Press Release

Warm nights a feature of 2009 in Adelaide

31/12/2009: The most notable feature of the weather in Adelaide during 2009 was the warm nights, according to weatherzone.com.au.

The city had an average minimum throughout the year of 13.1 degrees, slightly above the long term normal of 12.2, but this was sufficient to make it the warmest year in terms of overnight temperatures since at least 1977. The days were also warm, with Adelaide recording an average maximum of 23.5 degrees, slightly above the long term normal of 22.2. However, this was only the highest since 2007. The mean temperature came in at 18.3 degrees, making it the warmest year since 2007.

"The high average temperatures can mainly be put down to a very warm January and February and a warm July, August and December. Then, of course, there was the record-breaking heatwave during November," weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Matt Pearce said.

December maintained the trend of warm weather. The city had an average maximum of 28 degrees, slightly above the long term normal of 27. This made it the warmest December in terms of daytime temperatures since 2007.

However, this hid some variability in the temperatures. For example, on the 10th, the city only got to 19 degrees, the coldest December day in two years. Then, just six days later, on the 16th, the temperature soared to 41 degrees, making it the hottest December day in two years.

The nights were also warm. Adelaide’s average minimum of 16 degrees was slightly above the long term normal of 15. This made it the warmest December in terms of overnight temperatures since 2007. In fact, this morning, on the 31st, the temperature did not fall below 27 degrees, making it the warmest December night in two years.

When both daytime and overnight temperatures were combined, Adelaide’s average temperature for December came in at 22 degrees, slightly above the long term normal of 21. This made it the warmest December since 2007.

It was also a dry month. The city picked up just 19mm throughout December, slightly below the long term normal of 28mm. This made it the driest December since 2006.

However, 2009, as a whole, came in close to normal in the rainfall stakes. Adelaide received 518mm throughout the year, not far off the annual average total of 545mm.

"At this stage, we are expecting 2010 to come in fairly close to average rainfall once again. There are no strong climatic indicators pointing to either significantly wetter or drier than normal weather across southern Australia," Pearce said.

Media Inquiries:

Matt Pearce
media@weatherzone.com.au
02 9965 9236

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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