 273.6 in 1991* 22 92.5
Rathdowney Post Office 219.4 273.6 in 1991* 22 126.5

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



Record lowest December total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
December
Paluma Ivy Cottage 34.5 62.0 in 1983 43 288.9
Doraville Station 8.4 13.0 in 2005 25 183.9

Lowest December total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
lower		Years since
lower		 Average for
December
Augustus Downs Station 6.0 0.0 in 1972* 41 97.7
Carmila Beach Road 17.0 2.3 in 1972* 32 207.9
South Johnstone Exp Stn 73.6 52.4 in 1986 28 260.7
Innisfail 89.5 86.8 in 1991 23 262.0

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



Record highest December temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
December
Lockhart River Airport 38.5 on the 13th 38.0 on the 28th in 1990 50 32.2


Highest December mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
higher		Years since
higher		 Average for
December
Lucinda Point 26.3 26.4 in 1981* 26 25.3

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



Record highest December mean temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
December
Palmerville 30.9 30.8 in 2006 111 28.9


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for December 2014
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
December
2014		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
December
2014		 Mean for
December
2014		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
December
2014		 Total for
December
2014		 Average
for
December		 Rank of
December
2014		 Fraction of
December
average
North Peninsula (district 27)
Coconut Island 34.0 +1.0 35.9 10th 26.2 +0.1 24.7 20th 46.8 148.8 average 31%
Coen Airport 36.6 +2.0 39.7 12th 23.7 -0.1 21.5 24th 38.0 119.6 average 32%
Horn Island 33.2 +1.4 34.3 6th 26.7 +1.0 24.3 2nd 22.6 179.4 low 13%
Scherger RAAF 35.4   37.4 28th 24.8   23.0 2nd 233.0 178.8 high 130%
Weipa Aero 35.1 +1.2 37.5 4th 24.8 +0.6 22.5 2nd 202.6 270.8 average 75%
South Peninsula (district 28)
Lockhart River Airport 33.6 +1.4 38.5 13th 24.6 +1.0 22.4 16th 23.8 204.7 v low 12%
Palmerville 37.6 +2.3 39.3 15th 24.2 +1.6 20.6 5th 35.6 155.0 v low 23%
Lower Carpentaria (district 29)
Burketown Airport 37.7 +1.3 41.8 13th 25.7 +0.2 23.4 3rd 139.2 82.0 high 170%
Century Mine 39.2 +0.8 42.5 16th 25.6 +0.5 22.8 14th 86.0 102.3 average 84%
Cloncurry Airport 38.5 -0.1 42.8 16th 25.5 +0.7 20.7 15th 46.8 79.2 average 59%
Julia Creek Airport 40.1 +0.5 43.4 16th 24.0 +0.3 17.8 14th 54.8 58.4 average 94%
Kowanyama Airport 35.1 +0.3 38.5 3rd 25.3 +1.0 22.9 15th 266.4 174.3 high 153%
Lake Julius AWS 38.4   42.3 16th 26.3   21.7 14th 72.2
Mornington Island Airport 33.3   35.9 19th 27.2   23.7 2nd 114.2
Mount Isa Aero 37.7 +0.5 43.3 16th 24.1 +1.1 17.1 14th 57.4 72.8 average 79%
Normanton Airport 36.2 -0.1 38.8 30th 26.7 +0.9 22.9 11th 66.6 127.8 low 52%
Sweers Island 34.2 +0.5 37.3 20th 27.8 +0.8 24.0 27th 68.2 156.4 low 44%
Upper Carpentaria (district 30)
Georgetown Airport 37.0 +0.8 39.8 7th 24.5 +0.9 20.3 14th 120.6 131.8 average 92%
