Cessnock has experienced one of its driest Januarys in 105 years, with just six millimetres of rainfall.
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The rain fell on just three days – with 3.4mm in the 24 hours up to 9am on January 3, 1.4mm on January 9 and 1.2mm on January 10.
According to Bureau of Meteorology records dating back to 1903, it’s only the sixth time that Cessnock has received less than 10mm of rain for the month of January.
The Cessnock Post Office data (which was recorded from 1903 to 1992) shows meagre totals of 8.2mm in its first year, and 2.8mm in 1942.
The Nulkaba station, which was open from 1966 to 2012, recorded just 2.5mm in 1969, 4.5mm in 2003 and 6.2mm in 2009.
Figures from the Cessnock Airport weather station (1968-1973, and 1994-current) show 4.6mm in 1969, 2.6mm in 2003 and 2.6mm in 2009.
In contrast, just two years ago Cessnock had its second-wettest January on record, with 302.8mm (including 99.4 mm in just one day on January 6).
The post office records show January 1951 was Cessnock’s wettest start to a year, with 370.9mm of rain that month.
The average rainfall recorded at the airport station for January is 78.5mm.
Cessnock’s average maximum temperature for January 2018 was 34.1 degrees, three degrees above the airport weather station’s monthly average for January.
The month finished on a relatively chilly note, with a top of 22 degrees on January 31.
February is set to start in similarly cool fashion, before warming back up early next week.
THIS WEEK’S FORECAST
Thursday: 18-25, possible shower
Friday: 15-25, possible shower
Saturday: 16-26, showers
Sunday: 16-29, possible shower
Monday: 15-31, sunny
Tuesday: 18-31, possible shower
Wednesday: 19-31, possible shower
