As Canberra farewelled summer with a warm and sunny day, the capital started the season very differently.
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The ACT began summer very wet, Weatherzone Meteorologist Brett Dutschke said.
"It started wet and then went dry, particularly in January and February but then heavy downpours occurred at the end of summer, almost doubling the seasonal rainfall," Mr Dutschke said.
With a final day's data of February to be added, Mr Dutschke said this summer was the 10th warmest on record, averaging 21.6 degrees which was 1.8 degrees above average.
A total of 220mm of rain dropped, which was about 40mm more than average, making it the wettest summer in three years.
Mr Dutschke said days were the sixth hottest in about 75 years of records. The average was 29.5 degrees, 2.4 degrees about average. Nights were the 15th warmest on record, averaging 13.7 degrees, 1.2 degrees above average.
Five summers ago Canberra gained only 140mm of rain and averaged 20.9 degrees. The days averaged a maximum of 29.1 degrees, nights averaged a minimum of 12.8 degrees.
On the weekend, water from the rainstorm rose metres high in some parts of Canberra, more than a months worth of rain brought the city to a standstill, with flash flooding damaging properties.
In 48 hours, the Sullivans Creek weather station recorded 164.8mm, while Woolshed Creek had 95.4mm, the boat harbour on Lake Burley Griffin 74.8mm and Oaks Estate crossing 77mm.
"Last weekend's rain amounted to 84mm at the airport, the biggest rain in 21 months," Mr Dutschke said.
"However, about 170mm fell in the Australian National University area. As much as 60mm fell in one hour in that area and 45mm in one hour at the airport on Sunday morning."
What's the start of Autumn looking like?
The capital is forecasted for a sunny start to Autumn, with a top of 29 degrees.
"Autumn should trend to being drier than average," Mr Dutschke said.
"The season should start near-or-slightly cooler than average then trend to being warmer than average."
Weatherzone is owned by Fairfax Media, publisher of this website.
