Canberra
in 2010: Fourth wettest year on record
- Fourth
wettest year on record for Canberra; wettest since 1974.
- Highest
daily rainfall since 1995.
- 14th
consecutive year with above average temperatures.
Rainfall
Canberra Airport recorded 959.6mm of rainfall during
2010, well above the historical average of 616.8mm and the fourth
highest rainfall on record. This was the result of a strong La Niña
event which developed during spring 2010, and is the wettest year since
a previous La Niña event in 1974 (977mm). Rainfall in 2010 was more
than double that recorded in 2009, which was an El Niño year. Most
months received above average rainfall, including the second wettest
December on record, with below average totals only recorded in
February, April and June. The rain fell over 103 days, which is average
for Canberra.
The wettest day in the year was December 3, when 87mm
was recorded at Canberra Airport, the highest daily total since 21st
January 1995 (93.8mm). Rainfall of up to 93.4mm was recorded on this
day at Nicholls. This was the consequence of a low pressure trough over
central NSW. The next wettest day was also in December, with 93mm at
Tuggeranong and 32mm at Canberra Airport as a result of a strong cold
front crossing the state. Significant flooding was experienced in the
ACT during December, with Queanbeyan inundated and a Natural Disaster
declared.
Very wet conditions also occurred on February 14,
March 8, September 5 and October 16, during major rain events that
caused significant flooding in NSW. These are described in more detail
in the NSW annual summary. The highest
annual rainfall in 2010 was 1591.8mm at Mt Ginini AWS, with Tharwa
General Store recording its highest annual rainfall on record.
Some sites had their highest total rainfall on record.
Temperature
The
average daily maximum temperature in Canberra was 20.3°C during 2010,
which was 0.6°C above the historical average of 19.7°C. This was the
14th consecutive year with above average temperatures, with below
average temperatures only recorded during August, October and December.
There were 8 days with temperatures above 35°C during 2010, all of
which occurred in January, with a maximum temperature of 39.8°C on
January 12. This was significantly cooler than 2009, as a result of the
increased rainfall associated with La Niña conditions.
Minimum
temperatures were also above average for the twelth consecutive year
during 2010, with 7.3°C on average compared to the historical average
of 6.5°C. Minimums were also warmest during January, with a maximum
overnight temperature of 24.5°C at Tuggeranong. Mean temperatures were
consequently 0.7°C above average during 2010.
Wind
There
were 22 strong wind days at Canberra Airport during 2010, lower then
the historical average of 30 days. The highest wind gust at Canberra
Airport was 85km/hr on September 4, followed by 83km/hr on September 5
as a result of a strong low pressure system to the south of the state.
Wind gusts above 90km/hr were recorded at Mt Ginini on June 14, July 17
and October 15, with a maximum gust of 109km/hr on September 4.
Other
phenomena
Thunderstorms: Canberra Airport recorded 18
thunderstorms during 2010, slightly below the historical average of 26,
with 51 storms recorded within the ACT as a whole. Hail was reported in
the ACT region for four storms, on July 24, August 1, November 8 and
December 2.
Sunshine: The amount of sunshine for
Canberra during 2010 averaged 7.7 hours per day, which is average for
Canberra. Monthly averages varied considerably from only 5.5 hours per
day in July to 10.8 hours in January.
Frosts
and Fogs: There was
a total of 53 frosts during 2010, well below the annual average of 100.
62 fogs occurred at the airport, above the annual average of 44. The
foggiest month was July, when 14 fogs were reported at Canberra
Airport, the second foggiest on record.
