December 2009 Summary and Statistics
Once again we were all aware Mother Nature is a law unto herself. The expected and hoped for wet season failed to arrive in early December. By the third week in December the demand for town water outstripped supply and we were given notice Obi-Obi dams only had enough in reserve for another six weeks. Water was rationed and road tankers were in evidence.
The ground was dry and cracked. It was not until we had a series of thunderstorms in the third week of the month before conditions improved. The rain over Christmas came from upper level troughs, enhanced by the remnants of ex-TC Laurence carried across the continent with the help of a jet stream. Temperatures rose to over 34ºC with a heat exhaustion factor of 42ºC. This is well into the danger zone for the elderly and young alike, not to mention the unwary tourist sunbathing on the beach in extreme UV Index of 14.
|
December in Maleny |
2009 |
2008 |
| Rainfall |
177.0 mm |
110.4 mm |
| Rain Days |
15 |
17 |
| Maximum 24 hr rain |
34.2 mm |
25.0 mm |
| Heaviest Rate of Fall |
113.8 mm/hr |
164.6 mm/hr |
| Thunder heard |
6 |
8 |
| Evapotranspiration |
113.0 mm |
132.1 mm |
| Relative Humidity (9am) |
75% |
81% |
| Relative Humidity (3.pm) |
68% |
75% |
| Lowest Min. Temperature |
15.2ºC |
13.2ºC |
| Highest Min. Temperature |
20.8ºC |
21.5ºC |
| Lowest Max. Temperature |
22.2ºC |
22.6ºC |
| Highest Max. Temperature |
34.2ºC |
34.2ºC |
| Days over 30ºC |
6 |
10 |
| Bright Sunshine Hours |
223.8 hours |
247.3 hours |
| Dom. Wind Direction |
NNE |
N |
| MWS internet usage Hits |
234,395 |
70,599 |
| MWS internet usage Visits |
7,507 |
3216 |
Welcome Rain creates flooding problems. Heavy rain has cut the Landsborough Highway in western Queensland.
Monsoonal Troughs arrive in north Queensland. Heavy overnight and early morning rain in Townsville in north Queensland has led to the airport recording its highest 24-hour December rainfall figure for 33 years