Warm weather is set to continue throughout May after temperature records tumbled in a sweltering April.
Meteorologists are forecasting another month of above average temperatures for the majority of Australia, despite edging closer to winter.
There is more than a 70 per cent chance of unseasonably warm weather across southern parts of the nation, while the likelihood is greater across the east coast and Australia’s north.
The hot weather forecast comes after Australians endured scorching April days, including the hottest on record.
Meteorologists are forecasting another month of above average temperatures for the majority of Australia, despite edging closer to winter
There is more than a 70 per cent chance of unseasonably warm weather across southern parts of the nation, while the likelihood is greater across the east coast and Australia’s north
The hot weather forecast comes after Australians endured scorching April days, including the hottest on record
April 9 was the hottest April day in Australia since weather records began, with the average temperature reaching 35C
‘Autumn in the south felt more like summer,’ Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) climatologist Felicity Gamble told News.com.au.
‘The prolonged heatwave in early April was exceptional. New April temperature records were set in many parts of the country, over several days.’
April 9 was the hottest April day in Australia since weather records began, with the average temperature reaching 35C.
The maximum temperatures in early April were 8C above average nationwide, while they were 12C higher in parts of Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
Now the warm weather is expected to extend into May, before above average temperatures become unlikely in June, except for a portion of Australia’s south-east.
Maximum temperatures in early April were 8C above average nationwide, while they were 12C higher in parts of Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia
Now the warm weather is expected to extend into May, before above average temperatures become unlikely in June
Below average rainfall is expected between May and July for parts of south-west Australia and western Victoria
BOM said in its climate outlook, released on Thursday, that below average rainfall is also expected between May and July for parts of south-west Australia and western Victoria.
Ms Gamble added: ‘The north is likely to be wetter than average, but it’s the start of the dry season, so it won’t be as wet as recent months.’
However the majority of the country is expected to receive average rainfall with neither El Niño nor La Niña in effect.
‘But for much of the country there is little shift towards a wetter or drier than average period,’ BOM said in the outlook.