We received only half as much ran last month as normal, while the average temperature was 2.5 degrees warmer than a typical July.
However, the only record temperature was set on the 3rd when it reached 38.8 degrees, according to a monthly roundup of statistics from the Southeast Fire Centre’s weather office. That was also the hottest temperature of the month.
“As was the case the past two months an upper ridge of high pressure dominated during July,” said forecaster Ron Lakeman. “The resulting conditions were notably warmer and drier than normal.”
The average daily high was 31.1.
Lakeman said several weak disturbances clipped the area with frequent thunderstorms and minor amounts of rain. The only significant rainfall (16.3 mm) occurred with the slow passage of a more substantial Pacific system during the weekend of the 25th and 26th.
In all, 23.9 mm of rain was recorded, compared to the typical 48.1 mm. The record high is 143.2 mm in 1998 and the record low was in 1985 when it barely rained at all.
Temperature-wise, Lakeman said last month was “amazingly similar” to July 2014. Both months exhibited the same high, low, and average temperatures, and both were drier than normal, although last year was the drier of the two with only 23 per cent of the normal amount of rain.
The lowest temperature last month was 7.3 degrees on the 28th.
The all-time high for the month is 39.9 degrees set on July 30, 2003. The all-time low is 4.1 degrees on July 3, 1979.