Maximum temperatures and maximum and minimum temperature anomalies for 24 August 2009
The Maximum Temperature Plot as well as the Maximum Temperature Anomaly Plot and Minimum Temperature Anomaly Plot for 24 August 2009 is provided. The plots are generated on the Bureau of Meteorology "Land and Water" site specific for maximum and minimum temperatures. The three plots show clearly the heat that occurred across parts of New South Wales and Queensland for the day as described below.
Maximum temperatures
The highest temperatures were limited in scope to North East New South Wales and parts of the Northern Central inland regions as well as across some areas of Queensland. Other readers have provided samples of what occurred but a maximum temperature of 37.8C recorded at Mungindi Post Office stands out and so does 36C at Yamba Pilot Station and Casino Airport.
Generally it reached 24C around Sydney and not 27C as forecast due to cloud cover increasing from mid morning.
The Maximum Temperature Plot shows where the highest temperatures occurred.
Maximum temperature anomalies
The maximum temperature anomaly plot shows North East New South Wales and Southern Central Queensland experiencing maximum temperature anomalies that were 10C to 12C or more above the average. The heat contracted towards the north and north east due to the progress of the cooler change sweeping the state and hence the 30C temperatures were not as widespread when compared to Sunday. The most significant heat pushed more or less into Queensland as well as the North East portion of New South Wales. Only two areas of New South Wales experienced maximum temperatures in the 36C to 39C range as shown in the plot.
In Sydney maximum temperatures did not reach the forecast 27C due to cloud cover and occasional light showers but the temperature anomaly was still up to 6C above the average for August.
Minimum temperature anomalies
The minimum temperature anomaly plot is also provided because it shows virtually the entire state experiencing minimum temperatures that were well above the average for August. The greatest anomalies occurred over the northern inland in which minimum temperatures were up to 10C to 12C above the average. A large portion of the inland central areas of New South Wales experienced minimum temperatures that were 8C to 10C above the average for August. Sydney experienced minimum overnight temperatures that were 6C to 8C above the average for August. The south west part of New South Wales experienced minimum temperatures that were 4C to 6C above the average for August.
The plots discussed above are provided below.
Harley Pearman
