Abnormal Autumn report
June 1, 2016
Australia has just endured its hottest autumn on record according to a new report from the Climate Council.
Australia experienced its warmest March, second-warmest April and second-warmest May on record.
The Abnormal Autumn report noted that abnormally high ocean temperatures caused catastrophic bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef and a crisis for the Tasmanian aquaculture industry.
The report also found:
- Autumn 2016 was Australia’s warmest on record: the mean temperature was 1.86 °C above average.
- Mean temperatures in May were highest on record for the Top End, through northern and western Queensland, and in parts of the Queensland and NSW coasts.
- On the May 17, only two weeks from the start of winter, inner-Sydney temperatures reached 28.2°C, warmer than the average maximum temperature for January.
- Nearly every day in April was above average in Sydney, Darwin, Canberra and Brisbane.
- Queenslanders sweltered through their warmest ever April.
“Many Australians have forgotten what a normal autumn feels like. And while balmy nights and beach days during May might seem nice, they’re actually a symptom of a climate that is spiralling out of control,” Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said.
“Normally when records are broken, they’re only broken by a very small amount. But what we’re seeing now is records being set by enormous amounts, month after month.”
Ms McKenzie said Australia’s abnormal autumn temperatures were mirrored by record-breaking global temperatures.
“Overall, thirteen of the fifteen highest departures from average monthly temperature have occurred since the beginning of 2015,” she said.
- External link: Abnormal Autumn report
