Climate of Australia

The climate of Australia is very dry, making it the second driest continent after Antarctica. About 80% of the land gets less than 600 mm (24 inches) of rain each year, and half of it gets even less than 300 mm (12 inches). On average, the whole country receives only 419 mm (16 inches) of rain a year.

This dryness is mostly because of a large area of high pressure in the sky, which brings dry air down onto the land. The high pressure changes place with the seasons, leading to dry summers in the south and dry winters in the north. In the north, a weather pattern called the Intertropical Convergence Zone moves south during the summer, bringing rainy seasons known as the Australian monsoon to some areas.

Australia’s climate changes a lot because it is very big. Most of the land is desert or dry, but the southeast and southwest have milder, more comfortable climates with better soil. The north has a tropical climate, with grasslands and deserts that can change dramatically from year to year in how much rain they get. Australia also holds many heat records, with some of the hottest places and the most sunshine in the world.

States and territories

Australian Capital Territory

Because of its higher general elevation of over 650 m (2,130 ft), southern latitude and entirely landlocked location, winters are exclusively cool to cold in the Australian Capital Territory. Canberra has warm, dry summers with cool nights and some thunderstorms. Heavy frosts are commonplace and radiation fog often occurs. Many of the higher mountains to the territory's west are snow-covered for a large part of the winter and early spring. Severe thunderstorms can occur between October and March, and annual rainfall is 623 mm (25 in), with rainfall highest in spring and summer, and lowest in winter. The region is dry throughout its entirety due to its position on the leeward side of the Brindabella Ranges.

The highest temperature recorded in the ACT was 44.0 °C (111.2 °F) at Canberra Airport on 4 January 2020. The lowest temperature was −14.6 °C (5.7 °F) at Gudgenby on 11 July 1971.

New South Wales

Over half of New South Wales has an arid or semi-arid climate. The eastern portion has a temperate climate, ranging from humid subtropical from its northern border to the Central Coast and most of Sydney, and oceanic to the south coast. The Snowy Mountains region in the south-east falls in the alpine climate or subpolar oceanic climate zone, with cool to cold weather all year around and regular heavy snowfalls in the winter and spring. Further inland, the climate is semi-arid and a desert climate towards the western part of the state.

The weather in the southern half of the state is generally warm to hot in summer and cool in the winter. The seasons are more defined in the southern half of the state, especially in the South West Slopes, Central West and the Riverina regions. On the coast and anywhere east of the dividing range, a summer rainfall peak is observed throughout its entire latitudinal span. On the ranges and farther inland, rainfall usually peaks in spring in most parts of the state; though the South West Slopes region, in the south-central part of the state (bordering Victoria), has a distinct winter rainfall peak; whereas the New England and North West Slopes regions have a summer rainfall peak. On a hot summer day, a southerly buster may at times moderate the extreme heat experienced in the coastal New South Wales region, from Port Macquarie southwards to Nowra.

The warmest region by annual maxima is the Upper Western, where summers are extremely hot, but winters relatively cooler and dry. The weather in the northeast region of the state, or the North Coast, bordering Queensland, is moderately hot, humid and rainy in the summer, and mild in winter with more sunshine; and little seasonal temperature difference. The Northern Tablelands have relatively milder summers and colder winters, due to their high elevation and inland location on the Great Dividing Range. The southeast coastal plain, which lies on the leeward side of the Great Dividing Range, experiences foehn winds, particularly between winter and spring, which can elevate fire danger.

The coldest region is the Snowy Mountains where the snow and ice continues for a long period during the winter months. The Blue Mountains, Southern Tablelands and Central Tablelands, which are situated on the Great Dividing Range, have mild to warm summers and cold winters, although not as severe as those in the Snowy Mountains. The areas situated in the valleys of the range, such as Bathurst, Goulburn, Bowral and Cooma, among other places, have recorded freezing and/or near-freezing lows even in the summer months, unlike other places of similar latitude and altitude in the northern hemisphere.

The highest maximum temperature recorded was 50.1 °C (122.2 °F) at Wilcannia in the state's north-west on 11 January 1939. The lowest minimum temperature was −23.0 °C (−9.4 °F) at Charlotte Pass on 29 June 1994 in the Snowy Mountains. This is also the lowest temperature recorded in the whole of Australia excluding Australian Antarctic Territory.

