Category Archives: Monthly weather

December 2018 dry and hot

Posted in Manilla NSW, Monthly weather by
Tropidoderus stick insect

Stick Insect

Weekly temperatures, which began normal, then remained high all month, peaking
around four degrees above normal on the 18th and again on the 29th. Only a few days or nights were cooler than normal.
There were six rain days, grouped around the 16th, which had 25 mm. Earlier and later times had sunny skies and low dew points.

Graphical log of weather December 2018

Comparing December months

Remarkably, the three mean temperatures this month are practically the same as those of both December 2017 and December 2016. They are higher, but by no more than 0.2°, near the limit that can be read on my thermometers. The mean daily maximum of 33.9° and the mean daily mean of 26.1° are the hottest for December in this record from 1999. (The mean daily minimum of 18.3° was exceeded by 18.6° in December 2009.)
This was one of the most sunny December months. The percentage of cloudy mornings (19.4%) was the same as in December 2006, but higher than in 2002 or 2005 (both 16.1%).
The rainfall of 34.5 mm is at the 22nd percentile, far below the average (74 mm). Lower rainfall totals occurred in December of 2001 (34 mm) and 2006 (19 mm). I have reported the on-going drought in another post.

Climate in December months

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.  Since no 9 am readings have been recorded since August, I have substituted my non-standard gauge readings for all days.
All other data, including subsoil at 750 mm, are from 3 Monash Street, Manilla.

November 2018 began hot

Posted in Manilla NSW, Monthly weather by
A King Parrot feeding in a Hopbush

King Parrot in Hop Bush

The month began hot, with the weekly temperature more than six degrees above normal. On the 6th, the maximum reached 39.4° after a warm overnight low of 22.1°. However, rain brought a maximum of only 21.5° on the 8th. In the rest of the month temperatures were near normal. Just one morning (the 24th) had an exceptionally low dew point that was 14° below normal.
There were eight rain days, with the highest reading 17.2 mm, on the 22nd.

Weather log November 2018

Comparing November months

Although the month began so hot, the average temperature (22.7°) was only 1° above normal, and not nearly as high as in November 2014 (25.4°) or November 2009 (26.0°).
Despite the continuing drought, the only indicator showing low moisture was the early morning dew point (7.3°). There was quite a lot of cloud (43%) and a rather narrow daily temperature range (14.4°).
The rainfall total of 50.2 mm (estimated) is at the 36th percentile for November, somewhat below the average (67 mm).
I have reported the drought in another post.

Climate in November months

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.  The record was again defective in November 2018. No 9 am readings were recorded. I have substituted my non-standard gauge readings for all days.
All other data, including subsoil at 750 mm, are from 3 Monash Street, Manilla.

Moist October 2018

Posted in Manilla NSW, Monthly weather by
Green grass in a drought

Greenness that thickens

No temperatures were extreme, but many nights were warm. The weekly temperatures were three or four degrees high after the middle of the month. The sunniest days had low early morning dew points.
There were eight rain days, with the highest reading 15 mm, on the 11th.

Weather log, October 2018

Comparing October months

While the mean temperature (20.3°) was just above normal, this month was as moist as October 2017. Despite the continuing drought, the daily temperature range was low (14.9°), the cloudiness high (52%), and the dew point high (7.2°).
The rainfall total of 51.6 mm (estimated) is at the 45th percentile for October, not far below average (58 mm).
I have reported the drought in another post (“Contours of Manilla’s 2018 Drought”).

Climate in October months

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.  The record was again defective in October 2018. No 9am readings were recorded. I have substituted my non-standard gauge readings for all days.
All other data, including subsoil at 750 mm, are from 3 Monash Street, Manilla.

Dry and Mild September 2018

Posted in Manilla NSW, Monthly weather by
Eucalypts dying in drought

White Box Trees Die

Temperatures were near normal, with a number of warm nights. There was just one very cool day that reached only 14.8°. The first 30° day of spring came on the 14th. The early morning dew point on the 17th, minus 10.5°, was the lowest September value, but far from the lowest recorded recently.
There were eight rain days, but the highest reading was only 3.6 mm, on the first day of the month.

Weather log September 2018

Comparing September months

Despite being within an extreme drought, moisture measures this month were not very low; not as low as in September 2017. While the mean temperature was normal, the daily temperature range was low, which is unusual in a drought.
The rainfall total of 12.5 mm (estimated) is at the 18th percentile for September.
I have reported the shortage of rainfall in another post: “Record 15-Month Drought in 2018”.

Climate in September months

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.  The record was again defective in September 2018. No 9am readings were recorded. I have substituted my non-standard gauge readings for all days.
All other data, including subsoil at 750 mm, are from 3 Monash Street, Manilla.

Driest Air in August 2018

Posted in Manilla NSW, Monthly weather by
Tree with a face painted on it.

Painted Box Tree

Temperatures were not far from normal during the month, except that the weekly mean was 3.2° low about the 20th. There were 20 frosts (normally 15), but the coldest morning fell only to -2.7°.
Some rain fell early in the month. Later, with the cold nights, the air became extremely dry, reaching a new record early morning dew point of -12.1°. Abruptly, the 25th brought overcast and high humidity, then rain and fog. Estimated rain was 9.0 mm on the 26th, 10.2 mm on the 27th, and 0.8 mm on the 28th.

Weather log August 2018.

Comparing August months

The month was rather cool, with a mean (10.7°) that was 0.4° below normal, and cold nights (2.0°), 1.1° below normal. Measures of moisture were only slightly low, except that humidity was extremely low, setting a new record mean early morning dew point of -4.2°.
Moderate falls of rain totalled 28.2 mm (estimated), which is at the 40th percentile for August.
I have reported the shortage of rainfall separately ( “Drought Sixth Month: August 2018”) .

Climate in August months.

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.  The record was again defective in August 2018. Seven daily readings were missing. On one of the missing days (the 27th) my rain gauge showed 10.2 mm, the highest daily reading for the month. I have substituted my non-standard gauge readings for all days of both July and August.

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