Press Release

Adelaide's longest run of May cold in decades

26/05/2011: Adelaide residents have just endured their longest run of cold May days in 24 years, according to weatherzone.com.au.

It has failed to warm to 15 degrees in each of the last three days, the longest run of such cold in May since 1987, when their were four consecutive days.

Today was the first time it had reached 15 degrees since Sunday, bringing an end to the streak. But it only briefly warmed past 15 early this afternoon, for about 10 minutes. The maximum was 15.5, still more than three degrees below the long-term average.

"Southerly winds and low cloud have persisted since last weekend, in the wake of a strong cold front. The cold air in these southerlies have lingered much longer than normal and have penetrated a fair way inland," Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said.

Evidence of the penetration of the cold southerlies is in the low temperatures experienced over much of the country's interior and tropics. Almost everywhere in the country was colder than their May average yesterday.

Alice Springs started this morning at just three degrees and at 1pm was still under 14 degrees, which is nine degrees below the average May maximum. This is their coldest day since spring.

In Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory tropics, Alyangula cooled to 14.6 degrees this morning, their coldest May morning in at least 29 years.

"This sort of lingering cold that is affecting much of the country doesn't normally arrive until June or July, so it's certainly early," Dutschke said.

"Looking ahead, only gradual warming is likely due to a slow-moving weather pattern which will maintain southerly winds for a few more days. Skies will gradually clear over the weekend as winds turn more northeasterly. It may not warm past 16 degrees until then. But clearer skies mean nights will get colder."

Some good news for those who have had enough of the chill, it will warm to near 20 degrees next Tuesday or Wednesday in a brief spell of northerly winds. Nights will also warm up a little.

Media Inquiries:

Brett Dutschke
media@weatherzone.com.au
02 9965 9269

About Weatherzone:

Weatherzone is Australia's most popular commercial meteorological resource, supplying weather information to most of Australia's major television broadcasters and websites. www.weatherzone.com.au has been developed by a team of world class meteorologists and features user friendly, up-to-the minute access to weather across the country.

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