Climate
Australia is such a vast country (a continent, in fact!) and therefore it has a wide range of environments and climates. There are mountains, deserts, rainforests, beaches, lakes and bush land and each of these areas has their own unique climate. So the question, ‘What’s the weather like in Australia?’ is a fairly useless one. Instead, it’s better to ask, ‘What’s the weather like in Melbourne?’ or ‘what’s the weather like in Brisbane?’ because these are individual places with their own (more or less) predictable weather patterns. Since Australia is in the southern hemisphere its seasons are reversed from all countries in the northern hemisphere including Europe, Asia and North America. Summer is from December to February, autumn from March to May, winter from June to August and spring from September to November.
States
New South Wales
In general, New South Wales is relatively free from the extreme weather seen in other parts of Australia. The coastal area experiences an almost Mediterranean climate: it’s temperate and can be humid, particularly in the summertime. The deserts of New South Wales have hotter days and cooler nights than the rest of the state. The north-west part of New South Wales experiences the hottest temperatures. In Bourke, a shade temperature of 51°C has been recorded. The Snowy Mountains are the coldest part of New South Wales and usually experience frost and snowfall in the winter.
Queensland
Queensland’s slogan is ‘beautiful one day, perfect the next’. It’s known in Australia as the Sunshine State and it’s easy to understand why. Queensland has a beautiful climate, with hot and slightly humid days. The average temperature in summer is 30°C. In winter, most of Queensland stays fairly warm. In Brisbane, Queensland’s capital city, the average temperature in winter is about 15°C. Further inland, the climate is more varied, with hotter days and cooler nights, but the climate is still very pleasant. Queensland has two main seasons: the winter season, which is mild with minimal rainfall; and the summer season, which is much hotter but also experiences more rain.
Victoria
Victoria is the southernmost state on Australia’s mainland and so it’s marginally cooler than the rest of Australia. The hottest areas of Victoria are in the northwest, which is semi-arid and warm due to winds that blow in from nearby deserts. The Great Dividing Range, a mountainous region in the middle of Victoria, has a cooler mountain climate than the rest of the state. The coastal area of Victoria, in the south, has a mild climate: not too hot in summer and not too cold in winter. After Tasmania, Victoria is the wettest state in Australia.
South Australia
Like most of the country, South Australia experiences a lot of variation in climate. For the most part, its interior has a desert-like climate, with mostly hot and dry weather. In the summer, inland temperatures can reach 40°C or over, with little to no rainfall. Coober Pedy, located in the South Australian Outback, has such high temperatures in the summer months (often over 40°C) that many residents choose to live in caves underground, as they stay much cooler than houses above ground.
The Mount Lofty Ranges in the south are much milder in terms of heat, and experience much more rainfall. The coast of South Australia has a temperate, almost Mediterranean climate, with warm dry days in summer and cool windy days in winter.
Western Australia
Western Australia is the biggest state, and as such it experiences a wide range of weather. The north of Western Australia has an almost tropical climate. April to September are sunny and dry with hot days and mild evenings; but October to March is the wet season, characterized by humidity, thunderstorms and very heavy rains. The central part of Western Australia is mostly desert land, and the weather there is just what you would expect in the desert: hot days, cold nights and almost no rainfall. Probably the most agreeable weather in Western Australia can be found in the south of the state, which has a pleasantly warm climate. Summer days are usually very hot but with little humidity. Breezes coming in from the sea make the afternoons in the south much cooler. Perth, the capital of Western Australia, lies in the south.
Northern Territory
Like Western Australia, the climate of the Northern Territory can be divided into zones. The north is decidedly tropical, while the south part of the state (and the central part of Australia) is desert land. In the north, where Darwin (the capital of the Northern Territory) is located, there are two seasons: wet (summer to autumn) and dry (winter to spring). This area is generally very humid, and rainfall in the wet season can be torrential. The southern part of the Northern Territory, however, is basically a desert. Alice Springs, one of the hottest towns in Australia, is located in the Northern Territory.
