Tornado Alley (PROG)

[fuagf]

and record heat here .. Sydney basks in record May temperature

Date May 10, 2012

A warm autumn has followed Sydney's cool summer, with the city recording its hottest May day in 70 years today.

The temperature at Observatory Hill was 29.1 degrees about 1.30pm, making it the hottest day in May since 1942, Weatherzone meteorologist Doug Fenton said.

The hottest May day on record for Sydney was May 1, 1919, when the temperature reached 30 degrees.

"We've had a high pressure system which has been planted directly overhead," Mr Fenton said.
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"That's brought some sunny skies over the last few days and really allowed surface temperatures to heat up.

"We've also had north to northwest winds bringing in that warmth from the interior ... that meant we're seeing the heat build up over the last few days."

Weatherzone said Sydney could record its warmest string of May days in five years if the city reaches its forecast top of 26 degrees tomorrow.

But the nights were still cool, getting down to 14 degrees last night, Mr Fenton said.

"That is a few degrees above the average, but certainly a big difference from the maximum of 29 degrees.

"That's just due to the clear skies. It means we don't have that insulating blanket with the cloud, which can trap in the warmth from the previous days.

"So the heat is just escaping straight up into the atmosphere."

Weatherzone is owned by Fairfax Media, the publisher of this website.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-basks-in-record-may-temperature-20120510-1yew3.html

Can't find one, but heard May 31 was the hottest on record. No El Nino either.

.. excerpt ..

February period, even without a dominant El Nino weather pattern over the Pacific – the conditions which typically produce exceptionally warm temperatures over much of the country.

In fact, a slew of other records have tumbled in 2013, including the hottest day and hottest month. The 11 months from June to the end of April were also the country's hottest for maximum temperatures, underscoring the persistence of unusually high mercury readings.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/summer-of-record-heat-extends-into-may-20130501-2irue.html