30/06/2011: After a record cold May and now a record cold June, Darwin is struggling to thaw out and there's little relief in sight, according to weatherzone.com.au.

Combining daytime and nighttime temperatures, the city averaged just 22.5 degrees, a whopping two-and-half degrees colder than the long-term average and three degrees colder than June last year.

The previous coldest June was in 1949 when the average temperature was 22.7 degrees. The only other colder month in about 71 years of records was in July 1965, when the average was 22.5.

Nights have been the clincher, the coldest on record for June. Overnight minimums averaged 16.1 degrees, almost four degrees below than the long-term norm of 19.9. The previous June record for low minimums was 16.8, in 1949. There was only one colder month in the last 71 years, in July 1965, when the average was 15.8.

Days were the second coldest on record, for any month. On average, days were one-and-a half degrees colder than the long-term norm, averaging 29 degrees, compared to 30.6. The previous record was in June 1949, when the average was 28.7.

"The chill has been so prolonged because of persistent southeasterly winds, which have kept the air very dry," weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said.

The cold June comes after a record cold May and the coldest April in five years, so the start to the dry season has been a shock to the system. There has been some minor relief, five days in the last week have warmed past 30 degrees. The month as a whole has had only nine days warming to 30 degrees and above, typically in June there are 20 such days

"Looking ahead to the rest of the dry season, little change is likely, at least at nighttime. Nights should stay colder than average with help from clear skies and dry southeasterly winds. After some cooler weather again next week, days should warm up to near-average as the season wears on. Despite the warming trend in days, this dry season may turn out to be a record cold one for the Top End," Dutschke said.

Media Inquiries:

Brett Dutschke
media@weatherzone.com.au
02 9965 9269

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