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Monday, 3 June 2002
MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - ACT METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE
Canberra experiences Indian Summer in May
May in the ACT this year was drier than normal, with above-average day-time temperatures and below-average night-time temperatures.
Day-time temperatures were particularly high in the first two weeks of the month, when Canberra experienced an Indian Summer
with well above-average day-time temperatures, light winds, clear skies and cool nights.
A total of 27.0 millimetres of rain was recorded at Canberra airport for the month, well below the average of 48.6mm.
Rain was recorded on seven days, one less than normal. There were no thunderstorms recorded at the airport.
Rainfall across the ACT was mostly below average, though there were isolated heavier falls.
The highest total was 53.2mm at Gungahlin. The lowest was 22.8mm at Lanyon.
A cold outbreak on the 18 and 19 May resulted in snow on the higher parts of the Brindabella ranges, with good falls in the NSW
Alpine region.
The average day-time maximum temperature for May was 16.3 degrees Celsius, well above the long-term average of 15.3 degrees.
The average daily minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees was below the long-term average of 3.2 degrees.
There was quite a marked change in temperature during the month. While the maximum temperatures for the first two weeks averaged
about 20 degrees (5 degrees above average), they dropped to about 13 degrees (2 degrees below average) for the last two weeks.
The mean daily temperature of 9.6 degrees was just above the long-term average of 9.3 degrees.
The low minimum temperature for the month reflected the fact that Canberra experienced more frosts than normal. There
were 16 frosts for the month, three more than the average of 13. Only four fogs were recorded - half the average of eight -
due to the dry conditions. The average daily hours of sunshine was 6.4 hours a day, well above the
average of 5.6 hours/day. This reflected the sunnier conditions in the first half of the month.
Winds were in general below average. The average wind run of 140.3 kilometres a day at two metres was well
below the mean of 155.4 km/day. There were no strong wind days for the month (average two days).
The average daily pressure of 1021.0 hectopascals was marginally above the long-term average of 1020.6.
Monthly evaporation was 71.4mm, just above the average of 68.5mm.
Summary for May at Canberra airport
Mean maximum temperature: 16.3C (av 15.3C)
Highest maximum temperature: 23.0C (7 May)
Lowest maximum temperature: 9.8C (18 May)
Mean minimum temperature: 2.8C (av 3.2C)
Highest minimum temperature: 9.1C (16 May)
Lowest minimum temperature: minus 3.2C (31 May)
Mean daily temperature: 9.6C (av 9.3C)
Lowest grass temperature: minus 7.7C (31 May)
Total monthly rainfall: 27.0mm (av 48.6mm)
Total monthly evaporation: 71.4mm (av 68.5mm)
Mean daily sunshine: 6.4 hours/day (av 5.6 hours/day)
Mean daily pressure: 1021.0hPa (av 1020.6hPa)
Mean daily wind run (at 2 metres): 140.3km/day (av 155.4km/day)
Ends
Further information:
Clem Davis, Canberra Meteorological Office, tel: (02) 6249 6269, e-mail: mailto:c.davis@bom.gov.au - c.davis@bom.gov.au
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