|
 Extraordinary heat for September continued across the northeastern
half of the continent today.
With
the NSW state high maximum temperature for September despatched yesterday,
the
September
state high
minimum temperature
was
demolished overnight
when Bourke Airport recorded a low of 25.8 in the 24 hours to
9 this morning. This beats the previous high September reading of 23.6
at Wilcannia
by a full 2.2 degrees.
The national
highest minimum was 28.2 at Birdsville, while Murrurundi Post Office scored
the highest compared to average, its low of 22.0 a full 17 degrees above
the seasonal norm of 5. The lower map at right shows a broad band of minimum
temperatures 12 degrees or more above average.
With the main focus of heat moving northwards, it was the turn of northeastern
NSW to set September heat records today (see Records below).
Coonabarabran, Glen Innes, Grafton, Port Macquarie and Taree were among
the centres that had their hottest September day for at least 40 years.
Taree's top was 38.0, but nearby Forster, right on the coast, recorded
39.1.
 Temperatures
in the high 30s and gusty winds fanned 26 fires in the NSW Northern Tablelands
today. No property was threatened, but substantial Rural Fire
Services resources were required. Typical was the Jaspers Brush fire
west of Mt Seaview, between Port Macquarie and Armidale. Four units,
a helicopter, bulldozer and 15 fighters were required to keep the 900
hectare blaze in check.
Classic
equinoxial gales continue to be a feature of the weather across southern
Australia. A glance at the Gales and Gusts box
in the National Extremes most days in the past month has shown dozens
of weather
stations reporting gale force average winds and storm force gusts. Aided
by the huge temperature differential between a hotter-than-normal continent
and the cold Southern Ocean, gales were reported today from Rottnest
Island off Perth eastwards to southern Tasmania and north to Wilcannia
in NW NSW. The highest winds were recorded in the Alps, with Mt Buller
gusting
to 130km/h, Mt Hotham 124 and Thredbo Crackenback 121. With Alpine daytime
temperatures approaching 10C, rapid melting of the substantial snowpack
has begun. Outflows from Khancoban Storage on the Upper Murray exceeded
flood level overnight into Wednesday, aided by a late evening storm complex
that dumped 48.1mm on Perisher Valley and 46.2 at Brindabella late this
evening.
Sources:
ABC, The Age, Port Macquarie News |
