August 2006 was mild and dry.

Weather conditions across Gungahlin during August were characterised by cold, frosty nights, and cool, mainly sunny days.  It was also very dry.  In fact, Gungahlin recorded its driest August in 10 years.

Nights were cold, with an average minimum of 0.9 degrees (up slightly on last August’s average of 0.5 degrees).  The warmest night for the month occurred on August 24, when the temperature was a mild 6.3 degrees, while on August 8, it dropped to a frosty minus 5.4 degrees.

Days were generally cool and clear, with an average maximum of 13.8 degrees (12.8 degrees last August).  The highest temperature for the month was a very pleasant 18.9 degrees, recorded on August 29, while on August 2, cloudy skies and gusty N/NW winds combined to keep Gungahlin's maximum temperature to just 7.2 degrees. 

Due to the generally clear, calm night-time conditions, Gungahlin recorded 22 frosts for the month (23 frosts last August), and there were 4 fogs.

Winds at the Weather Centre averaged at just 3.4km/h during August, well below the average of 6.3km/h recorded in August 2005.  The strongest gust for the month was 54.7 km/h from the N, recorded on August 9.

Gungahlin recorded just 20.8mm of rain during September, over 9 days.  Falls in other parts of Canberra were also disappointing, with 12mm falling at Canberra AP, 13mm at Tuggeranong and 22mm at Tidbinbilla.  Gungahlin's total rainfall so far in 2006 now stands at 284.8mm, well down on the 339.5mm that fell over the same period in 2005.

Gungahlin's September Outlook:  Current indications show warmer and drier weather conditions will continue into September.  Daytime temperatures should average at around 18 degrees, and nights at 5 degrees.  Rainfall prospects look poor, with Gungahlin unlikely to reach its longer term September average of 63mm.