MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW - ARMIDALE NSW
MAY 2016
May 2016 was an unusually warm autumn month with sunny days and close to
average rainfall.
The
rain total of 41.2 millimetres was just two millimetres below the average with
most of it (26.4 mm) falling in one day - the 26th.
Although
overnight temperatures were close to normal, day temperatures were unusually
high with the average maximum for the month of 19.6 degrees being the highest
on record for the month of May since records commenced in 1891. The previous
warmest May was in 1939.
The
first frosts of year arrived from the 5th ending a frost-free period 215 days
or seven months since the last frost on 2nd October 2015.
Winds were mostly light to moderate westerlies, and there were no
thunderstorms.
Noteworthy
events:
8th - Warm northerly winds ahead of
a cold front and trough produced unusually high temperatures in parts of
eastern New South Wales. Armidale’s maximum of 24.8C
was the highest for the month of May since 5th May 1942 (26.7C).
28th - During a cold windy day with rain
showers, there was a brief shower of hail from 2.30 to 2.33pm. Hailstone size
was up to 5 mm diameter.
30th - The
minimum temperature of -7.0C along with a severe frost was the lowest May
temperature since 15th May 2011 (-7.2C).
MAY
2016 STATISTICS (long
term averages in brackets)
Rainfall: 41.2 mm (42.9 mm)
Rain
days: 5 (8)
2016 rainfall total Jan to May: 246.6 mm (342.9 mm)
Average
maximum temp: 19.6 deg
(16.3 deg)
Average
minimum temp: 2.9 deg
(3.0 deg)
Highest
maximum temp: 24.8 deg
on the 8th
Lowest
maximum temp: 10.2 deg
on the 28th
Highest
minimum temp: 13.0 deg
on the 10th
Lowest
minimum temp: -7.0 deg
on the 30th
Fine
sunny days: 16 (15)
Ideal
weather days: 7 (4)
Days
with thunderstorms: 0 (1)
Days
with frosts: 15 (14)
Days
with fogs: 4 (5)
Wind
direction at airport at 3pm & number of days: W: 16, NW: 7,
SW: 3, SE: 2, E: 2,
N: 1
Average
daily pan evaporation: 2.2 mm (1.6 mm)