THE Bureau of Meteorology says October 2015 was the warmest on record for maximum temperatures at Canberra Airport, and the second-warmest for minimum temperatures.

“Temperatures were persistently warm throughout the month, with an early-season heatwave at the start of the month. Rainfall was below average,” a spokesperson said.

Key measurements included:

• Warmest October on record for maximum temperatures
• Second-warmest October on record for minimum temperatures
• Heatwave breaks early-season temperature records
• Longest spell of nights above 5 °C on record for October
• Below-average rainfall

“Maximum temperatures were the warmest on record for October at Canberra Airport, 5.4 °C above average. Temperatures were well above average throughout the month, with 17 days reaching at least 25 °C, well above the average of 3 days and the previous record of 14 days. The warmest temperatures occurred at the start of the month, when a severe heatwave affected much of southern Australia (see Special Climate Statement 52). Temperatures reached 31.7 °C on the 5th and 31.8 °C on the 6th, both early-season records; no day with temperatures above 31 °C has previously been recorded earlier than 13 October.

“Minimum temperatures were also well above average at Canberra Airport (+2.2 °C), the second-warmest October on record following October 1973. Only four nights recorded temperatures of 5 °C or lower, the second-fewest on record (the average is 13 nights). There were 21 consecutive nights above 5 °C between the 4th and 24th, the longest spell of warm October nights on record.

“Rainfall was below average in Canberra during October, with only four days recording at least 1 mm of rain (the average is eight days). Most of the rain was associated with thunderstorms on the 9th, with small hail reported at Tuggeranong, as well as showers across the ACT on the 21st.”