2011 - The year that was
Summary 2011 - Australia's third wettest year on record
Following on from our second wettest year in 2010, 2011 proved wet once again with Australia recording its third wettest year on record.
Mean rainfall across the country was 699mm, 234mm above the long-term average, and our third-wettest year since national records began in 1900.
Back-to-back La Niña events led to a two year rainfall total of 1402mm, only a few millimeters off the 1973-74 record of 1407mm.
The national soaking was mainly due to one of the strongest La Niña’s on record which dominated weather patterns across the country early in the year. A second La Niña developed in spring and although weaker, this was associated with above average rain across much of the country during the last few months.
Typically La Niña only affects northern and eastern Australia but a record warm eastern Indian Ocean also boosted
Western Australia’s rain, particularly during the back half of 2011.
The increased rain helped to cause slightly below average temperatures and our first colder than average year since 2001. Even though temperatures over the whole country were below average, it was warmer than usual over southern Australia, where the majority of the population live.
It should be noted Australia was one of the only countries to experience cooler than average temperatures in 2011.
Tom Saunders
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sydney 2011
Following the trend set last year, Sydney has once again recorded its wettest year since 2007 and now also it’s driest since 2008.
“Sydney recorded a total of 1369.2mm of rain this year as of 8.30am Friday morning, a fair bit less than the 1499.2mm recorded in 2007. However, as most Sydneysiders would agree it was definitely much wetter than 2010 when only 1153.8mm fell,” says Dick Whitaker, Chief Meteorologist at The Weather Channel.
“An unusually wet July contributed 282.2 mm of rain to the total. July proved to be the wettest since 1950, and was caused by an intense east coast low that also produced heavy rain for Wollongong where 223.0 mm fell and Newcastle which recorded 134.2 mm,” he continues.
“The biggest positive to result from all the rain is that it did boost the level of the Warragamba Dam to above 80% for the first time since 2002,” says Whitaker.
On the temperature front and 2011 once again saw above average temperatures for the capital city.
“Sydney once again has recorded above average temperatures through 2011 continuing the warming trend observed across southern Australia during recent decades. Both minimum temperatures at 14.8˚C and maximum temperatures at 22.6˚C were around one degree warmer than normal,” Whitaker continues.
“We have actually not recorded a colder than average year since 1992. Despite temperatures being on the warm side, our overall average temperature of 18.7˚C this year was still the coldest in three years.”
Both Newcastle and Parramatta also had a wetter year than 2010 and also both experienced their coldest year since 2008.
“Newcastle recorded 1009.0mm of rain compared to 771.0mm last year and Parramatta reached 1141.7mm, much more than the 981.1mm in 2010.”
“It was also the coldest year since 2008 for both areas with Parramatta’s maximum temperatures 0.3˚C below the long term average while Newcastle’s were 0.6˚C above the long term average.”
“The noteworthy standout however is Broken Hill which recorded its wettest year since 1974 with 605.0mm of rain and its second wettest year on record.”
“Looking ahead we expect above average temperatures to continue in Sydney during the next few months due to warmer than average sea surface temperatures currently surrounding most of Australia,” he concludes.
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Brisbane 2011
What a difference one year makes, Brisbane farewells 2011 as the coldest year since 2008 and the driest since 2009.
“Brisbane recorded slightly above average temperatures through 2011 but both minimums at 16˚C and maximums at 25.9˚C were within half a degree of the long term average,” says Dick Whitaker, Chief Meteorologist at The Weather Channel.
“Despite temperatures being above average it was still our coldest year since 2008,” he continues.
“On the Gold Coast and temperatures were 0.1˚C below the long term average, making it the coldest year since 1999. Up on the Sunshine Coast and temperatures were 0.3˚C above the long term average, however it was still the coldest year since 2000,” says Whitaker.
In contrast to the unrelenting rain and flooding of 2010, this year marked Brisbane’s driest year in two years.
“Brisbane recorded 1175.4mm of rain in 2011, significantly less than the 1658.6mm recorded in 2010 and the average annual figure of 1149.1. It was also the driest year since 2009 when 1072.4mm fell,” Whitaker continues.
“The Gold Coast recorded 1234.6mm, a huge difference from the 2021.8mm that fell in 2010 and making it the driest year for the area since 2007 when 1105.8mm fell. The Sunshine coast was also significantly drier than 2010 with 1956.6mm of rain to 8.30am EDT Friday compared to the 2343.8mm last year. It was the driest year since 2009 for the area.”
“Looking ahead we expect above average temperatures to continue in Brisbane during the next few months due to warmer than average sea surface temperatures currently surrounding most of Australia. Above average rainfall patterns are also expected during this period,” he concludes.
