Queensland in March 2020: above average rainfall and flooding in western Queensland

Widespread rainfall from lows and troughs affected most of Queensland in the first half of the month. The remnants of tropical cyclone Esther crossed into western Queensland in early March, bringing heavy rain and flooding to western Queensland.

Both maximum and minimum temperatures were much warmer than usual in the Cape York Peninsula and parts of northern Queensland. Daytime temperatures overall were cooler than usual across southwest and southern inland Queensland. Overnight temperatures were slightly warmer than average in the southwest.

Above average rainfall and flooding in western parts

  • Rainfall was well above average in the southwest and parts of the central coast; below average around the Gulf Country, central and southeast inland areas; and close to average elsewhere
  • A surface trough persisted from northwest to southern inland Queensland at the start of the month, with a moist and unstable air mass extending across most of eastern Queensland
  • The surface trough combined with an upper-level trough over central Australia, and the remnants of tropical cyclone Esther, entering western Queensland around the 4th
  • At the same time, a coastal trough was also located over the central coast of Queensland, and produced moderate to locally heavy falls in the Central Coast and Capricornia districts. Yeppoon recorded 230.4 mm over the two days ending the 6th
  • Widespread moderate falls were recorded across most of Queensland from the 4th to the 8th, as the remnant low, surface troughs and upper-level trough moved eastwards across the State
  • A few sites had their highest March daily rainfall on record
  • Another surface trough through inland Queensland produced showers and thunderstorms over much of eastern Queensland on the 9th and 10th
  • A monsoon trough across northern Queensland in the middle of the month produced showers and thunderstorms in the Cape York Peninsula and north tropical coast between the 11th and 13th
  • Showers continued along parts of the east coast from the middle of the month until the 26th, with moderate to heavier falls recorded about the north tropical coast of Queensland

Warm days and nights in the far north; cooler days in the southwest

  • Mean maximum temperatures were much warmer than usual in the Cape York Peninsula and parts of northern Queensland
  • It was a warm start to the month, with many locations reporting their warmest day in the first three days of March, and some sites having their highest March temperature on record
  • Overall, daytime temperatures were cooler than usual across southwest and southern inland Queensland, but close to average elsewhere in the State.
  • A few sites had their coldest March day (lowest maximum temperature) on record on the 9th
  • Mean minimum temperatures were much warmer than usual in the Cape York Peninsula and parts of northern Queensland
  • Overnight temperatures were also slightly warmer than average in the southwest, but were close to average elsewhere in the State
  • A few sites had their warmest March night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record on the 6th
  • Queensland's mean maximum temperature was 0.22 °C above the long-term average, and the mean minimum temperature was 0.84 °C above the long-term average
  • For the year-to-date (January to March), Queensland's mean maximum temperature was 1.19 °C above average and the mean minimum temperature was fourth-highest, and 1.64 °C above average

Tropical cyclones, and flooding in western Queensland

  • Heavy rainfall over western Queensland in early March, associated with ex-tropical cyclone Esther, produced significant flooding in the Georgina, Diamantina, Bulloo, Paroo and Warrego rivers and the Cooper Creek catchment. Several roads were closed across the region, disrupting major transportation routes and some properties were isolated for a number of weeks. Major flooding was recorded at Thargomindah, Quilpie, Eulo and Hungerford
  • Major flooding also occurred in the lower Balonne River in early March from heavy rainfall over the Balonne and Maranoa rivers during February; transportation routes through the region were cut and Dirranbandi was isolated for several days. Flooding during March occurred on already elevated river levels in tributaries of the Lake Eyre and Murray–Darling Basins
  • Tropical cyclone Greta formed well off the east coast of Queensland in the Coral Sea on the 15th, but had no impact on the Australian mainland

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes in March 2020
Hottest day 42.8 °C at Birdsville Airport on the 1st
Warmest days on average 36.6 °C at Julia Creek Airport
Coolest days on average 23.8 °C at Applethorpe
Coldest day 17.5 °C at Applethorpe on the 9th
Coldest night 7.4 °C at Applethorpe on the 20th
Coolest nights on average 13.3 °C at Applethorpe
Warmest nights on average 27.1 °C at Sweers Island
Warmest night 30.8 °C at Ballera Gas Field on the 2nd
Warmest on average overall 30.1 °C at Century Mine
Coolest on average overall 18.5 °C at Applethorpe
Wettest overall 684.5 mm at Tully Sugar Mill
Wettest day 339.0 mm at Allingham Forrest Drive on the 11th
Strongest wind gust 109 km/h at Cape Moreton Lighthouse on the 15th

