KERANG has experienced its driest June month on record.
Just 1.2 millimetres fell over three days, with the wettest 24-hour period recording a mere 0.6 millimetres.
The previous lowest June rainfall was just 2.2 millimetres in 1975.
Despite the record low rainfall, this year’s total of 180.2 millimetres is still 10.6 millimetres above the long-term average.
The year started with below average rainfall before 82.8 millimetres – more than treble the long-term average – fell in April.
Another 40 millimetres fell in May, just over the average of rainfall recorded since 1880.
June has also had colder than average minimum temperatures.
The mean minimum temperature of 2.7 degrees was about 2 degrees lower than average.
The mercury dipped below zero on three occasions, but the lowest -0.7 degrees recorded did not exceed the coldest on record, -3.4 degrees, recorded on June 9, 1982.
The mean maximum for June this year was 15.1 degrees, a fraction above the long-term average. The highest maximum recorded for the month this year was 17.6 degrees on the 11th.
The highest on record was 24.6 degrees on June 8, 2005.
The coldest June minimum was also the coldest morning so far this year. The hottest day was 44.8 degrees on February 10 and the wettest day so far was 44.6 millimetres on April 21.
July began with a minimum of -3.4 on Saturday and -2.0 on Sunday, ahead of possible showers this week.
