Canberra’s dry spell is expected to end as forecasters brace for a wetter than average winter in the capital.
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Rainfall throughout autumn was well below average for the capital, which received only 43.6mm over the three month period.
The figure was 98mm below average, according to Weatherzone meteorologist Josh Fisher.
“Compared to 2012, we saw 243.5mm,” he said.
“We’re about 200mm less than what we saw in autumn last year.”
Mr Fisher said the wettest autumn day recorded for 2013 was the 24 hours to 9am on March 22, when Canberra received 12.6mm. It was around a fifth of what the capital received on its wettest autumn day last year, when the ACT was soaked with 62mm.
Mr Fisher said locals could expect conditions to become increasingly wet in the coming months with forecasters predicting heavier falls than the average of 128mm.
“We’re going to see higher moisture levels, and we’re expecting a wetter than average winter,” he said.
“For snowfall, it’s not looking particularly good.”
The predictions follow a relatively clear skied autumn, which kept the daytime temperatures high and the nights low.
The capital recorded an average of 21.7 degrees during the day, 1.7 degrees above the long term average.
Mr Fisher said that while the daytime temperatures were quite warm, the nights were below the 6.8 degree average at 5.4 degrees. He said compared to 2012, Canberra’s overnight temperatures were the same, but days were warmer than the previous year’s average of 19.3 degrees.
“The highest temperature during autumn was 31.8 degrees on March 10,” he said.
“That was approximately 7 degrees above average since 2009. Overnight, the temperature fell to minus 4.6 degrees on May 19. That was 8 degrees below average.
“The coolest day was Sunday, May 26, when the temperature only reached 11.2 degrees during the day.”
Mr Fisher said a dominating weather pattern south of the capital had been responsible for the conditions.
“There was higher pressure settling up over southern Australia,” he said.
“What that did was lead to drier conditions. Overnight, because of the clear skies, heat escaped into the atmosphere due to the lack of cloud cover.”
Rain is predicted for the first weekend of winter, with lows of 7 degrees predicted for both Saturday and Sunday. Forecasters expect a top of 14 and 15 degrees respectively.