Maps

Observed Anomaly Decile 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 highest March daily rainfall

New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Juanita 164.0 on the 6th 124.5 on the 9th in 1962 58
Rocky 91.0 on the 5th 58.0 on the 1st in 2010 24
Hervey Bay Airport 94.8 on the 10th 93.4 on the 18th in 2012 22
Thargomindah Airport 128.0 on the 5th 75.6 on the 11th in 2000 21
Ballera Gas Field 64.0 on the 5th 50.4 on the 2nd in 2010 20



Record highest March total rainfall

New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
March
Thargomindah Airport 209.6 143.8 in 2000 21 46.2



Record highest March temperature

New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
March
Weipa Aero 34.8 on the 3rd 34.7 on the 10th in 2019 28 31.8



Record lowest March daily maximum temperature

New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
March
Beerburrum Forest Station 21.4 on the 9th = 21.4 on the 27th in 2019 22 28.7
Brisbane 21.9 on the 9th 22.8 on the 27th in 2019 21 29.2
Kingaroy Airport 19.9 on the 9th 20.6 on the 30th in 2005 20 28.3



Record highest March daily minimum temperature

New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
March
Willis Island 28.4 on the 8th 28.3 on the 16th in 2016 95 25.5
Double Island Point Lighthouse 25.6 on the 6th = 25.6 on the 11th in 1958 59 21.8
Walkamin Research Station 24.0 on the 6th = 24.0 on the 29th in 2017 52 19.6
Thangool Airport 24.1 on the 6th = 24.1 on the 1st in 2003 28 18.0
Sunshine Coast Airport 25.8 on the 4th 25.4 on the 13th in 2007 26 20.2
Point Lookout 25.8 on the 6th 25.7 on the 3rd in 2011 24 22.0
Brisbane 25.6 on the 6th 25.0 on the 26th in 2001 21 20.2
Mareeba Airport 24.7 on the 6th 24.1 on the 29th in 2017 20 20.6



Highest March mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years

Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
March
Lockhart River Airport 24.5 24.8 in 1988* 23.5

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




Summary statistics for March 2020

Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
March
2020
Diff
from
average
Highest for
March
2020
Mean for
March
2020
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
March
2020
Total for
March
2020
Average
for
March
Rank of
March
2020
Fraction of
March
average
North Peninsula (district 27)
Coconut Island 31.7 0.0 34.8 1st 25.8 +0.1 24.0 16th 347.8 290.6 average 120%
Coen Airport 32.3 +0.8 35.5 6th 23.8 +0.4 22.0 20th 290.0 269.4 average 108%
Horn Island 30.4 -0.1 32.2 15th 25.6 +0.5 24.0 29th 338.0 350.7 average 96%
Scherger RAAF 32.5 +0.4 35.3 1st 24.1 +0.4 22.2 22nd 318.4 346.7 average 92%
Weipa Aero 32.0 +0.2 34.8 3rd 24.4 +0.5 22.5 22nd 286.6 405.3 low 71%
South Peninsula (district 28)
Lockhart River Airport 31.1 +0.5 35.1 7th 24.5 +1.0 22.9 13th 392.2 449.7 average 87%
Palmerville 32.7 +0.4 34.7 6th 22.2 +0.2 19.7 16th 133.0 180.2 average 74%
Lower Carpentaria (district 29)
Burketown Airport 35.1 +0.6 37.5 27th 24.9 +1.0 21.9 21st 25.4 140.2 low 18%
Century Mine 36.1 -0.1 39.2 1st 24.0 +0.4 20.6 21st 96.6 79.7 high 121%
Cloncurry Airport 35.2 -0.6 37.6 31st 22.9 0.0 20.0 21st 47.4 77.9 average 61%
Julia Creek Airport 36.6 +0.2 39.1 31st 20.9 -0.4 16.6 19th 43.0 76.9 average 56%
Kowanyama Airport 34.0 +1.1 35.4 8th 24.4 +0.6 22.1 22nd 120.6 238.5 low 51%
Lake Julius AWS 35.4   39.4 1st 23.4   19.8 21st 72.2