Rainfall varies throughout the state. The far northwest receives the least, less than 180 mm (7 in) annually, while the east receives between 600 and 1,200 mm (24 and 47 in) of rain.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has two distinctive climate zones. The northern end, including Darwin, has a tropical savannah climate (Köppen Aw) with high humidity and two seasons, the wet (October to April) and dry season (May to September). During the dry season nearly every day is warm and sunny, and afternoon humidity averages around 30%. There is very little rainfall between May and September. In the coolest months of June and July, the daily minimum temperature may dip as low as 14 °C (57 °F), but very rarely lower, and frost has never been recorded.

The wet season is associated with tropical cyclones and monsoon rains. The majority of rainfall occurs between December and March (the Southern Hemisphere summer), when thunderstorms are common and afternoon relative humidity averages over 70% during the wettest months. On average more than 1,570 mm (62 in) of rain falls in the north. Thunderstorms can produce spectacular lightning displays.

The rest of the territory lies in the desert centre of the country; it includes Alice Springs and Uluru, and is arid or semi-arid with little rain usually falling during the hottest months from October to March. Its seasons are more defined than the northern parts, with summers being very hot, with average temperatures often exceeding 35 °C (95 °F), and winters relatively cool with average minimum temperatures dipping as low as 5 °C (41 °F), with a few frosty nights. Central Australia receives less than 250 mm (10 in) of annual rainfall.

The highest maximum temperature recorded in the territory was 48.3 °C (118.9 °F) at Finke on 1 and 2 January 1960. The lowest minimum temperature was −7.5 °C (18.5 °F) at Alice Springs on 17 July 1976.

Queensland

Because of its size, there is significant variation in climate across the state. Low rainfall and hot summers are typical for the inland west, a monsoonal 'wet' season in the far north, and warm subtropical conditions along the coastal strip. Inland and in southern ranges cooler temperatures are experienced, especially at nights. The climate of the coastal strip is influenced by warm ocean waters, keeping the region free from extremes of temperature and providing moisture for rainfall.

There are five predominant climatic zones in Queensland, based on temperature and humidity:

• hot humid summer (far north and coastal)
• warm humid summer (coastal elevated hinterlands and coastal south-east)
• hot dry summer, mild winter (central west)
• hot dry summer, cold winter (southern west)
• temperate – warm summer, cold winter (inland south-east, e.g. Granite Belt)

However, most of the Queensland populace experience two weather seasons: a winter period of rather warm temperatures with minimal rainfall, and a sultry summer period of hot, sticky temperatures and more rain.

The highest maximum temperature observed in the state is 49.5 °C (121.1 °F) at Birdsville on 24 December 1972. The temperature of 53.1 °C (127.6 °F) at Cloncurry on 16 January 1889 is not considered official; the figure quoted from Birdsville is the next highest, so that record is considered as being official.

The lowest minimum temperature is −10.6 °C (12.9 °F) at Stanthorpe on 23 June 1961 and at The Hermitage on 12 July 1965.

South Australia

The majority of the state has the arid and semi-arid climates. The southern coastal parts of the state have a Mediterranean climate with mild wet winters and hot dry summers. The highest rainfall occurs along the southern coasts and the Mount Lofty Ranges (with an average annual rainfall of 1,200 millimetres (47 in) in the vicinity of Mount Lofty); the lowest rainfall occurs in the Lake Eyre basin where the average annual totals are less than 150 millimetres (6 in) and possibly even 100 millimetres (4 in). Most of the rain in the southern districts of the State fall during the winter months when the sub-tropical high-pressure belt is displaced to the north over the Australian continent.

South Australia's mean temperature range is 29 °C (84 °F) in January and 15 °C (59 °F) in July. Daily temperatures in parts of the state in January and February can be up to 50 °C (122 °F). The highest maximum temperature was recorded as 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) at Oodnadatta on 2 January 1960, which is the highest official temperature recorded in Australia. The lowest minimum temperature was −8.0 °C (17.6 °F) at Yongala on 20 July 1976.

