Weather News
Interesting and Unusual Weather Events at Armidale NSW
© Compiled by Peter
Burr. No part of the following may be reproduced for commercial purposes
without prior permission from the author.
8 Jul 08
JUNE WEATHER REVIEW - Mild and Cloudy
June 2008 was a
mostly mild and cloudy month with good falls of rain.
The
rainfall total of 63.8 millimetres was 9 mm higher than the long term average.
It all fell in the first 20 days leaving the remainder of the month dry.
There were
two major rain events. The first was
from the 2nd to the 4th as an upper level trough moved across northern NSW
forming a surface low pressure cell which then moved down the coast. This
system caused widespread moderate rain to the northern inland and minor
flooding along the coast. Armidale received 35 millimetres over the three days.
The second rain event occurred as a cold front moved
through the region from the south-west on the 13th. 19.0 mm of rain fell from
showers between around
Despite the mostly cloudy conditions, temperatures
were well above the long term average. The average maximum of 14.8 degrees was
the highest for June since 2001, and the average minimum of 2.6 degrees was the
highest since 1996. Cloudy nights kept minimum temperatures well above normal
until the 23rd, and a lack of strong cold fronts bringing in cold air from the
south was the reason for the mild day temperatures. There were no notable
temperature extremes.
There were only 12 frosts with eight of them
occurring in the last eight days of the month when dry conditions and clear
skies arrived.
Prevailing winds were light westerlies.
THE MONTH AT A GLANCE (long term averages in brackets):
Rainfall: 63.8 mm (55.2 mm)
Rain
days: 12 (10)
2008 rainfall total Jan to Jun: 370.0
mm (400.2 mm)
Average
maximum temp: 14.8 deg (13.0 deg)
Average
minimum temp: 2.6 deg (0.5 deg)
Highest
maximum temp: 20.0 deg on the 10th
Lowest
maximum temp: 10.6 deg on the 14th
Highest
minimum temp: 10.8 deg on the 13th
Lowest
minimum temp: -6.8 deg on the 28th
Fine
sunny days: 9 (14)
Ideal
weather days: 3 (4)
Days with
thunderstorms: 1 (0.4)
Days with
frosts: 12 (17)
light: 3, moderate: 2, severe: 7
Days with
fogs: 3 (4)
Wind
direction at
Average
daily evaporation: 1.1 mm (0.9 mm)
Thunderstorm
details:
Thurs 19th:
18 May 08
AUTUMN SNOWFALL
A strong cold front passed
through Armidale on Saturday night May 17th bringing rain and snow. The
temperature dropped from 11C at
Armidale’s last settling snowfall was on July 18th
2004. The last May snowfalls were on the May 29th and 30th 2000, although these
did not settle on the ground.
9 Mar 08
SUMMER 2007/08 - Coolest Summer for 24 Years
Weather conditions during
the summer of 2007-08 were most unusual. The three summer months were unusually
cloudy, wet and cool.
A strong La Nina event
which was affecting eastern Australia resulted in cloudy skies and a higher
than normal number of rain events. Total rain for the three months was 350.6
millimetres which was 72 mm more than the long term average (LTA), and made it
the wettest summer for four years. December recorded 118.2 mm (LTA 88 mm),
January 58.6 mm (LTA 103 mm) and February 173.8 mm (LTA 88 mm). A number of
heavy falls caused flooding in Dumaresq Creek on December 3rd and 11th, and
February 3rd and 12th.
As a result of the cloudy
wet conditions, it was the coolest summer for 24 years. Maximum temperatures
averaged 23.4 degrees (LTA 25.6 degrees), and overnight minimums averaged 12.1
degrees (LTA 12.4 degrees). Warm summer days were few and far between with
temperatures reaching 26 degrees or higher on only 15 days, and 30 degrees was
not reached at all for the first time since the summer of 1983-84. The hottest
day of the summer was January 13th at 29.5 degrees, and the coolest was 4.1
degrees on February 10th.
Fine sunny conditions
prevailed on just 19 days (LTA 45 days), and thunderstorm activity was a little
less than normal with storms on 15 days (LTA 19 days).
