Climate of Australia

The climate of Australia is very dry, making it the second driest continent after Antarctica. Most of the land gets only a little rain each year.

This dryness happens because of a large area of high pressure in the sky. This high pressure changes with the seasons, making summers dry in the south and winters dry in the north. In the north, a weather pattern called the Intertropical Convergence Zone moves south during summer, bringing rainy seasons known as the Australian monsoon to some places.

Australia’s climate changes a lot because the country is very big. Most of the land is desert or dry, but the southeast and southwest have milder climates. The north has a tropical climate with grasslands and deserts. The country also has some of the hottest places and the most sunshine in the world.

States and territories

Australian Capital Territory

Because it is higher up and far south, winters in the Australian Capital Territory are cool to cold. Canberra has warm, dry summers with cool nights and some thunderstorms. Heavy frosts are common and radiation fog often happens. Many of the higher mountains to the west are covered in snow for much of winter and early spring. Severe thunderstorms can happen between October and March. Rain falls most in spring and summer, and least in winter. The area is dry because it lies on the leeward side of the Brindabella Ranges.

The highest temperature ever 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 a dry climate. The eastern part has a milder climate, ranging from humid subtropical near the northern border to the Central Coast and most of Sydney, and cooler near the south coast. The Snowy Mountains region in the south-east has cool to cold weather all year and regular heavy snow in winter and spring. Further inland, the climate is drier and desert climate towards the west.

The weather in the southern half of the state is generally warm to hot in summer and cool in winter. The seasons are more noticeable in the south, especially in the South West Slopes, Central West and the Riverina regions. On the coast, rain usually peaks in summer. Inland, rain usually peaks in spring. On hot summer days, a southerly buster can sometimes cool down the extreme heat along the coast from Port Macquarie south to Nowra.

The warmest place is the Upper Western, where summers are very hot but winters are cooler and dry. The northeast region or the North Coast, near Queensland, is moderately hot and rainy in summer, and mild in winter. The Northern Tablelands have milder summers and colder winters because of their height and inland location on the Great Dividing Range. The southeast coastal plain can have foehn winds, which can raise fire danger.

The coldest place is the Snowy Mountains where snow lasts long into winter. The Blue Mountains, Southern Tablelands and Central Tablelands have mild to warm summers and cold winters. Places in the valleys such as Bathurst, Goulburn, Bowral and Cooma can get near-freezing even in summer.

The highest temperature ever recorded was 50.1 °C (122.2 °F) at Wilcannia on 11 January 1939. The lowest temperature was −23.0 °C (−9.4 °F) at Charlotte Pass on 29 June 1994 in the Snowy Mountains.

Rainfall varies across the state. The far northwest gets the least rain, less than 180 mm (7 in) a year, while the east gets between 600 and 1,200 mm (24 and 47 in).

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has two different climates. The north, including Darwin, has a tropical savannah climate with high humidity and two seasons: wet (October to April) and dry (May to September). In the dry season, days are warm and sunny, with low humidity. There is very little rain from May to September.

The wet season brings tropical cyclones and monsoon rains. Most rain falls between December and March, when thunderstorms are common. On average, over 1,570 mm (62 in) of rain falls in the north. Thunderstorms can create amazing lightning shows.

The rest of the territory, including Alice Springs and Uluru, is dry with little rain usually falling from October to March. Summers are very hot, often above 35 °C (95 °F), and winters are cool with lows sometimes near 5 °C (41 °F). Central Australia gets less than 250 mm (10 in) of rain a year.

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

Queensland

Because Queensland is large, its climate changes a lot. The inland west is dry with hot summers, the far north has a wet season, and the coast has warm subtropical weather. Inland and in southern areas, nights can be cooler.

Queensland has five main climate zones:

• hot humid summer (far north and coast)
• warm humid summer (coastal hinterlands and south-east coast)
• 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)

Most people in Queensland have two seasons: a warm winter with little rain, and a hot, sticky summer with more rain.

The highest temperature ever recorded in the state was 49.5 °C (121.1 °F) at Birdsville on 24 December 1972. The lowest temperature was −10.6 °C (12.9 °F) at Stanthorpe on 23 June 1961 and at The Hermitage on 12 July 1965.

South Australia

Most of South Australia is dry. The southern coast has a Mediterranean climate with mild wet winters and hot dry summers. The highest rain falls along the southern coasts and the Mount Lofty Ranges, while the lowest rain is in the Lake Eyre basin, where yearly totals can be less than 150 mm (6 in).