Tasmania

Tasmania has a cool temperate climate, with most areas under an oceanic climate (Cfb), with four distinct seasons. Summer lasts from December to February when the average maximum sea temperature is 21 °C (70 °F) and inland areas around Launceston reach 24 °C (75 °F). Other inland areas are much cooler; Liawenee, located on the Central Plateau, is one of the coldest places in Australia with February temperatures ranging between 4 and 17 °C (39 and 63 °F). Autumn lasts between March and May and experiences changeable weather, where summer weather patterns gradually take on the shape of winter patterns.

The highest recorded maximum temperature in Tasmania was 42.2 °C (108.0 °F) at Scamander on 30 January 2009, during the 2009 south-eastern Australia heat wave. Tasmania's lowest recorded minimum temperature was −14.2 °C (6.4 °F) on 7 August 2020, at Liawenee.

Victoria

Victoria has a varied climate despite its small size. It ranges from semi-arid and hot in the north-west, to temperate and cool along the coast. Victoria's main land feature, the Great Dividing Range, produces a cooler, mountain climate in the centre and east of the state.

The coastal plain south of the Great Dividing Range has Victoria's mildest climate. Regular frontal systems off the Southern Ocean significantly mitigate the heat of summer. Melbourne and other large cities are located in this temperate region.

The Mallee and upper Wimmera are Victoria's warmest regions with hot winds blowing from nearby deserts. Average temperatures top 32 °C (90 °F) during summer and 15 °C (59 °F) in winter. Victoria's highest maximum temperature of 48.8 °C (119.8 °F) was recorded in Hopetoun on 7 February 2009, during the 2009 south-eastern Australia heat wave. A screen temperature of 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) was recorded on 7 January 1906 in Mildura.

The Victorian Alps in the eastern and central regions constitute the coldest climate of Victoria. The Alps are part of the Great Dividing Range extending longitudinally through the centre of Victoria. Average maximum temperatures are less than 9 °C (48 °F) in winter; below 0 °C (32 °F) in the highest parts of the ranges. The state's lowest minimum temperature of −11.7 °C (10.9 °F) was recorded at Omeo on 13 June 1965, and again at Falls Creek on 3 July 1970.

Victoria is the wettest Australian state after Tasmania. Rainfall in Victoria increases from north to south, with higher averages in areas of high altitude. Median annual rainfall exceeds 1,800 mm (71 in) in some parts of the Northeast but is less than 250 mm (10 in) in the Mallee.

Rain is heaviest in the Otway Ranges on the southwest coast and West Gippsland in south-central Victoria, and in the mountainous Northeast. Snow often falls on the low-lying hilly country in the centre of the state, and on rare occasions may also fall to sea level on the southernmost beaches. Rain falls most frequently in winter, but summer rainfall is heavier. Rainfall is most reliable in Gippsland and the Western District, making them both leading farming areas. Victoria's highest recorded daily rainfall was 375 millimetres (14.8 in) at Tanybryn in the Otway Ranges on 22 March 1983.

Western Australia

Most of Western Australia has a hot arid and semi-arid climate. However, the south-west corner of the state has a Mediterranean climate. The area was originally heavily forested, including large stands of the karri, one of the world's tallest trees. This agricultural region of Western Australia is in the top nine terrestrial habitats for terrestrial biodiversity, with a higher proportion of endemic species than most other equivalent regions. Due to the offshore Leeuwin Current, the area numbers in the top six regions for marine biodiversity, containing the most southerly coral reefs in the world.

Average annual rainfall varies from 300 mm (12 in) at the edge of the Wheatbelt region to 1,400 mm (55 in) in the wettest areas near Northcliffe, the southwesternmost tip of Australia, but in the months of November to March, although rain still falls, evaporation exceeds rainfall and it is generally very dry. Plants must be adapted to this as well as the extreme poverty of all soils. A major reduction in rainfall has been observed, with a greater number of rainfall events in the summer months. The central four-fifths of the state is semi-arid or desert and is lightly inhabited with the only significant activity being mining. Annual rainfall averages about 200 to 250 mm (8 to 10 in), most of which occurs in sporadic torrential falls related to cyclone events in summer months.

