The daily weather log

Unlike last December’s cool, humid, cloudy and rainy weather, this December’s weather was very close to normal in every way. There was a time in the middle of the month when the 7-day temperature was rather low, with low humidity and clear skies, but this was balanced by warmer, moister times.
Days were slightly cooler than average, but the very hottest day was remarkably cool: only 35.0°. Only two Decembers in a decade failed to make 35°. Even October and November this year had days warmer than 34°!
There were eight rain days, the wettest having 38.2 mm.

 Comparing December months

All mean temperatures, including the Dew Point and the daily range, were within one degree of the December average. The rainfall total (77 mm) was just 3 mm above the long-term average for the month.

Most rainfall totals for groups of months have risen yet higher. The total for 2 months (November and December) is in the 91st percentile, 3 months in the 93rd, 4 months in the 91st, 5 months in the 88th, and 6 months in the 83rd percentile. Totals are now above the median for all periods up to 72 months.
The year 2008 had spring rainfall nearly 100 mm down and autumn rainfall 130 mm up. The total of 720 mm is 68 mm above average, and on the 64th percentile for annual figures. The year 2007 had been a little wetter, at 740 mm. In broad terms, only one third of all years were wetter than these.

Data. Rainfall data is from Manilla Post Office, courtesy of Phil Pinch. Dew point values before August 2005 are from Tamworth Airport 6 am data supplied by the Bureau of Meteorology. Temperature and other data are from 3 Monash Street, Manilla.