Mornington Island Airport 33.0   34.6 23rd 25.7   22.6 24th 61.0


Mount Isa Aero 34.7 +0.3 37.9 1st 21.7 -0.1 17.2 21st 60.6 65.4 average 93%
Normanton Airport 34.7 +0.7 36.5 31st 24.8 +0.2 21.9 15th 48.2 135.0 low 36%
Sweers Island 32.8 +0.6 35.1 15th 27.1 +1.1 24.5 18th 22.4 239.1 v low 9%
Upper Carpentaria (district 30)
Georgetown Airport 33.2 -0.2 35.3 7th 22.1 0.0 17.4 15th 105.2 143.7 average 73%
Hughenden Airport 34.5 0.0 36.2 9th 20.9 -0.8 15.8 15th 2.8 32.6 low 9%
Richmond Airport 35.5 -0.1 37.3 8th 20.6 -0.7 15.5 15th 38.0 62.8 average 61%
Richmond Post Office 35.1 +0.2 37.2 8th 21.3 +0.5 17.3 19th 34.5 62.1 average 56%
Barron North Coast (district 31)
Cairns Aero 31.3 +0.7 34.2 6th 23.8 +0.7 20.2 15th 134.4 416.3 low 32%
Cairns Racecourse 31.2   34.6 7th 23.6   20.1 15th 200.2


Cape Flattery 31.6 +0.5 35.9 6th 24.9 +0.3 23.6 14th 219.6 374.6 low 59%
Cooktown Airport 30.7 +0.2 34.5 6th 24.1 +0.3 21.3 16th 331.0 389.8 average 85%
Low Isles Lighthouse 30.8 0.0 34.5 6th     23.6 21st 229.6 438.3 low 52%
Mareeba Airport 29.8 0.0 32.6 5th 21.3 +0.7 17.6 15th 37.6 157.5 v low 24%
Walkamin Research Station 28.5 +0.3 32.0 5th 20.2 +0.6 15.0 15th 169.0 209.0 average 81%
Herbert North Coast (district 32)
Cardwell Marine Pde 30.6 -0.1 34.3 14th 23.2 +1.2 20.4 16th 280.8 402.0 average 70%
Cowley Beach (Defence) 30.2   33.0 5th 23.6   19.7 15th 553.4


Innisfail 30.4 +0.6 33.0 7th 23.6 +1.4 20.7 15th 581.1 663.2 average 88%
Innisfail Aerodrome 30.7   34.4 5th 22.5   18.1 15th 551.2


Lucinda Point 29.6 -0.1 32.3 3rd 25.3 +0.5 22.6 20th



Mount Stuart (Defence) 30.6   34.0 5th 22.8   20.9 21st 64.8


South Johnstone Exp Stn 30.1 +0.2 34.1 7th 23.0 +0.9 19.3 15th 652.4 610.8 average 107%
Townsville Aero 31.3 +0.6 33.2 7th 23.9 +0.9 20.6 21st 103.4 193.7 average 53%
Townsville- Air Weapons Range (Defence) 30.8   34.8 5th 20.7   16.9 18th 53.6


East Central Coast (district 33)
Alva Beach 30.3 -0.3 31.9 5th 23.3 0.0 20.3 21st 225.2 148.4 high 152%
Ayr DPI Research Stn 31.2 +0.3 33.3 5th 22.2 +0.6 19.0 21st 48.8 153.4 low 32%
Bowen Airport AWS 31.3   33.3 8th 23.0   17.9 15th 91.6


Collinsville Post Office 32.4 +0.4 34.7 1st 20.3 +0.1 15.7 15th 65.2 97.0 average 67%
Hamilton Island Airport 28.7 0.0 31.2 5th 24.5 +0.2 21.5 18th 312.4 254.1 high 123%
Mackay Aero 29.3 0.0 31.5 5th 22.4 +0.3 18.0 15th 323.2 262.3 average 123%
Mackay M.O 29.0 +0.3 32.6 5th 23.0 +0.6 19.2 15th 295.0 284.1 average 104%
Ooralea Racecourse (Mackay Turf Club) 29.7   32.3 7th 22.1   17.7 15th 99.8