An exception to this is the northern tropical regions. The Kimberley has an extremely hot monsoonal climate with average annual rainfall ranging from 500 to 1,500 mm (20 to 59 in), but there is a very long dry season of 7 months from April to November. Eighty-five per cent of the state's runoff occurs in the Kimberley, but because it occurs in violent floods and because of the insurmountable poverty of the generally shallow soils, development has only taken place along the Ord River.

Australia's tropical/subtropical location and cold waters off the western coast make most of Western Australia a hot desert with aridity a marked feature of a greater part of the continent. These cold waters produce precious little moisture needed on the mainland. A 2005 study by Australian and American researchers investigated the desertification of the interior, and suggested that one explanation was related to human settlers who arrived about 50,000 years ago.

Snowfall in the state is rare, and typically only in the Stirling Range near Albany, the southwesternmost point in WA, the only mountain range far enough south and with sufficient elevation. More rarely, snow can fall on the nearby Porongurup Range. Snow outside these areas is a major event; it usually occurs in hilly areas of south-western Australia. The most widespread low-level snow occurred on 26 June 1956 when snow was reported in the Perth Hills, as far north as Wongan Hills and as far east as Salmon Gums. However, even in the Stirling Range, snowfalls rarely exceed 5 cm (2 in) and rarely settle for more than one day.

The highest observed maximum temperature of 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) was recorded at Onslow on 13 January 2022. The lowest minimum temperature recorded was −7.2 °C (19.0 °F) at Eyre Bird Observatory on 17 August 2008.

Distant Australian islands

Precipitation

See also: Wet season

Most of Australia gets very little rain each year. Over 80% of the land gets less than 600 mm (24 in) of rain, making it one of the driest continents. Some places, like near Lake Eyre in South Australia, get only about 81 mm (3 in) of rain each year. On the other hand, areas along the far North Queensland coast can get more than 4,000 mm (157 in) of rain, with the highest ever recorded being 12,461 mm (491 in) at Mount Bellenden Ker in the year 2000.

Australia's dry climate is influenced by several factors: cold ocean currents along the west coast, low-lying land, high-pressure weather patterns, and the shape of the land. In the southern parts, winter brings winds and rain from the west, while summers are usually dry and hot. Northern Australia experiences a wet season from October to April, brought by monsoon winds, and sometimes tropical cyclones can add even more rain.

Snow

Main article: Snow in Australia

Snow falls often in the high areas of southeastern Australia, where there are ski fields like Thredbo, Cabramurra, Perisher, Mount Hotham and Mount Buller. Snow can fall above 600 metres (2,000 ft) along the Great Dividing Range, sometimes as far north as Stanthorpe in Queensland. In Tasmania, snow at sea level happens more often. The capital city Canberra sees light snow every few winters, and cities like Orange and Ballarat get snow each year. Snow has been seen in all of Australia's states and territories, but only Canberra, Hobart and Melbourne among the big cities have recorded snow.

Temperatures

The northern part of Australia, known as the tropical savannah zone, stays warm to hot all year long. Most of the country experiences hot summers, with average high temperatures in January often above 30 °C, except in mountainous areas. Winters are warm in the north and cooler in the south, and frost can happen in inland areas south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Only in the highest, cooler areas do winter temperatures feel similar to those in parts of Europe or North America.

Between 1910 and 2004, temperatures in Australia have risen by about 0.7 °C. Nights have been warming up faster than days, and this trend has sped up in recent years. Scientists believe this warming is linked to the increased greenhouse effect. In the tropical regions, the difference between winter and summer temperatures is small. However, in the southern inland areas, the difference is larger, though coastal areas are moderated by the nearby ocean. In July, average high temperatures usually range from around 30 °C near the north coast to below 3 °C in the mountainous south-east areas.

Average low temperatures are highest in northern Australia and near the coast, and lowest in the elevated south-east. The warmest January lows, close to 27 °C, are found near the north-west coast. In winter, some coastal spots in the north and islands like the Torres Strait and Tiwi Islands can have lows above 20 °C. In the mountains of New South Wales, winter lows can drop below −5 °C. In contrast, most inland areas south of the tropics have July lows between 0 and 6 °C.

