Maleny Weather

Monthly Summary

May 2009

May was a wet month with a total rainfall of 255 mm, the highest recorded since 1999. That year Maleny was drenched with 450 mm and yet providence decided to favour the Maleny Agriculture Show with dry weather and sunshine. Not so last year when the torrential rain put paid to all outdoor events. Back in 1923 Maleny celebrated its first Show. The facilities were sparse and the ladies of the district ran a Refreshments Booth from a marquee on the hill. These amazing ladies gave their best as rain pelted down and a `sou-wester’ blew with hurricane force.

The rain and high winds experienced this month were the result of two separate air masses interacting with one another. An upper level trough approaching from the north-west was the driving force behind the periods of heavy rain. As this trough line slowly moved seaward cells of east coast lows developed off-shore to bring more rain and whip up the surf still further. The steep pressure gradient between the fringes of the high in the Tasman Sea and the east coast lows were responsible for the strong winds experienced in some areas.

Autumn 2009 rainfall was 909 mm, and the wettest Autumn season since 1992 when 952 mm was recorded at the Maleny Weather Station

During the week some high cloud moved in over the Range from an upper level trough. This system was a weak one and produced no precipitation and nothing like the one we had in the previous week. An intensive high moved east out of The Bight and extended a ridge of high pressure up the east coast bringing trade winds and maritime shower activity to some Hinterland areas.

A saturated Maleny showground just dried out in time for this year’s Agricultural Show spectacular. People of all ages and backgrounds visited the two-day event. Had it been possible to order suitable weather the result could not be bettered. Not too hot and not too cold and plenty of sunshine. The quality of exhibits and friendly competitive spirit were as always of a very high standard.

Floods in Haiti kill 11 people

Heavy rains triggered floods which killed at least 11 people in Haiti this week, where people are still trying to re-build after last year’s hurricanes. Some areas were reported to have received up to 74 mm of rain on Thursday 21st. More rain and storms are forecast.

Over 120 lives lost as Cyclone ‘Aila’ strikes Bangladesh and E India

Some 120 people are reported to have been killed by Tropical Cyclone Aila that struck Bangladesh and eastern India. Millions remain marooned by floodwaters or are living in shelters. Many of the affected areas were still recovering from Cyclone ‘Sidr’ that killed 3,500 people in Bangladesh and made at least a million homeless in November 2007.

Average Hurricane season is forecasted for eastern Pacific regions

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Centre of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced that projected climate conditions point to a normal or below-normal hurricane season in the eastern Pacific this year.

Allowing for forecast uncertainties, seasonal hurricane forecasters estimate a 70 per cent chance of 13-18 named storms, which includes 6-10 hurricanes, of which two-five will become major hurricanes. An average eastern Pacific hurricane season produces 15 to 16 named storms, with nine becoming hurricanes and four to five becoming major hurricanes.

The eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from 15 May to 30 November; the peak period of activity is July-September.

The main climate factors influencing this year’s Eastern Pacific outlook are the atmospheric conditions that have decreased hurricane activity over the eastern Pacific Ocean since 1995 and the possible development of El Niño.