Proserpine Airport 30.3 +0.1 33.9 5th 22.1 +0.4 17.6 15th 100.2 213.3 average 47%
Samuel Hill Aero 29.1 -0.2 32.4 6th 21.1 +0.2 16.6 21st 475.0 234.0 high 203%
St Lawrence 30.8 0.0 33.3 1st 21.6 -0.1 17.3 20th 135.8 149.1 average 91%
Townsville- Fanning River (Defence) 31.0   34.3 5th 20.3   15.9 18th 33.8


Williamson 30.2 -0.3 32.7 2nd 21.8 +0.1 18.4 20th 317.4 140.3 high 226%
Woolshed 28.1 +0.5 31.1 6th 20.1 +0.3 16.3 20th 72.6 151.3 average 48%
Yeppoon The Esplanade 28.5 +0.1 30.9 3rd 22.7 +0.1 19.6 20th 354.4 140.3 v high 253%
West Central Coast (district 34)
Charters Towers Airport 32.1 +0.1 36.6 5th 20.0 -1.0 16.0 21st 91.3 76.4 high 120%
Moranbah Airport 31.8   36.7 5th 20.0   15.6 20th 53.2


Central Highlands (district 35)
Blackwater Airport 31.8   34.6 23rd 19.9   16.3 18th 1.6


Clermont Airport 32.4   36.1 5th 19.1   13.6 15th 26.8 97.5 low 27%
Emerald Airport 31.9 -0.9 34.8 2nd 20.2 -0.3 17.0 20th 45.4 59.7 average 76%
Lochington 33.2   36.3 23rd 19.8   14.8 20th 9.0 80.6 low 11%
Rolleston Airport 31.5   35.4 23rd 18.4   14.4 20th 35.4 75.7 low 47%
Springsure Comet St 31.4 -0.2 34.6 23rd     13.2 18th 49.2 70.8 average 69%
Tambo Post Office 31.6 -0.9 34.5 23rd 17.3 -0.4 11.0 14th 32.8 59.8 average 55%
Taroom Post Office 31.9 +0.1 37.3 23rd 18.4 +0.1 13.4 17th 30.5 63.7 average 48%
Central Lowlands (district 36)
Barcaldine Post Office 34.1 +0.8 36.6 2nd 22.1 +1.1 18.8 17th 42.8 60.2 average 71%
Blackall Airport 32.6 -1.4 35.6 23rd 19.6 -0.8 15.0 18th 61.8 48.5 high 127%
Isisford Post Office 34.4 0.0 37.6 2nd 21.0 +0.6 17.2 18th 21.4 60.0 average 36%
Longreach Aero 35.3 +0.6 38.9 2nd 21.7 +1.2 18.1 18th 42.6 54.8 average 78%
Upper Western (district 37)
Camooweal Township 36.3 +1.0 39.5 1st 21.7 -0.1 18.0 10th 27.0 55.6 average 49%
Carters Bore 34.5   38.4 1st 22.8   18.7 8th 65.0


New May Downs 34.3   39.0 1st 22.2   19.0 8th 74.0


The Monument Airport 35.1 -0.6 39.1 1st 21.0 -0.9 18.2 20th 52.2 51.1 average 102%
Trepell Airport 35.7 -0.1 39.1 1st 21.5 -0.4 17.6 19th 27.8 53.7 average 52%
Urandangi Aerodrome 36.0   41.0 1st 20.1   15.8 20th 79.4


Winton Airport 35.3 -0.4 37.5 23rd 20.8 -0.6 16.2 21st 12.2 65.8 average 19%
Lower Western (district 38)
Bedourie 34.5 -1.4 42.2 1st 21.3 -0.5 18.5 19th 105.6 28.4 v high 372%
Birdsville Airport 34.7 -1.1 42.8 1st 21.1 -0.9 16.9 28th 125.2 39.3 high 319%
Boulia Airport 35.4 -0.1 42.0 1st     21.0 6th 86.0 37.1 v high 232%
Windorah Airport 34.4   40.3 1st 22.6   17.2 26th 90.0


