Glen Innes ARAS Metereological Station 056013

The Northern Tablelands of New South Wales is a cool temperate highlands region between latitudes (28-32^oS). Climatic conditions across the Northern Tablelands include relatively high rainfall (average annual rainfall, 750-1250 mm), marked summer incidence, a 200-day frost interval (April - October) and intensely cold winter conditions.

The Centre is located at 29^o 44’S/151^o 42’E in the Northern Tablelands and the altitude is 1057 metres. Climate is characterised by average annual rainfall of 848mm with summer dominance (36 per cent incidence between December and February), a wide temperature range, and precipitation exceeding evaporation only in winter months.  The annual temperature range is 24.5^oC, the mean maximum and minimum temperatures in the warmest month (January) are 25.2 and 13.5^oC, respectively; the mean maximum and minimum temperatures in the coldest month (July) are 12.4 and 0.7^oC, respectively.

Soil moisture has a well defined seasonal pattern. Despite summer-rainfall dominance, soil moisture is progressively depleted during spring-summer, remains low and variable in late summer-autumn, and is recharged in winter. For pastures, the seasonal growth rhythm comprises high pasture growth during the spring primary growth phase, moderate pasture growth during the secondary growth phase in summer-autumn, and low growth in winter. The major climatic stresses for pasture plants are summer-autumn moisture deficit, winter cold and episodic drought.

A climate summary for the Bureau of Meteorology’s official weather station at Glen Innes (Weather Station No. 056013) is presented below. Rainfall data is based on 96 years of records and the temperature data is based on 35 years.