Summer 2005/2006 Main points:
Highest average maximum temperature on record
Highest statewide mean temperature on record
Second highest average minimum temperature on record
Driest summer since 1984
NSW experienced its hottest summer on record with the State enduring average maximum temperatures 2.9 degrees above the historical average of 31.2ºC (the previous record was summer 2000/01, 2.2ºC above average). Very much above average maximum temperatures were recorded over the entire state. It was the hottest summer on record for most of the northern half of NSW west of the Great Dividing Range, as well as in the area around Canberra.
It was also the hottest summer on record in terms of mean temperatures with the statewide mean temperature 2.4 degrees above the average of 24.2ºC (the previous record was summer 1980/81, 2.0ºC above average)
The statewide average minimum temperatures were the second warmest on record, 1.9 degrees above the historical average of 17.1ºC (the highest average minimum temperatures were recorded in summer 1980/81, 2.2ºC above average).
Rainfall:
It was the driest summer across NSW since 1984 with vast areas of the state receiving below average falls. The states average rainfall for Summer 2005/06 was 112.0mm, compared to the summer seasonal average of 169.0mm. The northwest of the state was particularly dry with large areas recording very much below average falls. The far northeast and the Northwest Slopes and Plains were the only areas of the state to receive above average summer rainfall.
Map of average temps over Australia
