Warmest and wettest June in Brisbane for eight years

Brisbane has just experienced its warmest and wettest June for at least eight years, according to weatherzone.com.au.

The city picked up 122mm throughout the month, significantly above the long-term normal of 47mm. This made it the wettest June since records began at the current site in 2000.

In contrast, it was a very dry month across the tropical north of Queensland. For example, Horn Island, on Cape York Peninsula, received just four millimetres during June, its lowest total in 14 years of records.

"Most of Brisbane’s June rain fell right at the beginning of the month from a cloud band and associated offshore low pressure system. Since the 3rd, the city has been a lot drier with just 17mm falling," weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Matt Pearce said.

"In contrast, there was very little moisture present across the northern part of Queensland. For many towns in the tropical north, there has now been no significant rainfall since February."

In addition to the high rainfall, it was also a warm month. Brisbane’s average maximum of 23 degrees was slightly above the long-term normal of 22. This made it the warmest June in terms of daytime temperatures since 2004.

Nights were also warm. Brisbane had an average minimum of 13 degrees, above the long-term normal of 11. This made it the warmest June in terms of overnight temperatures since 2005. In fact, on the morning of the 3rd, the temperature did not fall below 17 degrees, making it the warmest June night in two years.

When both daytime and overnight temperatures were combined, Brisbane’s average temperature came in at 18 degrees, slightly above the long-term normal of 17. This made it the warmest June since records began at the current site in 2000.

It was a warm month right across Queensland. For example, Bowen had an average maximum of 26 degrees; it’s highest for June in 21 years of records.

"The relatively clear skies that prevailed across tropical Queensland resulted in warm days as well as low rainfall. Typically, at this time of year, we would expect one or two decent cold changes to penetrate up into Queensland behind strong cold fronts, but that hasn’t happened to any great extent yet this season," Pearce said.

"We are expecting rainfall to remain above average in a band from the northwest to the southeast of the state over the next few months, due to warm waters off the northwest Australian coastline. In contrast, northern parts of the coast are likely to continue drier than normal."


- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2008

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