Hughenden Airport 37.5 +0.3 40.8 7th 23.9 +0.6 18.8 14th 53.8 76.8 average 70%
Richmond Airport 39.3 +1.2 42.0 16th 24.1 +0.9 17.4 14th 31.8 62.3 low 51%
Richmond Post Office 39.1 +1.0 41.9 16th 24.0 +1.5 18.5 14th 31.0 70.5 low 44%
Barron North Coast (district 31)
Cairns Aero 32.6 +1.2 34.8 13th 24.2 +0.8 21.0 5th 88.4 175.9 average 50%
Cairns Racecourse 33.1   36.3 13th 23.2   20.1 5th 11.4
Cape Flattery 32.8 +0.2 35.6 14th 25.3 +0.4 22.5 7th 43.6 108.4 low 40%
Cooktown Airport 33.5 +1.3 37.3 14th 24.8 +0.4 22.0 19th 33.2 136.5 low 24%
Low Isles Lighthouse 33.9 +1.6 36.2 13th 26.2 +0.9 22.8 22nd 101.5 207.7 average 49%
Mareeba Airport 33.0 +0.9 36.1 6th 20.8 0.0 18.2 3rd 43.4 90.3 low 48%
Herbert North Coast (district 32)
Cardwell Marine Pde 31.4 -0.1 34.9 13th 24.3 +2.0 21.3 14th 65.4 193.2 low 34%
Ingham Composite 34.0 +1.5 40.7 13th 22.4 +0.3 19.7 17th 49.4 199.2 low 25%
Innisfail 31.5 +0.7 37.2 13th 23.7 +1.7 21.3 5th 89.5 262.0 low 34%
Lucinda Point 29.9 +0.3 33.6 13th 26.3 +1.0 23.5 21st 18.0 90.9 low 20%
South Johnstone Exp Stn 32.4 +1.2 37.1 13th 22.6 +0.8 20.0 5th 73.6 260.7 low 28%
Townsville Aero 32.9 +1.4 36.1 13th 25.3 +1.2 22.2 14th 41.0 127.9 low 32%
East Central Coast (district 33)
Alva Beach 30.9 0.0 32.0 10th 25.7 +1.0 22.0 13th 72.2 105.1 average 69%
Ayr DPI Research Stn 33.3 +1.3 36.1 13th 22.9 +0.9 20.8 24th 14.2 101.7 low 14%
Bowen Airport 31.9 +0.6 34.2 13th 23.9 +0.5 21.0 13th 95.3 141.4 average 67%
Collinsville Post Office 35.1 +1.1 38.2 18th 22.1 +0.8 18.4 24th 141.2 95.4 high 148%
Hamilton Island Airport 30.5 +0.6 33.1 10th 24.8 +0.3 21.2 7th 116.2 131.7 average 88%
Mackay Aero 32.5 +1.8 35.6 16th 22.9 +0.8 19.6 4th 47.4 131.0 low 36%
Mackay M.O 32.1 +2.0 35.2 30th 23.9 +0.9 21.1 15th 60.6 185.8 low 33%
Proserpine Airport 33.9 +1.8 37.5 30th 21.3 -0.4 18.7 4th 14.6 161.1 v low 9%
Samuel Hill Aero 31.2 +0.5 34.2 31st 20.0 +0.2 14.7 5th 143.4 160.7 average 89%
St Lawrence 32.0 +0.5 35.3 17th 22.1 0.0 19.2 24th 106.4 146.6 average 73%
Williamson 31.3   34.0 17th 21.8   18.0 1st 169.4 152.5 high 111%
Woolshed 31.1 +2.1 35.5 13th 21.0 +0.6 16.2 14th 62.8 98.9 average 63%
Yeppoon The Esplanade 28.9 +0.2 33.6 17th 22.9 +0.2 19.4 16th 171.2 122.6 high 140%
West Central Coast (district 34)
Charters Towers Airport 35.9 +1.5 38.9 18th 22.9 +1.0 20.2 14th 83.2 83.1 average 100%
Moranbah Airport 34.9   38.4 8th 20.7   18.3 1st 141.8
Central Highlands (district 35)
Blackwater Airport 34.1   37.9 7th 21.1   18.1 15th 205.0
Clermont Airport 34.2   37.9 7th 20.7   17.5 15th 161.0
Emerald Airport 34.0 -0.2 39.3 18th 21.7 +0.4 18.9 14th 146.6 89.5 high 164%
Lochington 34.1   38.6 7th 21.5   17.5 14th 298.0
Rolleston Airport 34.2   38.6 18th 21.0   16.1 15th 148.8
Springsure Comet St 33.6 -0.4 37.9 31st 20.8 +1.0 15.1 15th 146.6 93.5 high 157%
Tambo Post Office 34.3 -0.5 38.4 17th 20.8 +1.7 15.3 14th 161.0 70.3 v high 229%
Taroom Post Office 33.9 +0.5 38.0 18th 20.8 +1.2 15.4 14th 169.0 90.7 v high 186%
Central Lowlands (district 36)
Barcaldine Post Office 36.7 +0.9 41.2 7th 23.5 +1.2 17.2 13th 105.6 63.9 high 165%