Port Curtis South Coast (district 39)
Bundaberg Aero 29.6 +0.3 33.5 7th 20.2 +0.1 17.4 20th 22.6 111.4 low 20%
Gayndah Airport 30.4 -0.9 33.7 2nd 18.8 -0.3 13.7 20th 33.8 71.3 average 47%
Gladstone Airport 30.1 +0.2 32.1 2nd 21.8 -0.1 18.8 26th 66.0 111.7 average 59%
Lady Elliot Island 28.9 +0.5 31.9 5th 24.0 +0.5 20.7 18th 142.2 124.5 average 114%
Monto Township 29.6 -0.4 33.7 2nd 17.7 +0.2 13.5 26th 44.5 78.9 average 56%
Rockhampton Aero 30.6 0.0 33.5 2nd 21.6 +0.7 17.4 20th 118.0 104.8 average 113%
Rundle Island 27.2 -0.2 29.9 6th 23.7 0.0 21.6 28th



Seventeen Seventy 28.2 -0.1 31.8 7th 20.6 -1.0 18.1 20th 109.8 140.2 average 78%
Thangool Airport 30.7 -1.4 34.8 23rd 17.5 -0.5 12.6 20th 68.0 63.6 average 107%
Moreton South Coast (district 40)
Amberley AMO 29.2 -0.2 34.8 2nd 17.8 0.0 12.1 18th 79.2 85.6 average 93%
Archerfield Airport 29.0 +0.1 34.6 2nd 18.6 +0.1 14.7 18th 78.4 126.9 average 62%
Beaudesert Drumley Street 28.8 -0.5 33.7 3rd 17.4 -0.5 11.3 19th 49.2 122.8 low 40%
Beerburrum Forest Station 27.9 -0.8 33.0 2nd 18.3 -0.4 15.0 20th 154.2 176.1 average 88%
Brisbane 28.7 -0.5 33.4 2nd 20.1 -0.1 17.3 18th



Brisbane Aero 27.9 -0.1 31.3 3rd 19.4 -0.4 16.5 17th 110.8 112.3 average 99%
Canungra (Defence) 27.8   34.0 2nd 16.1   10.1 19th 54.4


Cape Moreton Lighthouse 26.5 +0.4 30.0 3rd 21.3 +0.1 17.0 18th 167.2 175.2 average 95%
Coolangatta 27.4 0.0 31.3 3rd 19.7 -0.1 16.3 19th 195.6 186.3 average 105%
Double Island Point Lighthouse 26.7 -0.2 30.8 6th 21.9 +0.1 18.5 17th 77.8 161.8 low 48%
Gold Coast Seaway 28.2 +0.2 31.6 6th 20.7 -0.2 17.9 19th 121.6 134.0 average 91%
Greenbank (Defence) 29.2   35.8 2nd 17.5   12.4 19th 82.2


Gympie 28.6 -0.7 33.0 21st 18.3 +0.1 13.5 20th 64.4 144.2 low 45%
Hervey Bay Airport 28.9 -0.2 33.1 7th 20.5 -0.2 17.1 20th 202.0 138.5 average 146%
Kingaroy Airport 27.8 -0.5 32.4 7th 15.6 -0.7 10.3 20th 78.0 69.9 average 112%
Logan City Water Treatment Plant 28.3 -0.2 33.8 2nd 19.2 0.0 15.4 17th 141.7 134.2 average 106%
Maryborough 29.1 -0.2 32.4 21st 19.5 +0.1 16.4 20th 69.2 157.0 low 44%
Nambour Daff - Hillside 27.5 -0.6 31.9 2nd 19.2 -0.6 15.4 20th 222.2 269.4 average 82%
Point Lookout 28.3 -0.4 32.7 3rd 21.7 -0.3 19.2 27th 187.3 137.1 average 137%
Rainbow Beach 27.7 -0.3 30.6 7th      
158.6 152.5 average 104%
Redcliffe 27.6 -0.3 31.0 3rd 20.3 -0.5 17.7 14th 146.4 138.7 average 106%
Redland (Alexandra Hills) 27.5   30.9 3rd 19.3   15.8 26th 93.8