South Australia’s temperatures range from 29 °C (84 °F) in January to 15 °C (59 °F) in July. Some places can reach 50 °C (122 °F) in January and February. The highest temperature ever recorded in the state was 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) at Oodnadatta on 2 January 1960. The lowest temperature was −8.0 °C (17.6 °F) at Yongala on 20 July 1976.

Tasmania

Tasmania has a cool climate with four seasons. Summer runs from December to February with average sea temperatures around 21 °C (70 °F). Inland areas like Launceston can reach 24 °C (75 °F), but other inland places like Liawenee are much cooler.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Tasmania was 42.2 °C (108.0 °F) at Scamander on 30 January 2009. Tasmania’s lowest temperature was −14.2 °C (6.4 °F) on 7 August 2020 at Liawenee.

Victoria

Victoria has different climates. It is dry and hot in the north-west, and cooler near the coast. The Great Dividing Range creates a cooler mountain climate in the centre and east.

The coast south of the Great Dividing Range has Victoria’s mildest weather. Melbourne and other big cities are in this area.

The Mallee and upper Wimmera are Victoria’s hottest areas, with summer temperatures often above 32 °C (90 °F). Victoria’s highest temperature of 48.8 °C (119.8 °F) was recorded in Hopetoun on 7 February 2009. A screen temperature of 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) was recorded on 7 January 1906 in Mildura.

The Victorian Alps are Victoria’s coldest areas. Winter temperatures are below 9 °C (48 °F), and can drop below 0 °C (32 °F) in the highest parts. Victoria’s lowest temperature of −11.7 °C (10.9 °F) was recorded at Omeo on 13 June 1965 and at Falls Creek on 3 July 1970.

Victoria is one of Australia’s wettest states. Rain increases from north to south, with more rain in higher areas. Rain is heaviest in the Otway Ranges on the southwest coast, West Gippsland in south-central Victoria, and the mountainous Northeast. Rain is most common in winter but summer can have heavier rain. Rain is most reliable in Gippsland and the Western District, making them important for farming.

Western Australia

Most of Western Australia is dry and hot. However, the south-west corner of the state has a Mediterranean climate. This area was once full of trees, including the karri, one of the world’s tallest trees. This area is rich in plants and animals, with many endemic species. Because of the Leeuwin Current, it also has rich marine biodiversity, including some of the world’s most southerly coral reefs.

Rainfall ranges from 300 mm (12 in) at the edge of the Wheatbelt to 1,400 mm (55 in) near Northcliffe. From November to March, rain still falls but evaporation is higher, so it feels very dry. Plants need to adapt to this and poor soils. Most of the central state is dry, with rain usually coming in summer storms related to cyclones.

The Kimberley in the north has a very hot climate with average rain from 500 to 1,500 mm (20 to 59 in), but a long dry season from April to November. Most of the state’s runoff happens here, but it comes in big floods and the soils are poor, so development is limited to the Ord River area.

Australia’s location and cold ocean waters make most of Western Australia a hot desert. Snow is rare and only happens in the Stirling Range near Albany, the southwesternmost point in WA, and sometimes in the Porongurup Range. The most widespread snow was on 26 June 1956, reported in the Perth Hills, as far north as Wongan Hills and as far east as Salmon Gums. Even in the Stirling Range, snow rarely falls more than 5 cm (2 in) and doesn’t stay long.

The highest temperature ever recorded in the state was 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) at Onslow on 13 January 2022. The lowest temperature 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 a lot of rain.

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.

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. In Tasmania, snow 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.

Temperatures

The northern part of Australia, called the tropical savannah zone, stays warm to hot all year. Most of the country has 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.

Temperatures in Australia have been rising. Nights have been warming up faster than days. Scientists believe this warming is linked to the increased greenhouse effect. In the tropical regions, the difference between winter and summer temperatures is small. 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 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. Light frosts occur in winter across much of the southern arid zone. Further north, frosts are rare.

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.

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.

Marble Bar experienced many days with very high temperatures in 1923–24. Nyang has had very high average temperatures in 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 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. 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.

In the tropics, temperatures near or below 0 °C have been recorded far from the coast. Some tropical coastal locations 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 at Thredbo Ski Resort in New South Wales. The warmest minimum temperature ever recorded was 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 summer. When it is very hot, dry, and windy, small fires can grow quickly. This happens because the plants become dry and catch fire easily. Strong winds make the fires spread faster.

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

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.

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

Climate change affects weather patterns around the world, including Australia. As the planet warms, Australia experiences changes in temperature and rainfall. Some areas become hotter and drier, while others may see more heavy rains.

These changes can impact plants, animals, and people. It’s important for everyone to help protect the environment and adapt to these changes.