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Melbourne 2011 - Wettest in 18 years
It’s been a wet 2011 for Melbourne, so wet that the city has just recorded its wettest year since 1993.
“This year 834.6mm of rain fell in Melbourne, not far off the 1993 total of 844.0mm,” says Dick Whitaker, Chief Meteorologist at The Weather Channel.
“The 2011 total is well above the long term average of 649.6mm and also greater than the 780.2mm that fell in 2010,” he continues.
“The wettest month for the year was November, when 108.8 mm of rain was recorded, compared to the long-term average of 60.4 mm. Much of this was produced by severe thunderstorm activity that blasted across Victoria during three separate events and resulted in flash flooding, damaging wind gusts and large hail across many areas,” says Whitaker.
Geelong also recorded its wettest year since 2001 but Mildura experienced its wettest on record.
“Geelong recorded 667.4mm of rain, its wettest year in 10 years and not far off the wettest year on record which was 1989 when 745.0mm fell. Mildura takes the prize for wettest ever year with 658.2mm of rain, smashing the previous title holder which was 2010 with 591.2mm,” Whitaker continues.
On the temperature front and 2011 once again saw above average temperatures for the capital city.
“Melbourne has actually now recorded 25 consecutive years with above average temperatures, a clear example of the warming trend observed across southern Australia during recent decades.”
“Minimum temperatures were at 12.0˚C, around two degrees above average while maximums sat at 20.9˚C only one degree warmer than normal. Despite temperatures being on the warm side our overall average temperature for 2011 was 16.4˚C, our coldest in three years.”
“Geelong also recorded its warmest year since 2007 as temperatures were 0.6˚C above the long term average. Mildura also experienced its warmest year since 2009 with temperatures 0.3˚C above the long term average.”
“Looking ahead we expect above average temperatures to continue in Melbourne during the next few months due to warmer than average sea surface temperatures currently surrounding most of Australia while rainfall for Melbourne should remain close to average,” he concludes.
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Adelaide 2011 - Warmest and Driest since 2009
It’s been warm and dry for Adelaide through 2011, a stark contrast to 2010 which saw the capital record its wettest and coldest year since 2005.
“Adelaide once again has recorded above average temperatures through 2011, continuing the warming trend observed across southern Australia during recent decades. Both minimum temperatures at 12.9˚C and maximums at 22.7˚C were over half a degree warmer than normal,” says Tom Saunders, Senior Meteorologist at The Weather Channel.
“We have actually not recorded a colder than average year since 2002. Our overall average temperature this year was 17.8˚C, slightly warmer than 2010 but cooler than 2009,” he continues.
It was also the capital’s driest year in two years.
“Adelaide only recorded 538.0mm of rain in 2011, a little less than the 592.6 mm recorded in 2010. This was also slightly less than the long term average of 547.8 mm making 2011 the driest year since 2009, when 517.2 mm was recorded,” says Saunders.
“The wettest month for the year was August, when 92.4 mm was recorded. This was attributed to a string of seven consecutive days where a total 38.8mm of rain fell, the first such event since July 2009,” Saunders continues.
“Over in Renmark and the region recorded its wettest year since 1974 with 443.4mm, the wettest year prior was 2010 with 408.8mm of rain.”
“Looking ahead we expect above average temperatures to continue in Adelaide during the next few months due to warmer than average sea surface temperatures currently surrounding most of Australia. Rainfall for Adelaide is expected to remain near average during this time,” he concludes.
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Darwin 2011 - Coldest year in 62 years and wettest in 13 years
It’s been a huge year in Darwin with the city recording its coldest year since 1949 and it’s wettest since 1998.
“Darwin has recorded its coldest year in 62 years. Maximum temperatures averaged 31.6˚C, only 0.4˚C below average but minimums at 22.3˚C were one degree below the long term average and the lowest on record,” says Tom Saunders, Senior Meteorologist at The Weather Channel.
“The unusually cool conditions this year were due to above average cloud and rain through the wet season and a spell of very chilly nights through the dry season,” he continues.
It was also Darwin’s wettest year since 1998 and also significantly wetter than 2010.
“Darwin experienced 2681.4 mm of rain in 2011 as of 8.30am EDT, an increase on the 2257.2 mm that fell in 2010. This was also well above the long term average of 1728.1 mm, and makes 2011 the wettest year since 1998, when 2776.6 mm was recorded,” says Saunders.
“This years total is also not too far off the wettest year ever which was 1998 with 2776.6mm of rain.”
“The wettest month for the year was February when 1110.2 mm was recorded, in fact the wettest month ever for Darwin Airport,” Saunders continues.
