Brief summary of Australia's climate in 2022: warmer and wetter than average overall

06/01/2023

Issued: Friday, 06 January 2023

The Bureau has published climate data for the full 2022 calendar year, along with a summary of the key statistics which is now available on our website.

The data shows 2022 was wetter and warmer than average for Australia overall.

National mean temperature was 0.50°C warmer than the 1961–1990 average, making 2022 the equal 22nd warmest year on record since national temperature records began in 1910.

National rainfall was 25% above the 1961–1990 annual average making 2022 the ninth-wettest year on record.

Rainfall was very much above average for the south-eastern quarter of the mainland, where persistent rain saw significant flooding affecting large areas, multiple times during the year.

Rainfall was below average for western Tasmania, much of the north of the Northern Territory, and the far south-west of Western Australia.

Water storage levels have been high across much of Australia during 2022, although some storages were still low for parts of central coast Queensland, western Tasmania, south-east New South Wales and western Victoria.

Annual maximum temperatures were above average for most of northern Australia, Tasmania and parts of the west coast but below average for New South Wales, southern Queensland and parts of South Australia.

Annual minimum temperatures were above or very much above average for most of Australia.

The year was characterised by wetter than average conditions across much of eastern Australia. Climatologically, these conditions were consistent with the wet phase of natural climate variability for our region – namely a La Niña, a negative Indian Ocean Dipole in winter and spring, and a persistently positive phase of the Southern Annular Mode from mid-autumn.

The 2022–23 La Niña has been the third in a row. It is only the fourth time three successive La Niña events in a row have been observed in the Bureau record since 1900 (with the others being 1954–57, 1973–76, and 1998–2001).

State of the Climate 2022 found Australia is experiencing climate change now, with impacts being felt by many communities and industry sectors.

The Bureau will release its full Annual Climate Statement for 2022 in February 2023. This report will offer a full analysis and report on the year's rainfall, temperature, water storages, climate influences and more in relation to long-term climate trends.

Stay up to date with latest climate information as it happens, with our weekly, monthly and seasonal climate long-range forecasts, on our website: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/

Keep up to date with the latest forecasts available on the Bureau’s website at www.bom.gov.au and from the BOM Weather app.

State and territory information:

New South Wales (and the ACT)

NSW overall had 860.24 mm rainfall in 2022, as an area average across the state, which is 54.7% above average.

It was the second-wettest year on record for NSW, after 1950 where there was 915.61 mm rainfall.

The average temperature was 0.13°C warmer than the 1961–1990 average, while also being the coolest year for NSW overall since 1996.

Victoria

Victoria overall had 872.70 mm rainfall in 2022, as an area average across the state, which is 31.6% above average.

It was the fifth-wettest year on record and the state's highest rainfall since 1974.

The average temperature was 0.45°C warmer than the 1961–1990 average for Vic.

Queensland

Queensland overall had 774.27 mm rainfall in 2022, as an area average across the state, which is 24.4% above average and the state's highest rainfall since 2011.

The average temperature was 0.74°C warmer than the 1961–1990 annual average, while also being the coolest year for Qld overall since 2012.

South Australia

South Australia overall had 310.45 mm rainfall in 2022, as an area average across the state, which is 38.7% above average and the state's highest rainfall since 2016.

The average temperature was 0.15°C warmer than the 1961–1990 annual average, while also being the coolest year for SA overall since 2010.

Tasmania

Tasmania overall had 1,318.75 mm rainfall in 2022, as an area average across the state, which is 2.9% below average.

2022 was Tasmania's equal-tenth warmest year on record (equal with 2005).

The average temperature was 0.57°C warmer than the 1961–1990 annual average, while also being the warmest year for Tas overall since 2018.

Western Australia

Western Australia overall had 413.52 mm of rainfall in 2022, as an area average across the state, which is 21% above average and the state's highest rainfall since 2017.

The average temperature was 0.49°C warmer than the 1961–1990 average for WA.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory overall had 595.31 mm of rainfall in 2022, as an area average across the Territory, which is 9.2% above average.

The average temperature was 0.69°C warmer than the 1961–1990 average for the NT.