Cool summer for parts of Australia

Melbourne is likely to have just experienced its coolest summer in at least 15 years.

A cool summer for parts of Australia
Melbourne bucks the trend for summer heat [Reuters]

With only a few days remaining, the summer of 2019-20 is shaping up to be among the three warmest on record for Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

However, Melbourne is likely to have just experienced its coolest summer in at least 15 years.

Melbourne’s mean temperature (combined minimums and maximums) during summer will be about 20.1 degrees Celsius (68.2 degrees Fahrenheit). This is the lowest summer mean temperature in Melbourne since either 2004-05 or possibly 2001-02, depending on the final figures.

The daytime average maximum temperature this summer for Melbourne will be about 25.3C (77.5F), which is close to the city’s long-term average for the season. However, this is mild when you look at the past century and should be the city’s lowest for summer in at least 15 years.

This season’s minimum temperature has averaged at approximately 15C (59F), making it the lowest in 18 years.

Despite good rain for some parts of Australia during February, summer rainfall was below average for the country as a whole.

But once again, Melbourne bucks the trend, seeing some decent rainfall throughout the season. As much as 198mm (7.8 inches) of rain accumulated over the last three months up to 9am local time on Friday.

With just hours remaining until the end of the month, this 198mm will make it Melbourne’s wettest summer in 11 years.

Observations for Melbourne date back to 1855.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies