Topic: Temperature records for Eastern Australia August 2009

[Colin Maitland]

A slow moving high followed by a low is causing extreme temperatures for this time of year all the way from Maryborough, QLD, to Coffs Harbour NSW.
Brisbane today has a max of 29C       tomorrow    33C
Ipswich,                            32C       tomorrow    34C

Lismore NSW  today            31C       tomorrow     34C
Coffs Harbour                     26C      tomorrow     32C

That is just to mention a few places. Many records fell yesterday in western QLD for August records. I will try and add the list soon.
SEQ is on a high fire alert, due to the high temps, low humidty and strongs winds that will pick up today. We had very good rainfalls earlier this year resulting in the undergrowth to thicken, but due to a lack of rain over the last 6 weeks this has died and become fire fuel according to a report in the Courier Mail.                               

Col

[Colin Maitland]

As I stated in the first thread of this post, there is a slow moving high pressure system across much of the state and that is followed by low over central Australia that is pushing hot dry air into QLD and the northern half of NSW.

This has resulted in the warmest end to a QLD winter in decades for many places.
There were at least 20 towns that had record August maximums yesterday, Saturday the 22/08/09.

Logan, on Brisbane southern outskirts recorded 30C, higher than 29.2C August record of 1995. The Gold Coast with 29C beat the 2007 August record of 28.5C.
Birdsville and Bedourie in QLD’s far western corner sweltered in 38C heat, which beat the record of August 36.2C in 1991

Boulia, in Qld’s southwest reached 37C along with Longreach on 37C.
Ipswich, Gayandah, Rockhamptom and Beerburrum all had temps in the low 30sC.

(Above temps were sourced from the Sunday Courier Mail and WZ.)

In Brisbane we have an August record of 32.8C on August 14th 1946. Tomorrow with a predicted top of 33C should set the new record.

The hottest Qld day ever  recorded in August was Windorah with 39C on the 5th August 1985.

[Colin Maitland]

There has been a fire haze over Brisbane all morning and I managed  to take a few photos, but at this stage no major fires which is a good thing. Official warning has been posted by BOM ( I love the Australian weather monitors audio warning signal.)

( at this stage no fire warning has been issued for Northern NSW, with high temps gusty winds and  low humidity, you would think if the Granite Belt and surroundings were at risk then North west and Northern NSW, egs Tenterfield, Bald Rock National Park, etc and through  to the coast would be at the some risk as well. ??? )
Issued by BOM for QLD Monday 24/08/09.
 
FIRE WEATHER WARNING
for the Wide Bay and Burnett district south of Gympie, the Darling Downs and
Granite Belt districts and the South-east Coast district for Monday
Issued at 12:08pm EST on Sunday the 23rd of August 2009
 

Dry and windy conditions will develop over these areas during Monday morning and
continue into Monday evening. Locally extreme forest and grassland fire dangers
will develop.


 The Queensland Rural Fire Service advises people within these areas to expect
dangerous fire behaviour if a fire occurs and to prepare accordingly. To check
whether any fire bans are in place call 1800-020-440, or for general information
visit http://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au.

[Shaun Galman]

Hi guys,

Another warm day across the states! Currently sitting at 34.2c here at the Ridge (3:36pm EST). Feel pretty humid out today also, though we've had quite a few but very brief showers on and off over the last 24hrs.

Fair bit of dust haze approaching now with the gusty winds.

If I didn't know better, I'd put money on storms developing this evening in parts? Feels pretty darn storm like to me, chances are pretty slim for the moment.

I'll be keeping an eye out anyhow :D
Kindest regards,
Shauno

[Harley Pearman]

Warm weather for Sydney 23/8/2009

Its even been warm again for Sydney and suburbs with maximum temperatures of up to 8C above the long term average. Today, Sunday 23 August the peak temperature reached was 26.9 Celsius at Sydney Olympic Park followed by 26.4C at Penrith and Richmond and 25.8C at Sydney Airport and 25.1C at Sydney Observatory Hill. Again most of Sydney experienced peak temperatures of around 25 and 26 Celsius (Figures sourced from BOM Weather stations 23/8/2009).

This is the second time in 3 days that maximum daily temperatures have exceeded 25C and or approached 27C somewhere across Sydney. The same occurred on Friday 21/8/2009 as described in another discussion thread.

The forecast maximum temperature for Sydney and the Western Suburbs for Monday 24 August is 27 Celsius. If this is reached, it would be some 8C above the long term average for August for maximum temperatures.

The unusual warmth will be occurring ahead of the next cold front that will be sweeping across New South Wales throughout Monday and into Tuesday.

Harley Pearman

[Antonio (stormboy)]

Now for those of us that live in the SE QLD and NE NSW areas you may have noticed that it is a little bit warmer than usual this week. It is 10am now and 31.4C at ballina airport but the forecast maximum was 30C. This hot weather is so good tho. Any thoughts?

stormboy

[Colin Maitland]

Saturday set new records for August max. temps in parts of QLD, Sunday they had to rewrite some of those records records 24 hours later.
Cunnamulla, in the Maranoa, recorded 37 degrees today. That is a huge 16 above average and their hottest August day in 102 years of records. Bedourie, in the Channel Country, saw another 38 degrees, their third consecutive day above 36 degrees. reported WZ news.


