ID :
43537
Sat, 01/31/2009 - 22:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/43537
The shortlink copeid
Sweltering January sets heat records
Melbourne has had its second driest January on record, followed closely by Adelaide
and Sydney.
All three capitals sweltered in above average temperatures.
A mere one millimetre of rain fell in both Melbourne and Adelaide during January.
Adelaide had its driest January in 17 years while Sydney recorded its driest start
to the year in six years.
Throughout the first 31 days of 2009, just 25mm of rain fell on Sydney, considerably
down on the 103mm January average, commercial meteorological resource Weatherzone
reported.
The figures were released as Victoria and South Australia sweltered in 40-plus
degree temperatures and up to 20 homes were lost in bushfires in Victoria.
The Victorian city of Ballarat picked up one millimetre of rain in January, its
lowest monthly total in 100 years of records.
"January is not typically one of the wettest months across Victoria, however, in
most years we can expect some rainfall in the form of showers and storms and the odd
infeed of tropical moisture," Weatherzone meteorologist Matt Pearce said.
"This year neither system was present and the state barely picked up any rainfall as
a result."
He said South Australia had already experienced a drier year than normal this year
as "typical storm-producing troughs and low pressure just haven't delivered".
The mercury peaked at 45 degrees in Melbourne on Friday, the hottest in 70 years.
The city's January 2009 maximum average of 29 degrees was three degrees warmer than
its long term average of 26.
Sydney picked up a quarter of its long-term average rainfall of 103mm as the
temperature hovered at an average maximum of 27 degrees, making it the warmest
January in six years.
Of the three capitals, Adelaide residents suffered the warmest nights, with an
average of 18 degrees in January and a horrendously sticky minimum temperature of 34
degrees on the night of January 29.
But the abnormal weather is not expected to last.
Sydney is expected to return to a closer to normal rainfall through the rest of
summer while Melbourne and Adelaide soak up a slightly wetter than average remainder
of summer and into autumn.
"The days are likely to continue slightly warmer than normal while night-time
temperatures should stick close to average," Mr Pearce said.
and Sydney.
All three capitals sweltered in above average temperatures.
A mere one millimetre of rain fell in both Melbourne and Adelaide during January.
Adelaide had its driest January in 17 years while Sydney recorded its driest start
to the year in six years.
Throughout the first 31 days of 2009, just 25mm of rain fell on Sydney, considerably
down on the 103mm January average, commercial meteorological resource Weatherzone
reported.
The figures were released as Victoria and South Australia sweltered in 40-plus
degree temperatures and up to 20 homes were lost in bushfires in Victoria.
The Victorian city of Ballarat picked up one millimetre of rain in January, its
lowest monthly total in 100 years of records.
"January is not typically one of the wettest months across Victoria, however, in
most years we can expect some rainfall in the form of showers and storms and the odd
infeed of tropical moisture," Weatherzone meteorologist Matt Pearce said.
"This year neither system was present and the state barely picked up any rainfall as
a result."
He said South Australia had already experienced a drier year than normal this year
as "typical storm-producing troughs and low pressure just haven't delivered".
The mercury peaked at 45 degrees in Melbourne on Friday, the hottest in 70 years.
The city's January 2009 maximum average of 29 degrees was three degrees warmer than
its long term average of 26.
Sydney picked up a quarter of its long-term average rainfall of 103mm as the
temperature hovered at an average maximum of 27 degrees, making it the warmest
January in six years.
Of the three capitals, Adelaide residents suffered the warmest nights, with an
average of 18 degrees in January and a horrendously sticky minimum temperature of 34
degrees on the night of January 29.
But the abnormal weather is not expected to last.
Sydney is expected to return to a closer to normal rainfall through the rest of
summer while Melbourne and Adelaide soak up a slightly wetter than average remainder
of summer and into autumn.
"The days are likely to continue slightly warmer than normal while night-time
temperatures should stick close to average," Mr Pearce said.
