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November heat records smashed

Posted on December 1, 2009, 10:10am and updated on December 3, 2009 at 12:46 pm

Mount Gambier has experienced its hottest November in recorded history, smashing a previous record set 50 years ago.

The maximum mean temperature in November was 26.2, two degrees higher than the previous record set in 1959.

Overnight temperatures were also up with the mean minimum temperature recorded at 11.8 degrees, just 0.6 higher than the record set in 2000.

Mount Gambier residents experienced 13 days above 30 degrees in November and a surprising nine days in a row over 30.

The previous record was set in 1959 when there were eight days over 30.

In 2006 and 1959, the city set a record with four days in a row over 30 degrees.

Meantime, Robe, Naracoorte and Keith smashed previous heat records for November.

Robe recorded a median maximum temperature of 25.1 (up 3.1 degrees), Naracoorte 29.4 (up 2.8 degrees) and Keith 31.5 (up 2.8 degrees).

Mount Gambier Bureau of Meteorology technical officer Keon Stevenson said slow moving highs in the Tasman Sea during the middle part of the month caused temperatures to rise above 30 degrees.

He said rain was also mostly above average in the region due to late heavy rainfall in the month associated with a slow moving low.

About 55mm of rain fell at the Mount Gambier Airport in November, 8.1mm more than the average for the month.

This pushes the yearly tally up to 759.4mm for the year, 89.9mm above the average for falls between January and November.

Regarding the seasonal outlook for December through to February, Mr Stevenson said there was a 50pc chance of exceeding the daily maximum, a 40pc chance of exceeding the minimum temperature and a 50pc chance of exceeding average rainfall.

“The tropical Pacific Ocean sea surface remains warmer than the long-term average in central and eastern areas, with a pattern typical of El Nino conditions,” Mr Stevenson said.

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