In the desert areas, the temperature can change a lot between day and night—sometimes by as much as 20 °C. Light frosts occur in winter across much of the southern arid zone, where average July lows are between 3 and 6 °C. Further north, frosts are rare, with July lows around 10 °C.

The hottest places in Australia are found in the Pilbara and Gascoyne regions of north-western Western Australia, and areas stretching from south-western Queensland through South Australia into south-eastern Western Australia. Many places here have recorded temperatures above 48 °C. In January, average highs exceed 35 °C across much of the interior and can be over 40 °C in the north-west. In some years, daily highs in the Pilbara and Gascoyne have stayed above 40 °C for weeks at a time.

Extremes

See also: List of extreme temperatures in Australia and List of weather records

Some of the most intense heatwaves in south-eastern Australia’s history happened in January 1939. Cities like Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney all set record-high temperatures then, though these records were later broken in later years.

Marble Bar experienced 160 straight days with temperatures above 37.8 °C in 1923–24. Nyang holds an Australian record with an average high of 44.8 °C for February 1998 and January 2005. In contrast, the coldest average January highs are near 15 °C on the highest peaks of the south-east and around 20 °C across much of Tasmania. In desert regions during summer, very cool days are rare but can happen after major rain events.

Many places in Australia, except those above 500 metres, have recorded extreme highs between 43 and 48 °C. Most of Tasmania, away from the north coast, has extremes between 35 and 40 °C. The coolest extreme highs are found on the north coast of Tasmania and at high elevations. Although extreme heat is more common inland, notable high temperatures have also been recorded near the coast.

Inland areas south of the tropics often have extreme lows between −3 and −7 °C, and some places near the southern and eastern coasts have also recorded such lows. Many locations have reached −10 °C or lower, including places in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. In the desert, the coldest extremes occur at high elevations, such as around Alice Springs, where temperatures have dropped to −7.5 °C.

In the tropics, temperatures near or below 0 °C have been recorded far from the coast, as far north as Herberton in Queensland. Some tropical coastal locations, like Mackay, Townsville, and Kalumburu in Western Australia, have also recorded temperatures near 0 °C. In contrast, places like Darwin have never gone below 10 °C, and Thursday Island in the Torres Strait has a record low of 16.1 °C.

The coldest maximum temperature ever recorded in Australia was −6.9 °C, at Thredbo Ski Resort in New South Wales on 9 July 1978. The warmest minimum temperature ever recorded was 36.6 °C on 26 January 2019 at Borrona Downs Station near Wanaaring, New South Wales.

A list of extremes can be found in the tables below:

Natural hazards and disasters

Bushfires

Main article: Bushfires in Australia

Australia often has big bushfires, especially in the summer. When it is very hot, dry, and windy, small fires can grow quickly. This happens because the plants become dry and easy to catch fire. Strong winds make the fires spread faster and burn more intensely.

Some of the worst bushfires happened in 2019–2020, called the "Black Summer." It lasted six months and burned a huge area of land. Another bad fire season was in 2009, called Black Saturday, which caused a lot of damage in one state.

Dust storms

See also: 2009 Australian dust storm

Dust storms can happen in dry places when strong winds blow away sand and dust from the ground. These storms can make it hard to see and move sand from one place to another.

Drought

Main article: Drought in Australia

Drought happens when an area gets much less rain than usual for three months or more. Experts decide when an area is in drought by looking at past rainfall records and other factors.

Flooding

Main article: Floods in Australia

Some parts of Australia get a lot of rain, which can cause flooding. This happens especially during certain weather patterns. Big floods can damage homes, roads, and farms. For example, in 2010–2011, heavy rains caused major flooding in parts of the country.

Tornadoes

Main article: List of Australia tornadoes

Tornadoes, also called twisters, sometimes occur in Australia. The country sees about 60 of them each year. They can cause damage by picking up and throwing objects into the air.

Tropical cyclones

Main article: List of Australia tropical cyclones

Australia can also experience tropical cyclones, big storms that happen over the ocean and sometimes move onto land. These storms usually occur between December and April and can bring strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding. They can cause a lot of damage, especially along the coast.

Climate change