Canberra Climate & Weather
Canberra is Australia's capital city, approximately 150 kilometers (94 miles) inland from the east coast, northeast of Melbourne and southwest of Sydney. Canberra is part of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) of the Commonwealth of Australia and, according to an August 2008 census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the city is home to more than 345,000 people. While the urban life of Melbourne and Sydney thrive in the warm seaside climate, Canberra's climate, as well as its appeal as a tourist attraction, differs slightly, being farther inland. The ACT region has a drier, continental climate.
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Geography
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Canberra straddles a combination of plains, rivers and lakes, and mountains. Just to the east of the city is the Brindabella Ranges, the mountain range that contributes to the city's picturesque landscape, with hills such as Mount Taylor, Mount Ainslie and Mount Mugga Mugga trailing off into the background. The elevations range from 500 meters (1,640 feet) to 700 meters (2,300 feet). Lake Burley Griffin marks the city center and is formed by a dammed section of the Molonglo River, which then flows into the Murrumbidgee northwest of Canberrra. The Queanbeyan River joins the Molonglo River at Oaks Estate, just within the ACT. The surrounding bushland consists of the rolling plains of the Ginniderra Plain, the Molonglo Plain, the Limestone Plain and Isabella's Plain.
Climate Type
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Canberra's latitude, elevation and proximity to the coast classify its climate as oceanic, specifically a Marine West Coastal Climate. Although there are four distinct seasons, the annual temperature range is narrower than in other places that share Canberra's latitude. Precipitation is highest during the warmest six months of the year, averaging 40 millimeters (1.57 inches) to 60 millimeters (2.36 inches) a month.
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Temperatures & Seasons
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Canberra experiences four distinct seasons. The summer months are from December to March, when the average temperature is approximately 26ºC (78.8ºF), though highs can reach 40ºC (104ºF). As summer ends, autumn brings a changing of colors, turning leaves to red and gold. Autumn tends to be the most stable season, with little fluctuation in temperature, wind and rainfall. Morning fogs and frost increase as winter approaches. Winter days are cooler and often quite sunny, with little wind. The coolest months are June to August, when daily temperatures average 0ºC (32ºF) to 10ºC (50ºF), with a record-low winter temperature of -10ºC (14ºF). Spring returns with warmer temperatures and floral blooms.
Rainfall
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The thirty-year average annual rainfall (as of 2007) is 629 millimeters (25 inches). From 2001 to 2003, Canberra and the entire ACT region experienced a decline, and the annual rainfall was a little less than 525 millimeters. A small decrease, it was the most dramatic drought the region had seen in history, to illustrate how little rainfall fluctuates here. The most rainfall occurs from September to January, averaging 10 rainy days per month, and the highest amount falls during September and October, which average 62 millimeters (2.46 inches) each. Snow is quite rare, with only one or two recordings a year. Usually, snow can be seen only atop the mountain ranges in the distance, where it stays only short periods of time.
Humidity
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Because of Canberra's inland location, relative humidity tends to be lower than near the coast. Although the summers are hot, the relative humidity during the warmest hours of the day is only about 37 percent to 40 percent.
Wind
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Canberra experiences little wind overall. Winters bring generally westerly winds. The transition from winter to spring tends to be the windiest time, with about 13 days experiencing relatively strong winds of 15 mph to 20 mph. On average, strong winds occur only 25 days out of the year.
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