© Compiled and written by Peter Burr, U.N.E, using data recorded at Bureau of Meteorology/University of New England weather station at East Armidale. No part of this review may be reproduced for commercial purposes without prior permission from the author

RAINFALL
Total rain for the year of 658.8 millimetres was 132 millimetres lower than the average and was Armidale's driest year since 1992. Rainfall was below average in every month except March and November. A very dry autumn and winter totalled only 139.2 mm from April to September which was 158 mm less than the average for this period. November was the wettest month with 161.6 mm, and the driest was June with just 4.2 mm.

TEMPERATURES
Day temperatures throughout the year were generally close to normal except in January which was much cooler than normal and September which was much warmer than normal. Overnight temperatures were more erratic - February was the coolest for 91 years, March experienced unusually mild nights, and June and July recorded some particularly severe frosty conditions. The highest temperature for the year was 32.9 degrees on January 20th, and the lowest was -9.0 degrees on June 7th. The lowest maximum was 6.5 degrees on May 29th and 30th. Maximums reached or exceeded 30.0 degrees on 4 days, maximums were lower than 10.0 degrees on 13 days, and minimums were lower than 5.0 degrees on 147 days.

WINDS
Winds were lighter than normal in all months. Winds were light to moderate in January, August and September, and light in the remaining months. The prevailing directions were easterlies in February, March and April, and westerlies for the rest of the year. The year totalled 14 windy days* (the annual average is 21 days), and 134 days with light winds**. Winds were westerly on 135 days, easterly on 115 days, south-westerly on 32 days, variable on 23 days, north-westerly on 19 days, south-easterly on 17 days, north-easterly on 15 days, southerly on 7 days and northerly on 3 days.

EVAPORATION
Total for the year was 1232.8 millimetres which was 21 mm higher than the long term average. Evaporation was close to normal in most months except September which was well above normal, and November which was well below normal. Average daily evaporation for the year was 3.4 mm, and the highest amount in a single day was 10.0 mm on January 21st.

FROSTS
The frost pattern in 2000 was very close to normal with a total of 96 frosts. There were 25 light frosts, 36 moderate frosts and 35 severe frosts. The first frost was on April 20th which produced a frost-free period of 158 days over the summer of 1999-2000. The last frost was on October 28th.

FOGS
There were fogs on 33 days which is just 2 days more than the annual average. The months with the most fogs were May and June with 6 fogs each.

SNOW
There were snowfalls on 4 days. May 29th - light snow showers in the early hours. May 30th - light showers of snow and sleet from 12 noon to 4pm. July 27th - light snow shower at 5.20pm, and a good moderate fall from 8 to 8.30pm with snow settling on the ground to a depth of 2 to 4 centimetres. August 16th - light snow showers from 10am to 12 noon  The annual average is 2.4 days of snow.

HAIL
There were hailfalls on 5 days (the annual average is 3.3 hail days). Hail fell on January 1st (up to golf ball size) & 17th (up to 12mm diameter). Soft hail fell on June 30th, July 27th & August 28th.
Severe Hailstorm:  On January 1st a massive hailstorm struck Armidale from 5.55 to 6.10pm. Hailstones varied in size from 10 mm to 40 mm (golf ball size) in diameter. Damage included destroyed gardens, leaves and branches stripped from trees, cracked roof tiles, broken skylights, smashed windows and a large number of dented vehicles. Many householders also suffered water leaking into homes as a result of blocked and overflowing roof gutters.

THUNDERSTORMS
Thunderstorm activity was much lower normal with December being the month with the highest number of storms There were 63 thunderstorm events during the year (the annual average is 60) - 32 slight storms, 5 moderate storms, 1 heavy storm, 1 severe storm, and 24 occasions of thunder without precipitation.

FLOODS
Flooding in Dumaresq Creek as a result of heavy rain occurred on January 1st, March 22nd, and minor intermittent flooding from November 15th to 20th.
 

* Windy day - average wind speed higher than 20 kms per hour: 9am to 6pm
** Day with light winds - average wind speed less than 8 kms per hour: 9am to 6pm

2000 MONTHLY DATA FILES

    Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec