ACT
in February 2010: A wet end to Summer
- Second
warmest February for minimum temperatures
- Wettest
February since 2002
- 6th
wettest February on record
Rainfall
Canberra
had significantly above average rainfall in February, with a maximum
monthly rainfall of 194.4mm at Tidbinbilla. 125.4mm was recorded at
Canberra Airport, well above the February average of 56.4. This was the
6th wettest February on record and the wettest February since 211mm
fell in 2002.
The
majority of the rainfall was associated with a low pressure trough and
upper level low between the 13th and 15th of the month, with 104.2mm
recorded over three days. The highest daily rainfall at Canberra
Airport was 56.2 on the 14th, close to the average monthly total, with
the highest daily rainfall recorded anywhere in Canberra being 70mm at
Nicholls (Gungahlin Lakes) on the same day. Some minor flooding was
associated with this event, although no significant damage occurred.
The
rain fell over 7 rain days, which is average for February. Five of
these were associated with the aforementioned trough, with the only
other rainfall occurring between the 5th and 6th. This was also
associated with an active low pressure trough.
Temperature
Average
maximum temperatures at Canberra Airport in February were 27.3°C, only
0.2°C above the historical average of 27.1°C. No days occurred above
35°C, with the highest daily maximum 33.7°C at Canberra Airport on the
11th. The coldest day recorded anywhere in Canberra was 13.3°C at Mt
Ginini AWS on the 6th, with a low of 19.5°C recorded at Canberra
Airport on the 13th associated with the passage of a trough system.
However,
minimum temperatures were very high, averaging 16.1°C at Tuggeranong
and 15.7°C at Canberra Airport. This was 2.6°C above the historical
average at Canberra, the highest since 16.1°C in February 1983 and the
second highest on record. Ten of the last eleven Februaries have now
had above average minimum temperatures in Canberra. The warmest night
recorded at Canberra Airport was 20.7°C on the 12th, while the coolest
night was 3.8°C at Mt Ginini on the 26th. The coldest night at Canberra
Airport was 9.8°C on the same day.
Some sites had their highest
February mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years.
Wind
There
was no dominant wind direction in Canberra during February, with the
highest frequency approximately 20% for north easterlies. However, 71%
of days had S-E winds at 9am, well above the average for February. No
days had calm conditions at 9am, compared to 43% of days on average.
Only one strong wind day was recorded at Canberra Airport on the 3rd;
however, four days had maximum wind gusts of 54km/h. The highest wind
gusts recorded during the month were at Mt Ginini, with 69km/h recorded
on both the 12th and 23rd.
Other
phenomena
4
days with thunderstorms were reported at Canberra Airport on the 5th,
10th, 15th and 28th, equal to the long-term average. Average daily
sunshine was below average, with 8.3 hours compared to the historical
average of 9.0 hours/day. Average relative humidity was 71.2% at 9am
and 48.0% at 3pm, slightly above the average for February. This was the
highest average 3pm humidity since 2002. Two days in February had
relative humidites of at least 95% at 3pm, which is unprecedented in
the 58 years of humidity records.
