Hot end to a mild December 2007.

Despite the hot 36.3 degree maximum to end 2007, weather conditions across Gungahlin during December were dominated by cloudy skies, below average temperatures, and some welcome rain. 

Nights were mild, with an average minimum of 12.5 degrees; up slightly on Gungahlin’s longer term December average of 11.8 degrees.  The warmest night for the month occurred on December 30, when the temperature was a warm 16.1 degrees, while on December 18, it dropped to a cool 7.7 degrees.

Days were generally warm and cloudy, with an average maximum of 25.1 degrees; well down on the December average of 26.6 degrees.  The highest temperature for the month was a scorching 36.9 degrees on December 30, while on December 23, cloudy skies and cool NW winds combined to keep Gungahlin’s maximum temperature to just 18.7 degrees. 

Winds at the Weather Centre averaged at 2.5 km/h during December, with the strongest gust for the month 59.5 km/h from the N/NW, recorded on December 22.

The heavy rainfalls recorded during November continued into December, with a welcome 81.0mm falling at the Weather Centre during the month, over 13 days.  Falls in other parts of Canberra were also impressive, with 100.6mm recorded at Canberra AP, 98.0mm at Tuggeranong and 130.5mm at nearby Tidbinbilla.  The December falls brought Gungahlin’s total rainfall for 2007 to 499.0mm, well above the 366.8mm that fell during 2006, but below the longer term average of 561.6mm.  Areas further south of Gungahlin received more rain in 2007, with Canberra AP recording 565.8mm during the year, Tuggeranong 656.0mm and Tidbinbilla 698.6mm.  

Gungahlin's January:  Current indications are for a typically hot and mostly sunny January across Gungahlin.  Overall, daytime temperatures should average at around 29 degrees, and nights at 13 degrees.  Despite a generally drying trend during January, rainfall prospects for the first quarter of 2007 continue to look positive.  Low pressure troughs and passing thunderstorms look set to produce above average rainfall across the region, with Gungahlin set to receive at least 50mm of rain in January, above the longer term average of 39mm.