Tasmania
Unlike the rest of Australia, Tasmania has little variation in climate, due in part to the fact that it’s much smaller than any other state, and because (as an island) it is surrounded by the sea. The climate is usually referred to as ‘temperate maritime’. The west coast tends to get slightly more rain than the east coast due to the west-east weather pattern. It tends to rain throughout the year, although summer is warmer and less rainy than winter, which experiences both storms and snow, particularly on the mountain peaks.
Facts, Statistics and Records
Temperatures
The lowest temperature ever recorded in Australia was at Charlotte’s Pass, a ski resort located in New South Wales. On the 29th of June in 1994, a temperature of -23.0°C (-9.4°F) was recorded.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Australia was 53.1°C (127.6°F), at Cloncurry in Queensland, on the 16th of January in 1889.
Average temperatures (Celsius) in the capital cities are as follows:
| SPRING (Sep-Nov) |
SUMMER (Dec-Feb) |
AUTUMN (Mar-May) |
WINTER (Jun-Aug) |
|||||
|
Min
|
Max
|
Min
|
Max
|
Min
|
Max
|
Min
|
Max
|
|
|
Sydney
|
13
|
22
|
18
|
26
|
15
|
22
|
9
|
17
|
|
Canberra
|
6
|
19
|
13
|
28
|
7
|
20
|
1
|
12
|
|
Melbourne
|
9
|
20
|
14
|
26
|
11
|
20
|
7
|
14
|
|
Hobart
|
8
|
17
|
12
|
22
|
9
|
17
|
5
|
12
|
|
Adelaide
|
11
|
21
|
16
|
28
|
12
|
22
|
7
|
15
|
|
Perth
|
12
|
22
|
18
|
30
|
14
|
25
|
9
|
18
|
|
Darwin
|
25
|
34
|
25
|
32
|
24
|
33
|
21
|
31
|
|
Brisbane
|
16
|
26
|
21 | 29 | 16 | 26 | 10 | 21 |
Rainfall
Australia is one of the driest places on earth (only Antarctica is drier!). The driest place in Australia is Mulka Bore. Mulka Bore is west of Lake Eyre, in South Australia, and has an average rainfall (annually) of just 100 millimetres.
The rainiest place in Australia, on the other hand, is Tully, in North Queensland. The average annual rainfall in Tully is 4,204 millimetres.
Average annual rainfalls (mm/month) for the state capitals are as follows:
SPRING (Sep-Nov) |
SUMMER (Dec-Feb) |
AUTUMN (Mar-May) |
WINTER (Jun-Aug) |
|
| Sydney | 77 |
70 |
128 |
104 |
| Canberra | 63 |
56 |
53 |
124 |
| Melbourne | 62 |
52 |
56 |
50 |
| Hobart | 57 |
49 |
49 |
54 |
| Adelaide | 35 |
6 |
20 |
17 |
| Perth | 52 |
12 |
63 |
163 |
| Darwin | 63 |
322 |
125 |
2 |
| Brisbane | 73 |
151 |
103 |
57 |
Winds
The strongest wind ever recorded in Australia was during Cyclone Trixie, on the 19th of February, 1975. In Mardie, in Western Australia, winds blew at speeds of up to 259km/h (162mph). It’s possible that the winds were even stronger during Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin in the Northern Territory on the 24th of December, 1974, but the instrument used to measure wind speeds broke after it recorded a speed of 217km/p (136mph).
Sunshine
Darwin, in Australia’s Northern Territory, is the sunniest city in Australia. It receives, on average, 8.5 hours of sun a day. Melbourne, in Victoria, is the least sunny city in Australia. It receives, on average, 5.7 hours of sun a day.
Severe Weather
Although Australia’s climate is generally very pleasant, there are a few danger zones linked with the weather. One of these dangers is tropical cyclones, which can form on the coast of Australia (typically in the Northern Territory and northern Queensland) and may also cause flooding. Another danger is bushfires, which affect inland areas. Drought is yet another problem brought on by weather, although this tends to affect long-term residents in rural areas as opposed to travellers. The best way to protect yourself from severe weather is to listen for weather warnings, which are broadcast on television and radio stations.