12 Sep 07
WINTER 2007 - Very Cold, then Mild
Winter 2007 can be divided
into two parts. The months of June and July were much colder and drier than
normal, and August was much milder and wetter than normal.
A period of very cold harsh conditions lasting for almost seven weeks started on June 6th during which there were five severe cold weather events. Light snow fell during three of these cold snaps on June 20th and 28th, and July 8th. Then from July 23rd milder temperatures arrived which carried on through August. Maximum temperatures were below 10 degrees on 24 days, 9 days more than the average, and in June which was the coldest month, fine sunny weather prevailed on only six days, the lowest for any month since November 2000. June’s average maximum of 11.3 degrees was the coldest for any month since August 1990. Despite the numerous cloudy nights there were 53 frosts, two more than the average, although the severity of many of these frosts was reduced by cloud and wind.
August provided a pleasant change from the bitter conditions of June and July. Temperatures were milder than normal, particularly overnight minimums which were the mildest for August since 1998. The warmest temperature in the three months was 20.7 degrees on August 2nd, the lowest minimum was -8.7 degrees on July 16th, and the coldest daytime maximum was 4.7 degrees on June 20th, the lowest for any month for two years.
Rainfall
was low in June (42.8 mm) and July (9.6 mm), but much higher than normal in
August (92.0 mm) which was the highest for August for nine years. A single rain
event in August produced over half the winter rainfall with 82 mm falling over
six days from August 19th.
This is a summary of the five severe cold changes which swept across New
England in June and July, the first four caused by upper level cold pools,
bringing very low day temperatures, cloud , rain, and also snow to higher
areas.
WINTER AT A GLANCE (long term averages in brackets)
Rainfall: 144.4 mm (151.7 mm)
Rain days: 29 (28)
Average maximum temp: 12.8 deg (13.2 deg)
Average minimum temp: 0.3 deg (0.0 deg)
Highest maximum temp: 20.7 deg on August 2nd
Lowest maximum temp: 4.7 deg on June 20th
Highest minimum temp: 10.0 deg on August 17th
Lowest minimum temp: -8.7 deg on July 16th
Fine sunny days: 42 (50)
Days with thunderstorms: 0 (1)
Days with
frosts: 53 (51)
WEATHER
EXTREMES - 2008
This is a brief summary of
unusual weather extremes in 2008.
Cool January - Day
temperatures averaging just 24.1 degrees were the coolest for January since
1997.
February 12th - Flooding occurred in Dumaresq Creek throughout the day
with all causeways cut and creekland playing fields
inundated. 50 mm of rain fell over an 18 hour period from 10.30pm the previous
night. The flood peaked at around lunch time with the water briefly covering
the Markham/Dumaresq Street roundabout.
Wet
February - February’s rainfall total of 173.8 mm was the
highest for February since 1998.
Cool
February - The average maximum temperature of 22.5 degrees
was the lowest for February since 1984.
Cool
Summer temperatures – With maximums averaging just 23.4 degrees for the
three summer months, it was the coolest summer since 1983-84.
Dry
March - The rainfall total for March of 4.8 mm was the lowest for March since
1965 which recorded 2.1 mm.
Cold
March overnight temperatures - The average minimum temperature
for March of 7.0 degrees was the lowest on record (117 years of records).
March
30th - The minimum of -1.7 degrees was the coldest March temperature recorded
since March 17th 1918.
April
3rd - Strong south-westerly winds brought in a dust haze during the afternoon
between 3 and
April
28th - An intense cold front which brought snow to the southern and central
tablelands, produced strong winds and low temperatures in Armidale. The maximum
of just 11.9C was the lowest April maximum since 1996.
April
30th - The minimum of -5.8C was a new record low for April at the present
site (previous lowest -5.0C in 1982 and 2004). A comparison with old post
office records suggests that it was the coldest April temp for 97 years since
April 27th 1911 when the minimum was approx. -6.0C allowing for site
adjustment.
May
17th: A strong cold front brought snow
to Armidale in the evening of May 17th.
The temperature dropped from 11C at
May
18th - The maximum temperature of 8.4C on Sunday May 18th was the lowest May
maximum for 8 years.
