30/04/2009: Brisbane has just experienced its wettest April in at least nine years, according to weatherzone.com.au.

The city picked up 195mm throughout the month, significantly above the long term normal of 53mm. This made it the wettest April since records began at the current site in 2000.

It was a wet month right across southeast Queensland. For example, Logan City received 239mm, its highest April total in 16 years of records.

In contrast, northern and western parts of the state came in below average in the rainfall stakes.

"Southeast Queensland received very heavy rain during the first week of April from a combination of moist easterly winds, an upper level trough and a low pressure system off the east coast," weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Matt Pearce said.

"Meanwhile, northern Queensland experienced a poor end to the wet season as there was no late monsoonal surge. Western Queensland also missed out on useful late-season rains after a wet summer."

Brisbane had an average maximum of 27 degrees, right on the long term normal. However, on the 15th, the temperature did peak at 31 degrees, the hottest April day in three years.

With the exception of southwest Queensland, it was a warm month right across the state. For example, South Johnstone, on the north tropical coast, had an average maximum of 30 degrees, its highest for April in 55 years of records.

The nights were also warm. Brisbane’s average minimum of 18 degrees was slightly above the long term normal of 17. This made it the warmest April in terms of overnight temperatures since 2004. In fact, on the morning of the 4th, the mercury only fell to 22 degrees, making it the warmest April night in three years.

The warm nights were a feature across much of southern and eastern Queensland. For example, Bundaberg had an average minimum of 19 degrees, its highest for April in 29 years of records.

When both daytime and overnight temperatures were combined, Brisbane’s average temperature for April came in at 23 degrees, slightly above the long term normal of 22. This made it the warmest April since 2007.

"The high average temperatures were mainly a result of warm nights, which can be directly attributed to the increased humidity and cloud cover across eastern Queensland in particular this month," Pearce said.

"We are expecting rainfall to remain above average over the next few months due to warm sea surface temperatures to the northeast of Australia in parts of the Coral Sea. However, rainfall will be significantly less than the last few months, due to the transition into more typical dry season weather patterns."

Media Inquiries:

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

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