Tropical Cyclones
The tropical areas of Australia, such as northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and the northern coast of Western Australia, are sometimes affected by cyclones, which form as a result of warm sea temperatures. The tropical cyclone season extends from November to April. In the event of a cyclone, warnings are broadcast on television and radio stations. These warnings have information about the severity of the cyclone and may also include advice about what to do if you are in an affected area.
If you are in an affected area when a cyclone strikes, the safest option is to evacuate. If you cannot evacuate for any reason, disconnect all electrical appliances and find shelter in the strongest part of the building, such as in the cellar, hallway or bathroom. If you can, try to protect yourself with a mattress or blankets underneath a table or a bench. Local radio stations will be issuing updates and warnings, so if you can, try to listen to the radio. Do not go outside until you hear an official ‘all clear’ on a radio.
Floods
Floods may occur as a result of tropical cyclones, extremely heavy rain or when rivers overflow. As with other severe weather conditions, warnings are issued over radio and television if there is any danger of a flood, and again, early evacuation is the safest option.
If you are caught in a flood, you should stay tuned to the local radio for warnings and updates on information. Flood water can be polluted so it’s important to remember to stay out of it as much as you can. If you need to go in the water, always wear shoes, check the depth of the water, and never enter water which is higher than knee-deep.
After a flood, the main danger is the flood water, which is polluted and unsafe for consumption. Never eat anything that has been in flood waters, and boil all tap water before drinking it to ensure your safety.
Bushfires
Bushfires usually occur during summer and autumn in the southern areas of Australia, and in the winter (the dry season) in the north of Australia. The frequency of bushfires may be higher during a drought. Bushfires can be extremely dangerous as they move quickly and may be difficult to control. Bushfires can cause damage to property, but if the correct procedures are followed, it’s possible to protect yourself from any danger. If you see a bushfire approaching or hear a warning on television or radio, evacuating the area is the safest way to stay out of danger.
If you are caught in a fire and you are:
Driving – stay in the car as this will protect you from the worst of the heat. Never drive through fire or thick smoke. Stop the car in an area of low vegetation, and leave the engine running and the hazard lights and headlights on. Unless you are near a safe shelter, stay in the car with the windows and doors closed and lie under the window level until the fire has passed.
On foot – don’t panic. Cover any skin or hair that is exposed. Move away from the fire and try to find open or already burnt ground. You should never try to outrun the fire or go uphill or through low flames. If you cannot avoid the fire, lie face down underneath a bank, loose earth or in a hollow. If you can, get into a stream or a dam, but never a metal water tank.
Drought
‘Drought’ refers to a prolonged period of time in which there is not enough water for everyday requirements. Although it is a serious weather condition, drought poses less immediate danger than the other severe weather events mentioned above. The effects of drought may include a downturn in the agriculture industry, and in extreme circumstances a decrease in water quality. As a response to drought, water restrictions are often put in place. In order to avoid wasting the little water that Australia has, it’s important to remember to do little things such as turning the tap off while you brush your teeth or refraining from taking overly long showers.
Emergency Numbers
The main emergency phone number in Australia is 000. This will connect you to fire stations, ambulances and police officers. This is the national emergency number for all services. There are other numbers for various services in different areas, but if you are in an emergency and you are unsure, 000 is the best number to call.
Western Australia
Tropical Cyclone Information: 1300 659 210
Land Weather and Flood Warnings: 1300 659 213
Coastal Marine Warnings: 1300 659 223
Northern Territory
Tropical Cyclone Information: 1300 659 211
Coastal and Land Weather Warnings: 1300 659 214
South Australia
Coastal, Land Weather and Flood Warnings: 1300 659 215
Queensland
Tropical Cyclone Warnings: 1300 659 212
Land Weather and Flood Warnings: 1300 659 219
Coastal Marine Warnings: 1300 360 427
New South Wales
Coastal, Land Weather and Flood Warnings: 1300 659 218
Australian Capital Territory
Coastal, Land Weather and Flood Warnings: 1300 659 218
Victoria
Coastal, Land Weather and Flood Warnings: 1300 659 217
Tasmania
Coastal, Land Weather and Flood Warnings: 1300 659 217