Key Factors
- Australia has recorded its hottest-ever winter temperature, with Yampi Sound in Western Australia reaching 41.6C.
- Over the weekend, a number of components of Australia broke temperature data, with some as a lot as 15C above common.
- Local weather scientist Martin Jucker mentioned the unusually heat winter is because of local weather change.
Australia has recorded its hottest-ever winter temperature, with Yampi Sound in distant Western Australia reaching 41.6C on Tuesday, in line with the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
The previous nationwide report of 41.2C was reached at West Roebuck, additionally in Western Australia, on 23 August 2020.
Temperatures world wide have been steadily growing for years, however the final two summers have been notably sizzling, in line with local weather scientist Martin Jucker.
“We nonetheless don’t know why the final two years have been so heat, it has been a sudden leap,” he mentioned.
Jucker, who’s a senior lecturer in atmospheric sciences on the College of New South Wales, says this unusually sizzling winter is because of a worrying pattern: local weather change.
“There’s been a rise in temperatures in Australia — whereas it is simpler to foretell a hotter summer time, the variability of climate means the warmth can have surprising impacts,” he mentioned.
“In the meanwhile there’s a high-pressure system over the Tasman Sea, which implies clear skies and fewer cloud cowl. The times at the moment are lengthening, that means the bottom is uncovered to the solar much more, which might clarify this unusually sizzling winter.”
The typical August temperature has elevated by 1.5 levels since 1910. Supply: SBS Information
‘Undoubtedly alarming’
Local weather scientist Andrew King from the College of Melbourne says the climate has been notably variable in Australia’s inside.
“The spike in temperature is unquestionably alarming. We’re seeing stronger temperature anomalies in the midst of Australia, the place some locations are as much as 10 levels hotter than ordinary,” he mentioned.
“It’s tougher to foretell the climate for our coastal cities, however there does are usually much less variability.”
On Friday, temperatures throughout northern South Australia and southern components of the Northern Territory had been as a lot as 15C above common.
Over the weekend, a number of components of Australia broke temperature data.
Scorching climate has been skilled all through central Australia in August. Supply: SBS Information
BOM meteorologist Angus Hines predicted the recent climate.
“A scorching finish to winter, with widespread warmth across the nation in coming days, together with the prospect of winter data throughout a number of states for max temperature,” he mentioned.
“If you happen to stay north of Sydney or north of Perth, its going to remain pretty heat, we do not anticipate a broad scale stretch of cooler climate.”
