Weather News

Capital city April wrap-up

Drew Casper-Richardson, Sunday May 1, 2016 - 14:00 AEST

For the majority of Australia April was warmer and drier than average. Here's a quick summary of the capital cities.

Starting in the nation's capital, Canberra had a very dry April with just 7mm reaching the gauge, only 15% of the monthly average. The average day time temperature was 23.9, nearly 4 degrees above the monthly average. The average minimum temperature was 8.3 degrees, 1.7 above the average.

Sydneysiders were also treated to a warmer month with an average maximum of 24.8 which is 2.4 degrees above the April average. This included the hottest April day in 155 years of records when the mercury hit 34.2 on April 6th. In the whole month there were only two days that failed to reach the long term average. Nights were also warmer than normal for this time of the year with the average minimum being 2.2 degrees above the long term average. April was wetter than usual with 155mm falling (122% of average) however 94mm of this fell in one day.

The Sunshine State lived up to its name with Brisbane enjoying a warmer and drier April. Both minimum and maximum temperatures were 1.3 degrees above the average. Only 12mm of rain was recorded (15% of the average) across eight days.

Across to the Top End where Darwin recorded their warmest April (in terms of maximum temperatures) in at least 72 years with an average of 34.5 degrees. Just 46mm fell which is 45% of the monthly average.

It was a different story in the west with cooler and wetter conditions prevailing. Perth had an average day time temperature of 25, which is close to one degree below average. Rain fell on 13 days, double the usual, with 68mm falling (191% of average).

Adelaide followed much of the nation with warmer and drier conditions. While minimum temperatures were very close to average, maximums were 2.1 degrees above average. Just shy of 10mm of rain fell throughout the month, 24% of the monthly average.

Night time temperatures in Melbourne were 2.2 degrees above average including a night that remained a whopping nine degrees above the norm. The average maximum was 22.4, which was 2.1 above average. Rainfall was close to average with 49mm reaching the gauge, which is 85% of the average.

Across Bass Strait to the Apple Isle, Hobart mimicked the warmer, drier conditions. The average maximum of 20.4 was 3.1 degrees above the average and the hottest April in the 120 years of records. The average minimum was 10.8 which is 1.8 degrees above average. Rain fell on just five days with a touch under 9mm recorded - 17% of the average.

May will largely continue where April left off with above average minimum and maximum temperatures likely for much of the nation, with the exception of areas in the west such as Perth. There should also be a gradual return to near average rainfall.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2016

Enter a postcode or town name for local weather, or text to search the site. » advanced search

Weather News

» all stories

A digger's letter from snowbound Gallipoli

08:00 AEST In weather terms, the Anzacs at Gallipoli copped it all – from parched, scorching summers to freezing winters as weather systems with origins in the Russian Arctic surged southwards over Turkey.