Australia has recorded its second-hottest September since national records began, with unusually warm temperatures affecting large parts of the country.
Data from the Bureau of Meteorology showed that Australia’s average temperature in September was 2.71 degrees Celsius above the 1961 to 1990 average. Night-time temperatures were also the highest recorded for September since records began in 1910.
The unusual warmth was particularly noticeable in Australia’s alpine regions. Snow depth at Spencers Creek in Kosciuszko National Park fell to zero during September, the first time that has happened during the month since monitoring began in 1954.
The warm conditions followed an unusually mild winter, which forced some ski resorts to close earlier than normal and affected businesses that depend on the winter tourism season.
New South Wales recorded particularly strong heat, with 45 locations experiencing their warmest September on record. The state also had its fourth-driest September, while Victoria recorded its sixth-driest September.
Western Australia was the major exception to the dry conditions. The state experienced its second-wettest September on record and its wettest September since 1904.
Climate scientists say both long-term global warming and the developing El Niño weather pattern contributed to the unusual conditions.
The Bureau of Meteorology said persistent high-pressure systems over south-eastern Australia helped produce warm and dry weather during the month.
The figures provide another indication of how Australia’s seasons are changing. Scientists have increasingly pointed to warmer winters and earlier springs as part of a broader shift in Australia’s climate.
With summer approaching, the combination of elevated temperatures and changing rainfall patterns is likely to remain a major focus for weather agencies, farmers and communities across the country.
