ACT
in Summer 2009-10: Warm summer comes to a wet end
- The
highest average minimum temperatures at Canberra Airport since 1980
- 8th
warmest maximum temperatures on record
- Above
average rainfall, with wettest summer day since 2002
Rainfall
The
total summer rainfall at Canberra Airport was 209.2mm, well above the
historical average of 167.3mm and the highest rainfall since Summer
2007/08. However, only 17 rain days were recorded, below the historical
average of 22 rain days. The majority of the rain fell during December
and February, with only 7.4mm recorded in January. February in
particular recorded well above average rainfall with 125.4mm, the
wettest since 2002. The majority of the rainfall was associated with a
low pressure trough and upper level low between the 13th and 15th of
February, with 104.2mm recorded over three days. This system brought
high totals to much of NSW, with heavy rain falling in a band
stretching SE to NW across the state.
The
highest total rainfall in the Canberra region was 260.4mm at Mt Ginini,
with 244.3mm recorded in the suburb of Nicholls. The wettest day
recorded was also at Nicholls (Gungahlin Lakes) with 70mm on 14 Feb
2010. Canberra Airport also recorded 56.2mm on this day, the wettest
summer day since the 5th of February 2002. Some minor flooding was
associated with this event, although no significant damage occurred.
Temperature
Warm
temperatures prevailed in Canberra during summer, with above average
temperatures recorded in all months including the second warmest
January on record. The mean maximum temperature at Canberra Airport was
29.2°C, which is 2.1°C above the historical summer average of 27.1°C.
The average minimum temperature was 14.7°C, which was 2.2°C above the
historical summer average of 12.5°C and the second warmest on record.
Only Summer 1980/81 was warmer, with an average of 14.8°C. This is the
10th consecutive summer with above average minimum temperatures at
Canberra Airport.
The
warmest night recorded was 24.5°C on January 23rd. This was the highest
minimum temperature on record at this station, exceeding the previous
record by 2°C. The hottest day in Canberra was 39.1°C at Canbeera
Airport on the 12th of January, while the coldest nights recorded were
3.5°C at Tidbinbilla on January 19 and -1.7°C at Mt Ginini (elevation
1760m) on December 1.Twelve very hot days (above 35°C) were recorded
during Summer, all during December and January. This is the third
highest December-January total on record, and the highest since 13 days
in 1973/73. Heatwave conditions affected Canberra twice, with two
periods of three or more days above 35°C from January 9-12 and January
21-23.
Some
sites had their warmest
summer night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record. Some
sites had their highest
summer mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years.
Wind
8
strong wind days were recorded during summer, slightly above the
historical average of 5, the majority of which occurred during
December. The highest wind gust recorded was 78km/hr at both Canberra
Airport and Mt Ginini on February 17th. The prevailing winds at
Canberra Airport during summer afternoons were north to west (57%).
This was particularly true during December and January, with such winds
65% of the time, compared to only 39% in February.
Other
phenomena
5
thunderstorms were recorded at Canberra Airport during summer, well
below the historical average of 12, with no hail recorded. The summer
was generally sunny, with a daily average of 9.9 sunshine hours, above
the historical average of 9.3 hours. However, below average sunshine
was recorded in February, with only 8.3 hours. Average relative
humidity was 61.7% at 9am and 33.4% at 3pm, slightly below the
historical average.
