MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW - ARMIDALE NSW

JANUARY 2015

January 2015 was a cloudy, warm month with good falls of rain.
The rainfall total of 113.2 millimetres was 12 mm higher than the average. Most of the rain was the result of low pressure troughs over north-eastern New South Wales with the two heaviest falls being 22.4 mm on the 10th/11th, and 31.8 mm on the 27th/28th.
As a result of the numerous cloudy days, maximum temperatures were below normal while overnight minimums were close to normal. There were no notable temperature extremes.
Winds were mostly light to moderate and were variable in direction.
Thunderstorm activity was a little higher than normal with storms on eight days. There were no hailfalls.

Noteworthy events:
27th - Thunderstorms in the afternoon followed by steady rain until midnight delivered Armidale’s heaviest daily fall of rain in 14 months. The total to 9am on the 28th was 31.8 mm, highest 24 hour total since 30th November 2013. The heavy falls were the result of a low pressure trough over central New South Wales being fed by humid easterly winds which generated moderate to heavy rain over the eastern half of the state.

JANUARY 2015 STATISTICS (long term averages in brackets)

Rainfall: 113.2 mm (101.3 mm)

Rain days: 16 (10)
Average maximum temp: 25.3 deg (26.4 deg)

Average minimum temp: 12.9 deg (12.7 deg)

Highest maximum temp: 30.0 deg on the 25th

Lowest maximum temp: 17.5 deg on the 28th

Highest minimum temp: 19.3 deg on the 14th

Lowest minimum temp: 6.3 deg on the 30th

Fine sunny days: 9 (15.5)

Ideal weather days: 1 (1)

Days with thunderstorms: 8 (6)

Days with frosts: 0 (0)

Days with fogs: 1 (1)

Wind direction at 3pm & number of days: W: 10, E: 9, SW: 4, NE: 3, SE: 3, S: 2

Average daily pan evaporation: 4.1 mm (5.2 mm)

Thunderstorm details:

2nd: 3.55-4.20am - slight storm from west
7.40am - thunder heard, no rain

3rd: 6.30-7.30pm approx - thunder heard, no rain
4th: 3.00-4.30pm - thunder heard, no rain
19th: 4.45-6.00pm - slight storm from west - very light rain
9.35pm-12.00 midnight - slight & moderate storms from west - 4.2 mm rain
20th: 1.30-4.10pm - thunder heard, no rain
4.10-5.30pm - moderate storms from west with heavy rain
25th: 8.00-8.40pm - thunder heard in east, no rain
26th: 11.00am-3.30pm - moderate & slight storms from west - 2.2 mm rain
27th: 1.00-7.00pm - moderate & slight storms from west