The Tamworth Agricultural Institute (TAI) is located on the Northwest Slopes and Plains with a latitude of 31º 9’ S. and longitude of 150º 59’ E. and an altitude of 430m. Rainfall is summer dominant with January having the highest monthly average and a secondary peak in June. Frosts generally occur from April to October each year. The nearest Bureau of Meteorology weather station (055054) is at Tamworth Airport (Oxley Lane) and is 15 km from TAI.

The research station was established in 1959 and rainfall records were commenced soon after. A site for the meteorology lawn was built in the 1960’s. An automated weather station (Environdata® Mark 3) was installed in 1987 at the same site to facilitate measurements during holidays and weekends. Manual readings are still recorded daily at 0900 hours on weekdays. Measurements made include: maximum, minimum and terrestrial minimum temperatures; rainfall; class A pan evaporation; wet and dry bulb temperature and observations such as cloud cover; wind direction and speed; visibility; frosts, fogs, storms etc.

An Australian Weather Station (AWS) was installed on the same site in 2007. This new AWS conforms to the standards of the Bureau of Meteorology but has not yet been incorporated into their network.

A climate summary for TAI is presented below. Rainfall data is based on 48 years of records. Evaporation and temperature data is based on 20 years of records.