Australia Experiences Record-Breaking Warmth

Australia has experienced its warmest spring and summer on record, with national mean temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels by more than 2 degrees Celsius. This warmth extended to the country's waters, which were also the warmest on record for summer.

While temperatures were consistently high, rainfall varied significantly across the country, ranging from record-breaking highs in some areas to severe deficits in others.

The trend of abnormal heat and variable rainfall is likely to continue into autumn, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting one of the warmest autumns on record.

Climate change is the main driver of these anomalies, whether through the direct impact of a warmer atmosphere or the indirect influence of record warm seas.

As we move into autumn, the combination of climate change and warm waters is again favoring well above average temperatures. This could make it one of Australia's top three warmest autumns on record.

The rainfall outlook for autumn is less certain, with a close to even chance of above or below average falls for most of the country. However, a dry signal is present over tropical Queensland.