January: hot or not?

January 31, 2013 - 4:49PM
Stephen Cauchi

It's been a very dry January, but despite all the talk about a "dome of heat", it wasn't actually that warm.

Melbourne has so far recorded just 8 millimetres of rain this month, 40 millimetres below the January average. That ranks this month among the driest 10 per cent of Januarys on record.

In 2009, by contrast, a mere 0.4 millimetres fell. The driest January in Melbourne on record occurred in 1932, when 0.3 millimetres fell.

But rain tonight could moisten that result a little. According to weather forecasters Weatherzone, a passing cold front could dump 5 to 10 millimetres across the city tonight. Scattered and light showers will continue across the weekend.

Looking ahead, rainfall is expected to be more or less average for the rest of summer and into early autumn. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria has a 50 per cent chance of exceeding average rainfall for February to April.

In terms of temperature, Melbourne was warmer than average, but not dramatically hot. The average maximum temperature was 27.4, marginally hotter than the long-term January average of 25.9. Minimum temperatures were about 1.5 degrees warmer than average.

"January 2012 was actually warmer, both days and nights," said Weatherzone senior meteorologist Brett Dutschke. "This year wasn't a real standout regarding temperatures."

The long-term forecast for February to April is for cooler temperatures for Victoria. There is only a 35 to 40 per cent chance temperatures will exceed the long-term average, according to Weatherzone.

Despite the dry month, there's still plenty of water left. Melbourne's water storages are currently at 78.1 per cent full, the highest since the mid-1990s.



Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/january-hot-or-not-20130131-2dmy7.html#ixzz2JXXdYOLz

I still think we need some kind of comparative data from the Industrial revolution.

Why?

I think fact, hard to ignore the mountain of evidence, but whether it's anthropogenic or otherwise is a different (probably irrelevant) matter

It seems these days that any time the weather is hotter than average, that's due to global warming.
Any time the weather is colder than average, that's due to global warming... erm... umm... let's call it climate change instead.
Any time it rains more than average, that's due to climate change.
Any time it rains less than average, that's due to climate change.

I long for the good old days, when there was never, ever, any variance from the average temperature and rainfall figures.


Don't take this to mean I disagree with the statement that people pumping less sh*t into the atmosphere would be a good thing.

It's completely fiction, also God exists and my vote counts

Fact. The Earth warms and cools periodically due to landmass positioning, orbit, life induced atmosphere changes, non-life induced atmosphere changes, etc.

Fact. The Earth warms and cools periodically due to landmass positioning, orbit, life induced atmosphere changes, non-life induced atmosphere changes, etc.

Fact. There have been a record number of droughts and record number of floods in recent years.

Fact. Bushfire's have become more frequent in recent years

Fact. Arctic ice hit record low

Fact. If you were born after 1980, you have never experienced a below average month in temperature on a global scale.

Fact. July 2012 was the hottest month ever recorded on a global scale.

Fact. 99.83% of Scientist agree climate change is real

Fact. There have been a record number of droughts and record number of floods in recent years.

Fact. Bushfire's have become more frequent in recent years

Fact. Arctic ice hit record low

Fact. If you were born after 1980, you have never experienced a below average month in temperature on a global scale.

Fact. July 2012 was the hottest month ever recorded on a global scale.


Fact. 99.83% of Scientist agree climate change is real

Furthermore, what's the point in western society panicking about global warming and reducing pollution when anything we do is offset by China's frankly disgusting output.

China are currently trialling a carbon pricing structured nearly identical to Australias in a few provinces.

I don't think that will achieve anything except to drive up the cost of living in China and create an even more aristocratic society.

I don't think anyone in China cares what you think will happen. They have some pretty qualified people on it.

I have no doubt that they have similar disregard for your opinion. However this is a forum, the core concept of which is for people to express their opinions on whatever the topic at hand is. Which is exactly what I did. And if you've got a problem with that then the 'logout' button is on the top right hand corner of your page. Have a nice day.

It's my opinion that your opinion on the matter has been demonstrated to be factually invalid.

Deal with it.

Furthermore, what's the point in western society panicking about global warming and reducing pollution when anything we do is offset by China's frankly disgusting output.