Canberra's
wettest spring since 1983
- 4th
wettest spring on record
- Wettest
spring since 1983, and wettest season since winter 1998
- Well
above average minimum temperatures; 16th consecutive spring with above
average minimums
Rainfall
Canberra
Airport recorded a total rainfall of 288.0 mm during spring 2010, which
is well above the historical average of 178.2 mm and more than double
the rainfall recorded in spring 2009 (117.8 mm). This is the wettest
season since winter 1998, when 305.8 mm was recorded at Canberra
Airport. Spring 2010 ranks as the 4th wettest spring on record and the
wettest spring since 1983, when 289.6 mm of rainfall was recorded. The
majority of the rainfall fell in October and November, both of which
had monthly totals exceeding 100 mm; however, all three months had
above average rainfall.
The
rain fell over 27 rain days, which is slightly below the spring average
of 30 raindays. Two major events brought daily totals above 25 mm to
Canberra Airport during the month, with 38.6 mm recorded on the 14th of
October as a slow moving trough crossed the city, with four-day totals
of 78.8 mm between the 13th and 16th. The season also concluded with
very wet conditions, with 40.6 mm recorded on November 29th as a front
crossed the state. The highest daily rainfall recorded during the
season was 73.4 mm at Mt Ginini AWS on October 16, with total spring
rainfall of 608.6 mm at Mt Ginini, the highest in the ACT.
Tharwa
General Store and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve also recorded their
highest total spring rainfall on record during this season. The high
rainfall experienced in the ACT is consistent with Australia-wide
patterns, with NSW recording its wettest spring on record and Australia
as a whole recording its wettest spring on record. These patterns are
consistent with both the La Niña event in the Pacific Ocean and a
negative Indian Ocean Dipole event, both of which bring increased
rainfall to eastern Australia, particularly in inland regions. For more
about La Niña and the IOD please refer to the ENSO Wrap Up.
Some sites had their highest total spring rainfall on record.
Temperature
The
average maximum temperature for spring at Canberra Airport was 19.5 °C,
close to the historical average of 19.4 °C, with the highest average
maximum temperature anywhere in Canberra just 19.7 °C at Tuggeranong
AWS. This is the coolest spring since 2003 (19.2 °C), with all spring
months having near average maximum temperatures.
The
average daily minimum temperature during spring was 7.0 °C at Canberra
Airport, which is 1 °C above the historical average of 6 °C and the
warmest average minimum temperatures in suburban ACT. Canberra Airport
has now experienced 16 consecutive springs with above average minimum
temperatures. All months during spring had above average minimums,
leading to slightly above average mean daily temperatures for the
season.
The
highest temperature in the ACT during spring was 28.2 °C at Tuggeranong
on November 12, while the lowest temperature was -5.5 °C at Mt Ginini
AWS on October 16, a much smaller temperature range than in Spring 2009
(-6.1 °C to 38.2 °C). The lowest temperature in suburban Canberra was
-2.0 °C at Tuggeranong AWS on September 30.
Wind
The
highest wind gust recorded at Canberra Airport during spring was
85km/hr on September 4, with a maximum wind gust of 109km/hr at Mt
Ginini AWS on the same day. Eight strong wind days were recorded during
the season, slightly below the historical average of 11 days, with no
strong wind days recorded in November.
Other
phenomena
The
mean daily sunshine during spring was 7.6 hours, well below the
historical average of 8.4 hours per day. There were 7 frosts, well
below the historical average of 22, and 24 fogs. This was well above
the historical average of 8 fogs, with September the equal foggiest on
record. Three thunderstorms were recorded at Canberra Airport, well
below the historical average of eight thunder days, with hail reported
on November 8.
