Brushtail Possum

The first heat wave of the month was nearly five degrees above normal: a little worse than last January’s. Rain, mainly on the 12th, brought a cool spell with very dry air. A second heat wave was not so bad, and it was gone by the 31st.
Three days went over 40° (but January 2003 had five) and three nights did not go below 25° (a January record).
Rain fell on five days (usually seven), the highest reading being 15 mm.

Comparing January months

The average temperature this January (27.9°) was not as high as last January (28.7°), or even January 2013 (28.2°). The days (36.2°) were second hottest after 2017 (36.4°), but the nights (19.7°) were only fourth hottest.
The estimated rainfall of 20.6 mm was low: at the 11th percentile, and only one quarter of the January average (87 mm). However, there are still no serious rainfall shortages. The lowest percentile value (12th percentile) is the five-year total of 2760 mm, which is 440 mm below the normal five-year total of 3200 mm.

Data. A Bureau of Meteorology automatic rain gauge operates in the museum yard. From 17 March 2017, 9 am daily readings are published as Manilla Museum, Station 55312.  These reports use that rainfall data when it is available, but it is not.  The gauge last reported on 24 September 2017.

All data, including subsoil at 750 mm, are from 3 Monash Street, Manilla.