Australia's warmest 12-month period on record

03/09/2013

In a climate update issued today, the Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed that Australia has recorded its warmest 12-month period on record.

The average temperature across Australia for the period 1 September 2012 to
31 August 2013 was 22.92 °C. This is 1.11 °C above the 1961-1990 average, surpassing the previous record of +1.08 °C that occurred between February 2005 and January 2006.

Temperatures for the calendar year to date (January to August) are also the warmest on record, at 1.13 °C above the long-term average, exceeding the figure set in August 2005, which was Australia’s warmest calendar year on record.

The record 12-month period has been characterised by widespread heat across Australia. The average temperature has been above average over the entire continent, with no region registering below-average temperatures.

For further information go to Climate change and variability.