September 21, 2017
Australia has just endured its warmest winter on record for average maximum temperatures, according to a report released this week by the Climate Council.
The independent group – which lobbies on climate change issues – said more than 260 heat and low rainfall records were also broken throughout the season.
Ecologist Prof Lesley Hughes said Australia’s hottest winter in history was related to worsening climate change.
“Without any meaningful action to tackle climate change, we will continue to see many more hot winters, just like this, as global temperatures rise,” she said.
Other key findings from the Climate Council report include:
- Australia experienced its second driest June on record and the driest winter since 2002
- Australia’s average winter temperatures have increased by around 1 degree Celsius since 1910
- Winter warm spells are lasting longer, occurring more often and becoming more intense
The report also highlighted that the hot and dry winter has led to an even earlier start to the bushfire season.
- Download the Climate Council’s report: Hot & Dry: Australia’s Weird Winter (1.26Mb PDF)
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The South Burnett’s winter weather this year backs up the Climate Council’s findings.
The Weather Bureau reports the long-term mean maximum daily temperatures for Kingaroy in June, July and August are 18.9, 18.1 and 20.1 degrees respectively.
This year, though, they were 21.1, 21.4 and 23.5 degrees – almost 3 degrees higher.
Rainfall was also below the long-term average of 110.6 mm during the winter months.
This year the South Burnett received just 62.2 mm from June 1 to August 31, slightly more than half our normal winter rainfall.
