Thursday 1st June, 2006

MEDIA RELEASE - QUEENSLAND REGIONAL OFFICE

Dry autumn brings an early taste of winter to southern Queensland while rains continue in the north

Above average autumn rainfall was recorded over much of the Queensland tropics, with record high rainfall over parts of Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf of Carpentaria. In contrast, rainfall was below average in the south of the state, with some parts of the southeast recording their driest autumn on record. May rainfall totals reflected this pattern, with a continuation of wet conditions over Cape York, and below average rainfall in southern Queensland.

A number of locations had their wettest autumn on record, including:

Camooweal with 433.2 mm (average 82 mm, 113 years record);
Kamilaroi with 801.8 mm (average 117 mm, 108 years of record);
Miranda Downs with 522 mm (average 181 mm, 97 years of record);
Kowanyama with 889.6 mm (average 302 mm, 94 years of record);
Mornington Island with 895 mm (average 317 mm, 82 years of record);
Cape Tribulation with 3239.8 mm (average 1571 mm, 60 years of record); and
Coen Airport with 923.9 mm (average 342 mm, 53 years of record).

Places with the driest autumn on record included:

Kilkivan with 35.5 mm (average 199 mm, 128 years of record);
Yarraman with 37.3 mm (average 178 mm, 91 years of record);
Proston with 23.6 mm (average 155 mm, 69 years of record); and
Kingaroy with 23 mm (average 158 mm, 102 years combined record from the township and airport).

Many southern areas got an early taste of winter during May, with a number of frontal systems bringing cold and dry air from the south, allowing overnight temperatures to plummet. Amberley's average minimum temperature for May of 6.1C was more than 4 degrees below average and its lowest on record.

A number of record low overnight temperatures for May were also recorded, including:

Amberley with -3.1C on the 31st (average 10.1C, 65 years of record);
Gatton with -0.2C on 31st (average 10.2C, 41 years of record);
Stanthorpe with -6.8C on 31st (average 5.5C, 44 years of record); and
Quilpie with 1.0C on the 25th (average 11.0C, 50 years of record).

For further information, please contact Ann Farrell on (07)32398660.
After-hour enquiries should be directed to the senior forecaster on (07)32398750.

The latest temperature/rainfall maps and seasonal outlooks for Queensland are available at
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/austmaps/
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/

World Wide Web www.bom.gov.au
Weather by Fax 1800 630 100 [Free Call Directory]