CANBERRA has recorded its driest spring in two years.

“Canberra once again has recorded above average temperatures through spring. We have actually not recorded a colder than average spring since 2003. While minimums at 6.0?C were slightly below average our maximums of 21.5?C were about two degrees warmer than normal,” says Tom Saunders, senior meteorologist at The Weather Channel.

“The warm spring weather was mainly due to above average ocean temperatures in the Indian Ocean. The warm waters helped to raise the air temperature of air-masses passing over the ocean and because weather systems typically move from west to east this warming influence was even felt along the eastern seaboard.

“It was also the driest spring for the city in two years with only 138.7mm of rainfall, significantly less than last year which saw 286.0mm fall. It was also below the long-term average of 178.8mm and not far off the 118.2mm recorded in 2009.

“While summer will kick off with cool temperatures, we expect above average temperatures to continue through summer.”