Sunshine Coast Airport 27.3 -0.7 30.3 5th 20.1 -0.1 16.1 20th 255.0 176.8 high 144%
Tewantin RSL Park 27.5 -0.1 30.8 21st 20.5 -0.4 17.3 20th 182.8 216.7 average 84%
Tin Can Bay (Defence) 28.0   31.5 21st 19.7   16.4 21st 261.0


University of Queensland Gatton 29.5 -0.1 35.2 2nd 17.2 -0.1 11.8 18th 40.8 79.2 low 52%
East Darling Downs (district 41)
Applethorpe 23.8 -0.3 30.1 21st 13.3 -0.1 7.4 20th 12.4 70.3 v low 18%
Dalby Airport 30.5 +0.2 35.0 22nd 16.4 -0.2 9.0 17th 10.2 57.0 low 18%
Oakey Aero 28.3 -0.5 33.9 2nd 15.3 -0.6 8.0 17th 25.8 50.9 average 51%
Stanthorpe Leslie Parade 24.6 -0.3 31.2 2nd 14.1 +0.2 8.0 17th 23.5 66.3 low 35%
Texas Post Office 30.2 -1.0 34.6 21st 16.7 +0.6 11.5 19th 67.0 56.6 average 118%
Toowoomba Airport 25.6 -0.6 30.9 22nd 15.9 -0.6 11.3 16th 33.6 84.2 low 40%
Warwick 27.5 -0.4 33.0 21st 15.6 +0.3 9.2 20th 10.8 66.2 v low 16%
West Darling Downs (district 42)
Miles Constance Street 30.3 -1.1 35.1 23rd 17.7 -0.3 12.9 19th 22.6 57.3 average 39%
Maranoa (district 43)
Injune Post Office 29.7 -1.3 33.8 31st 16.2 -0.4 10.9 19th 50.4 62.8 average 80%
Mitchell Post Office 30.6 -0.6 35.1 1st 16.7 -0.1 11.5 19th 38.0 61.2 average 62%
Roma Airport 29.4 -2.3 34.3 2nd 16.4 -1.1 11.4 18th 28.8 57.3 average 50%
St George Airport 30.0 -2.1 34.9 2nd 18.5 -0.4 14.4 18th 72.2 47.9 high 151%
Surat 30.2 -1.6 34.8 22nd 18.5 +0.5 13.9 17th 30.8 58.7 average 52%
Warrego (district 44)
Bollon Mary St     36.8 3rd 19.4 +1.1 15.6 14th 16.4 48.9 average 34%
Charleville Aero 30.9 -1.3 35.3 2nd 19.2 +0.3 14.9 19th 116.0 60.1 high 193%
Cunnamulla Post Office 32.0 -0.5 38.8 1st 19.8 +0.9 16.1 26th 54.0 41.1 high 131%
Far Southwest (district 45)
Ballera Gas Field 33.1 -1.8 41.1 2nd 21.2 -0.5 17.4 15th 83.4 28.6 high 292%
Thargomindah Airport 31.9 -2.1 40.0 1st 21.4 -0.3 16.7 26th 209.6 46.2 highest 454%
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Cato Island 27.8   31.0 10th 24.5   21.3 18th



Creal Reef 28.0   30.2 7th 25.7   22.7 20th



Flinders Reef 29.2   32.8 9th 26.2   23.2 18th



Frederick Reef 27.9   30.8 10th 25.6   23.3 20th



Gannet Cay 27.8   29.7 9th 24.9   21.5 19th



Holmes Reef 29.5   32.7 6th 26.6   23.3 19th



Marion Reef 28.7   31.5 9th 26.0   23.0 26th



Middle Percy Island 27.5 -0.1 30.1 8th 23.0 +0.1 19.7 19th 164.4 186.5 average 88%
Willis Island 31.2 +1.3 33.2 1st 26.2 +0.7 23.2 20th 108.2 205.2 average 53%

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists 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. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Wednesday 1 April 2020. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

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.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

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Climate