Col.

[Lithium]

Storms would be nice, chance to get the camera out. Nothing popping up on the radar yet though.

[Colin Maitland]

At 3.49pm Brisbane reached 35.3C and broke its previous record of 32.8C on the 14th August in 1946, for the hottest August day ever fro Brisbane.

Evans Heads, NSW, broke the NSW record of the hottest August day ever recorded anywhere in NSW  with 36.8C at 1 pm.

Harley Pearman will probably have a full and comprehensive run down on the new records and  temps for today so I wont say much more.

But what a day to remember.

Cant wait for winter already, only 7 more months:) 

Late edit: final actual max. figure was 35.4C @ 3.55pm ( 0.1C higher)

Cheers
Col

[Antonio (stormboy)]

Ballina reaching 37C today and Coltan my friend in Evans head said at about 1:30pm his digital thermometer maxed at 37.4C this is the warmest august I have ever seen. Also my digital weather station in shade may I add at 2pm reached 37.2C and to compare we have 2 the other showed 37.1C

It is now 1:30pm and the temperature is now 36.8C the wind is pure north westerly and the trend of the temperature is still rising. Today sure is hotter than it was expected. Lismore is now 36.3C casino is 35.2C Brisbane is 32.1C and Grafton is 34.4C. The temperature is high but because it’s not so humid we probably won’t expect any unforecasted storms.

storm boy

[Harley Pearman]

Maximum temperatures and anomalies for 23/8/2009

I have prepared two plots from the Bureau of Meteorology "Water and the Land" interactive weather and climate site for "Maximum Daily Temperature" and "Maximum Temperature Anomalies" for the 23/8/2009.

Daily maximum temperatures concentrating on Eastern Australia for 23/8/2009

The highest temperatures for the day occurred mainly along the Northern border region of New South Wales and much of inland Queensland. The plot shows that areas north from Sydney and in a line stretching WNW across New South Wales experienced a day in which maximum temperatures exceeded 24C. Large areas of Northern New South Wales experienced a day in which the maximum temperature reached or exceeded 30 degrees Celsius. A portion of New South Wales mainly close to the Queensland state border experienced a day in which the maximum temperature peaked within the range of 36C to 39C.

Further, much of inland Queensland experienced a hot August day in which maximum temperatures fell within the range of 36C to 39C.

It was much cooler in southern areas of New South Wales.

Daily maximum temperature anomaly concentrating on Eastern Australia for 23/8/2009

The daily maximum temperature anomaly plot shows Northern New South Wales and South Central Queensland experiencing maximum temperatures of up to 12C above the long term average for the day. In addition, Eastern New South Wales including Sydney experienced maximum temperature anomalies of 8C above the long term average. Only the South West and Southern regions of New South Wales missed out on the excessive warmth. However maximum temperature anomalies for the day in the Southern Regions of the state were still in the range of 2 to 6C above the long term average.

Regions that experienced 30 degree plus temperatures as stated in earlier posts by other readers clearly stand out. Southern inland Queensland and inland Northern New South Wales experienced the greatest temperature anomaly of 12C above the long term average.

Interestingly when analysing the minimum temperature anomaly plots, minimum temperatures ranged from well above the average (Being 10C above the average) across portions of Northern New South Wales to average in far South West New South Wales mainly along or close to the state border of Victoria.  

The plots referred to are attached below.


Harley Pearman

[Michael Bath]

Got to 35.3 in my screen Monday and only down to 21.9 this morning (25th) which is rather warm !!

The hot temps were a big contrast to Melbourne earlier in the day when we departed the Australian Severe Weather Association conference weekend: blustery conditions and scattered showers and coldie storms. Though we did leave before it got all that wild.

Today it's already approaching 30 again.

[Shaun Galman]

Hi guys,

I'll bet if you have a pool it's getting a bit of use right now!

What a strange thing to happen at this time of year. 38c is just crazy! I'm surprised the media haven't gone the way of global warming in their stories as yet?

Looks like the weather is still playing havoc in VIC with blustery winds. Very warm here already and extremely hazy/dusty! Currently 28.2c (12:14pm EST)

Just saw the ABC weather report and a member of the bureau has just delivered a statement of well above average temps for maximums and minimums for Spring and Summer. Looks like we MAY see a few mid 40's around the place again this year. Not good for the drought conditions in any way but AWESOME for driving the convective stages in storms! (I guess that's a brighter side to it? lol)    

Kindest regards,
Shauno

[DanTheMan]

33c today and 35c yesterday at mine, contemplated a swim both days but the water in my pool is still too cold!
It was a very dry heat (which I don't like) so it didn't feel too bad.

[Colin Maitland]

It was our hottest August night in Brisbane on record last night, (25/08/09) we only dropped to 18C. The previous record for August was in 1950 with a low of 17.8C.
It could well be year to remember with record winter temps, severe wind and weather through out Austarlia, droughts, fires, heat waves, tornadoes and storms. It will be one that will go down in history.