Summer may be finally over but Australians have been warned that the end of the hot weather is nowhere in sight and will continue through autumn.
Daytime and overnight temperatures for autumn are expected to stay above average – particularly in Queensland and Tasmania, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warned on Wednesday.
The uncomfortable conditions will follow on from a scorching summer, which was one of the hottest on record for Australia’s east.
Daytime and overnight temperatures for autumn are expected to stay above average, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warned on Wednesday
Queensland and Tasmania have the highest chances of above average autumn temperatures
The uncomfortable conditions will follow on from a scorching summer, which was one of the hottest on record for Australia’s east
BOM senior climatologist Dr Andrew Watkins said the exceptionally hot summer was also drier than normal in the eastern states.
‘Summer in the eastern two-thirds of the country was much warmer than average,’ he told news.com.au.
‘The average temperature across the whole of Queensland exceeded 40C on two consecutive days in February, with the state average of 40.5C on the 12th being Queensland’s hottest ever February day.’
Now the dry weather is expected to carry into March for northern Queensland and most of the nation’s interior.
However, there is a chance of a wetter than average March for eastern Australia and Tasmania.
Parts of Queensland already received up to 300 millimetres of rain last weekend, while Brisbane had its wettest February day in 46 years.
There is a chance of a wetter than average March for parts of eastern Australia and Tasmania
Parts of Queensland already received up to 300 millimetres of rain last weekend, while Brisbane had its wettest February day in 46 years (pictured is Gold Coast Airport)
Dr Watkins said a weak La Niña pattern remains in the tropical Pacific, but will continue to decline and end in autumn.
‘This La Niña has only had a weak influence on Australian climate, particularly when compared to the last La Niña in 2010-12 when Australia experienced its wettest two years on record,’ he said.
‘Historically, autumns following the end of weak La Niña events have been drier than average, however record-high water temperatures in the Tasman Sea may increase rainfall from any east coast lows that form later in the autumn and winter.’
Meanwhile, Sydney weather records tumbled on Wednesday, as parts of the city suffered their hottest final day of summer in more than 20 years.
Temperatures soared past 35C in western Sydney, including in Penrith which had its hottest last day of summer since records began in 1995.
BOM senior climatologist Dr Andrew Watkins said the exceptionally hot summer was also drier than normal in the eastern states
Sydney weather records tumbled on Wednesday, as parts of the city suffered their hottest final day of summer in more than 20 years