Blackall Airport 36.7 +0.9 42.2 17th 22.6 +0.7 16.7 13th 26.6 99.0 low 27%
Isisford Post Office 37.8 +0.8 43.1 17th 23.7 +1.8 18.4 13th 101.6 54.1 high 188%
Longreach Aero 38.8 +1.4 44.2 17th 23.7 +1.6 16.5 13th 21.4 56.2 low 38%
Upper Western (district 37)
Camooweal Township 37.8 -0.3 42.6 16th 25.7 +1.9 18.5 27th 51.4 61.8 average 83%
Carters Bore 36.9   42.9 16th 25.5   20.4 27th 77.2
New May Downs 37.5   42.8 16th 25.5   20.6 27th 12.4
The Monument Airport 37.4 -0.6 43.6 16th 24.0 +0.4 19.3 14th 66.0 50.1 high 132%
Trepell Airport 38.4 -0.3 43.9 16th 24.7 +0.9 20.5 14th 55.6 44.6 average 125%
Urandangi Aerodrome 38.3   45.2 16th 24.3   17.5 27th 42.8
Winton Airport 39.6 +0.8 44.2 17th 24.7 +1.2 17.1 13th 27.4 34.7 average 79%
Lower Western (district 38)
Birdsville Airport 38.8 +0.3 44.7 10th 24.7 +1.0 18.3 27th 25.0 10.2 v high 245%
Boulia Airport     45.7 16th 25.1 +1.6 18.6 27th 48.8 31.4 high 155%
Port Curtis South Coast (district 39)
Bundaberg Aero 30.4 +0.9 33.7 31st 21.0 +0.5 17.0 1st 150.2 128.3 high 117%
Gayndah Airport 32.8 +0.3 37.7 17th 20.8 +1.5 16.7 1st 186.2 98.6 v high 189%
Gladstone Airport 30.6 +0.6 35.3 17th 22.6 +0.5 20.0 14th 175.0 113.1 high 155%
Gladstone Radar 31.8 +0.8 34.8 11th 22.5 +0.6 19.1 14th 155.2 130.3 high 119%
Lady Elliot Island 29.2 +0.6 31.4 31st 24.0 +0.8 19.9 20th 106.0 92.4 average 115%
Monto Township 31.9 -0.1 35.9 8th 19.0 +0.7 14.4 1st 235.7 95.8 v high 246%
Rockhampton Aero 32.9 +0.8 36.5 31st 22.2 +1.0 19.7 14th 157.2 107.1 high 147%
Rundle Island 27.9 +0.2 31.1 31st 24.2 +0.4 20.8 14th
Seventeen Seventy 29.3 +0.6 31.7 31st 22.9 +0.7 18.4 14th 199.8 139.1 high 144%
Thangool Airport 33.0 +0.1 37.4 8th 19.4 +0.8 13.5 1st 319.4 95.8 v high 333%
Moreton South Coast (district 40)
Amberley AMO 31.6 +0.8 39.6 17th 19.3 +0.9 13.9 15th
Archerfield Airport 30.4 +0.9 37.2 17th 20.4 +1.4 15.5 15th 86.0 126.3 average 68%
Beaudesert Drumley Street 30.9   37.9 17th 19.3   12.7 15th 151.0
Beerburrum Forest Station 30.3 +0.7 39.0 17th 19.3 +0.9 14.5 15th 100.8 158.6 average 64%
Brisbane 29.9 +0.6 35.5 30th 21.2 +0.9 17.5 16th 124.4 138.7 average 90%
Brisbane Aero 28.6 +0.5 32.8 17th 21.1 +1.1 16.8 15th 133.4 131.2 average 102%
Cape Moreton Lighthouse 26.9 +0.9 29.6 31st 21.8 +0.8 18.7 14th 151.6 126.5 high 120%
Coolangatta 28.5 +1.4 37.1 17th 20.4 +0.7 16.0 16th 246.4 154.7 high 159%
Double Island Point Lighthouse 29.2 +1.9 35.7 30th 22.1 +0.6 18.6 14th 89.2 129.0 average 69%
Gold Coast Seaway 28.7 +0.9 36.9 17th 21.0 +0.5 17.9 15th 196.0 139.3 high 141%
Gympie 30.8 -0.5 37.4 17th 19.8 +1.3 14.8 1st 149.4 137.4 average 109%
Hervey Bay Airport 29.8 +0.5 32.4 30th 21.1 +0.1 14.8 1st 167.0 142.9 average 117%
Jimna Forestry 28.1 +0.3 35.1 17th 17.2 +0.9 12.7 23rd 141.0 111.9 average 126%
Kingaroy Airport 29.8 -0.3 35.8 17th 17.6 +1.0 11.8 15th 126.0 109.3 high 115%
Logan City Water Treatment Plant 29.8 +0.8 38.5 17th 20.6 +1.5 16.7 3rd 161.8 127.9 high 127%
Maleny Tamarind St 26.8 +0.4 33.0 17th 18.1 +0.5 14.0 15th 195.2 198.3 average 98%