“In stark contrast, Alice Springs has recorded its driest year since 2009 with only 365.9mm of rain.”
“Looking ahead we expect above average temperatures to return to Darwin during the next few months, with rainfall patterns falling to close to average levels,” he concludes.
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Canberra 2011 - Coldest year since 2000
Canberra has recorded its coldest year in 11 years and it’s driest in two years, a stark contrast to 2010 which saw the territory’s wettest in 36 years.
“Canberra has once again recorded above average temperatures through 2011, continuing the warming trend observed across southern Australia during recent decades. Minimum temperatures were at 6.4˚C, near average and the lowest in 15 years but maximum temperatures at 20.3˚C were 0.6˚C warmer than normal,” says Dick Whitaker, Chief Meteorologist at The Weather Channel.
“We have actually not recorded a colder than average year since 1996. Despite temperatures being on the warm side our overall average temperature of 13.4˚C this year was the coldest in 11 years,” he continues.
Looking at rainfall and Canberra recorded its driest year since 2009.
“Canberra experienced a considerably dry year with only 580.1mm of rainfall. This is a huge decline from the 2010 total of 959.6 mm, the wettest year since 1974. This was also less than the long term average of 616.4 mm, and makes 2011 the driest year since 2009, when only 431.4 mm was recorded,” says Whitaker.
“The wettest month of the year was February, when 129.2 mm of rain was recorded, compared to the long-term average of 56.4 mm. Much of this occurred during the first week of February, when widespread thunderstorm activity associated with low-pressure troughs produced a total of 100.2 mm,” Whitaker continues.
“Looking ahead we expect above average temperatures to continue in Canberra during the next few months due to warmer than average sea surface temperatures currently surrounding most of Australia. Close to average rainfall is also expected during this time,” he concludes.
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Hobart 2011 - Wettest year in 4 years and coldest in 3 years
Hobart has just recorded its wettest year since 2009 and it’s coldest since 2008, a stark contrast to 2010 which was the city’s hottest year on record.
“Hobart experienced 690.6mm of rain in 2011, much wetter than the 2010 total of 524.0 mm. This was also well above the long term average of 616.8 mm, and makes 2011 the wettest year since 2009 when 865.0 mm of rain was recorded,” says Tom Saunders, Senior Meteorologist at The Weather Channel.
“The wettest month of the year was April, when 125.2 mm of rain was recorded. This was the result of a low-pressure cell moving across Bass Strait which produced 78.8 mm of rain, the highest 24 hour April total for more than 50 years,” he continues.
“Over in Launceston and 728.5mm of rain was recorded, making it the areas driest year since 2008 when 587.6mm was recorded,” says Saunders.
“Hobart once again has recorded above average temperatures through 2011, continuing the warming trend observed across southern Australia during recent decades but it was still the coldest year since 2008. Minimum temperatures were at 9.1˚C and maximums at 17.5˚C, both were over half a degree warmer than normal,” Saunders continues.
“Despite temperatures being on the warm side our overall average temperature of 13.3˚C this year was still the coldest in three years.”
“In Launceston, even though temperatures were 0.2˚C above the long term average, similar to Hobart it was still the coldest year since 2008.”
“Looking ahead we expect above average temperatures to continue in Hobart during the next few months due to warmer than average sea surface temperatures currently surrounding most of Australia while rainfall for Hobart is expected to remain close to average,” he concludes.
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Perth 2011 - Hottest year since 1978
It’s been a milestone year in Perth, the city has recorded its hottest year in 33 years and a significantly wetter year than 2010.
“Perth has recorded its hottest year since 1978 and its second hottest year on record. Minimum temperatures were only slightly above normal at 14˚C. However, maximums at 25.7˚C were over two degrees above the long term average and easily the highest on record, beating the old mark of 25.3˚C from 2010. The overall average of 19.9˚C was about 1.5˚C above the long term average,” says Tom Saunders, Senior Meteorologist at The Weather Channel.
“The warm weather this year was partly due to above average ocean temperatures in the Indian Ocean and continues the warming trend observed across southern Australia during recent decades,” he continues.
2011 also marked Perth’s wettest year since 2005.
“Perth recorded 860.8mm of rain in 2011 as of 8.30am EDT, a great deal more than the 503.8 mm that fell in 2010 and also greater than the long term average of 740.0 mm (Perth Metro site). This years total makes it the wettest year for the city since 2005, when 874.8 mm was recorded,” says Saunders.
“The wettest month of the year was June when 171.4 mm of rain was recorded. This was the result of a succession of cold-fronts passing across the area,” Saunders continues.
“Looking ahead for Perth, we expect near average temperatures to return during the coming few months, with slightly above average rainfall likely during this time,” he concludes.
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