Mild June - The average maximum of 14.8 degrees was the highest for June
since 2001, and the average minimum of 2.6 degrees was the highest since 1996.
July 9th – A cold change moved in early in the morning with light snow
showers throughout the day. The best fall was from
WEATHER EXTREMES - 2007
This is a brief
summary of unusual weather extremes in 2007.
March 1st - After rain and storms throughout
the day, the total of 34.6 mm to
No frosts in April - It was the first frost-free April since 1989.
Foggy April - With fogs on 11 mornings, it was the foggiest April on record (50 years of records). The previous highest was 10 foggy days in 1994.
Warm May - With an average maximum temperature of 18.5 degrees it was the warmest May for 68 years since 1939.
June 8th & 20th - The maximum temperature was 5.4 degrees on the 8th, and even colder at 4.7 degrees on the 20th - the coldest days since June 23rd 2005.
June 20th & 28th - Light snow fell in the early mornings of June 20th and 28th, but only lasted a few minutes and did not settle on the ground.
Cold June - With an average maximum temperature of just 11.3 degrees, it was the coldest month for 17 years since August 1990.
July 8th - There were light snow showers at 11.30am and 4.40pm, but snow did not settle on the ground.
July 17th to 19th - Temperatures were so low at Ebor Falls in mid July that the falls partly froze and created their own mini-snowfield. Details and images here.
Wet August - It was the wettest August for nine years with rain totaling 96.0 mm for the month.
Warm
October - With an
average maximum of 23.7 degrees, it was the warmest October on record at the
present location, and when comparing with
Cool December - The average maximum temperature
of 23.7 degrees was the coolest for December since 1999 when it was 22.4
degrees.
WEATHER EXTREMES - 2006
This is a brief
summary of unusual weather extremes in 2006.
January 19th - Coolest January day for 20 years -
it was a day of light rain and drizzle, cool easterly winds and a maximum
temperature of just 16.4C, lowest January maximum since January 24th 1986 when
it was 14.3C.
February 3rd - The maximum temperature of 35.8C was the highest on record for February (25 years of records), and the second highest for any month after 36.3C on January 31st 2003.
February
Temperatures -
With an average maximum temperature of 27.9 degrees it was the hottest February
on record at the UNE site since records commenced in 1981, and longer term
Hot
Summer Temperatures
- With maximums averaging 27.4C for the three summer months, it was the hottest
summer on record at the UNE site, and longer term
Frostiest April for 7 years - 11 frosts were recorded during April which was the highest for the month since 1999. The April average is 5 frosts.
May minimum temperatures - The average minimum of -1.2C was the lowest on record for May (25 years of records). The minimum of -7.8C on the 30th was third lowest on record for May.
May
frosts - 26
frosts were recorded which was the highest on record for May. The previous
highest was 25 frosts in May of both 1982 and 1984. The May average is 12
frosts.
July 10th - The minimum of -10.8C recorded at 7.30am was the
lowest for any month for 20 years and second lowest on record. The lowest ever
recorded at the UNE weather station was -11.0C on June 25th 1986.
September 7th & 10th - A cold snap in early September dropped
daytime temperatures back to winter levels. The maximums on the 7th and 10th of
8.3C and 8.0C respectively were the lowest for September since 1991. Also the
maximum on the 10th was the coldest daytime temperature in 2006.
November
16th - Snow fell
from around 9.15 to 10.15am with large flakes creating a magical winter
wonderland scene. The snow did not settle on the ground, but air temperatures
were very low with the temperature dropping to 1C at
November 17th - The minimum temperature of -2.2C was unusually low for November and caused considerable damage to local orchards.
November 28th - Strong wind squalls during a thunderstorm in the evening brought down numerous branches and some small trees. At the airport the highest gusts measured 106 kms per hour between 9.20 and 9.30pm with further gusts up to 91 kms per hour from 9.47 to 9.52pm. 8.8 mm of rain fell in the city during the evening storms.
December
21st - A severe
hailstorm swept through East Armidale from 3.10 to 3.25pm with hailstones as
big as golf balls causing widespread damage. After the storm the area resembled
a winter snow scene, and ice remained on the ground well into the next day. The
storm deposited 20 mm of rain and melted hail from
Return to Weather Home.