Maryborough 31.0 +0.4 35.5 31st 20.2 +0.6 15.6 1st 140.8 129.0 average 109%
Nambour Daff - Hillside 29.5   36.6 17th 19.8   15.6 15th 148.0
Rainbow Beach 28.8 +0.6 34.0 30th       168.0 132.6 high 127%
Redcliffe 28.8 +0.6 34.0 17th 21.6 +0.8 17.1 15th 61.8 118.4 low 52%
Sunshine Coast Airport 29.4 +1.2 34.7 17th 20.1 +0.4 16.3 3rd 92.4 150.0 average 62%
Tewantin RSL Park 28.6 +0.6 33.5 17th 21.2 +0.6 17.7 15th 130.6 148.2 average 88%
Toolara (Kelly) 31.2 -0.1 38.5 17th 20.0 +0.3 17.1 14th 151.6 154.2 average 98%
University of Queensland Gatton 31.5 +0.2 39.1 17th 19.1 +1.0 14.9 15th 168.4 100.1 high 168%
East Darling Downs (district 41)
Applethorpe 26.7 +1.0 32.8 17th 14.7 +0.9 10.4 16th 229.4 98.3 highest 233%
Dalby Airport 32.1 +0.6 38.5 17th 18.5 +0.9 13.6 15th 54.6 97.9 low 56%
Goondiwindi Airport 33.4 +1.1 40.2 17th 20.3 +1.6 13.2 14th 118.2 85.2 high 139%
Oakey Aero 30.3 +0.1 36.7 17th 18.2 +1.6 12.8 14th 104.4 93.7 average 111%
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade 27.5 +0.5 34.0 17th 15.4 +1.2 11.4 16th 259.1 94.7 v high 274%
Texas Post Office 33.1 +0.4 39.5 17th 19.2 +2.0 13.9 14th 99.6 80.9 average 123%
Toowoomba Airport 27.5 +0.1 34.2 17th 17.1 +0.6 12.7 14th 251.2 111.1 high 226%
Warwick 29.2 +0.1 35.6 17th 16.8 +1.0 12.0 15th 222.8 107.0 v high 208%
West Darling Downs (district 42)
Miles Constance Street 32.5 -0.2 37.4 17th 20.1 +1.0 14.6 14th 185.4 102.9 high 180%
Maranoa (district 43)
Injune Post Office 33.2 0.0 39.1 10th 19.8 +1.7 14.4 15th 242.0 90.8 v high 267%
Mitchell Post Office 33.6 -0.1 38.9 17th 20.5 +2.0 15.2 15th 295.0 71.9 v high 410%
Roma Airport 33.2 0.0 39.3 17th 20.1 +0.8 15.5 14th 169.4 83.2 high 204%
St George Airport 35.1 +1.4 41.5 17th 21.3 +1.1 15.1 20th 43.4 72.4 average 60%
Surat 33.7 -0.1 39.9 17th 20.8 +1.5 15.5 14th 145.1 72.5 v high 200%
Warrego (district 44)
Bollon Mary St 35.6 +0.6 41.4 17th 21.4 +1.5 15.1 13th 89.3 52.5 high 170%
Charleville Aero 34.4 -0.3 40.5 17th 21.6 +1.3 16.6 20th 150.8 56.7 v high 266%
Cunnamulla Post Office 36.1 +0.9 42.5 17th 21.9 +1.2 17.7 14th 46.0 39.4 average 117%
Far Southwest (district 45)
Ballera Gas Field 37.8 +0.2 43.9 10th 24.0 +0.7 19.5 12th 24.2 12.3 high 197%
Thargomindah Airport 37.5 +1.0 43.5 10th 23.6 +0.6 18.0 19th 14.6 27.4 average 53%
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Middle Percy Island 28.9 +0.7 31.4 31st 23.2 +0.6 20.8 6th 88.0 110.9 average 79%
Willis Island 31.2 +0.5 32.9 12th 26.3 +0.9 22.5 14th 104.2 95.6 average 109%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

A Monthly Climate Summary is prepared to list the main features of the weather in Queensland 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.

A Climate Summary is generally published on the first working day of each month.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Monday 5 January 2015. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

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.

The ACORN-SAT dataset is used for temperature area averages.

Further information

Media
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