MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW - ARMIDALE NSW
APRIL 2016
April 2016 was a dry and unusually warm autumn month.
The rainfall total of 31.6 millimetres was 14 mm lower than the average, and
was the third consecutive month with below average rain.
It was the warmest April for eleven years, based on maximum temperatures, and
was the third warmest April on record (from 125 years of records). Day
temperatures were well above average in the first week of the month with
unusually high maximums on the 6th and 7th - see below. Overnight temperatures
were also well above the long term average resulting in no frosts.
There were a number of low pressure troughs over New South Wales during the
month drawing in warm air from the centre of Australia, these troughs also caused thunderstorm activity
to be much higher than normal with storms on five days.
Prevailing winds were mostly light easterlies.
Noteworthy
Events
6th & 7th - the maximum temperatures of 28.0 deg
on both these days were the highest April temperatures since 5th April 1986
(28.4 deg). The unusually warm conditions were caused
by very warm north-westerly winds ahead of a slow moving cold front and trough.
APRIL 2016 STATISTICS (long term averages in
brackets)
Rainfall: 31.6 mm (45.3 mm)
Rain
days: 10 (8)
2016 rainfall total Jan to Apr: 205.4 mm (300.0 mm)
Average
maximum temp: 22.8 deg
(20.0 deg)
Average
minimum temp: 8.5 deg
(6.4 deg)
Highest
maximum temp: 28.0 deg
on the 6th & 7th
Lowest
maximum temp: 15.8 deg
on the 25th
Highest
minimum temp: 13.9 deg
on the 8th
Lowest
minimum temp: 3.4 deg
on the 1st
Fine
sunny days: 9 (16)
Ideal
weather days: 2 (3)
Days
with thunderstorms: 5 (1)
Days
with frosts: 0 (5)
Days
with fogs: 7 (5)
Wind
direction at airport at 3pm & number of days: E: 11, W: 7,
ESE: 6, NW: 2, SW: 2,
N: 1, S: 1
Average
daily pan evaporation: 2.8 mm (2.5 mm)
Thunderstorm
details:
8th: 4.55-6.15pm - moderate storm, heavy rain,
flash flooding - 15.0 mm rain
9th: 4.15-7.30pm - slight and moderate
storms from west
10th: 10.05-10.45am - slight storm from
west
12.30-1.15pm
- thunder heard in north
8.00-8.30pm
- slight storm from west
18th: 5.15-6.45pm - moderate storm from
west, light rain - 0.6 mm rain
22nd: 10.10pm-12.00 midnight - moderate
storm from SW - 1.4 m rain