THE NATIONAL PICTURE:
THE SUMMER THAT WAS:
- Australia's 2019/20 summer expected to be among the three warmest on record
- Day and night-time temperatures warmer than average across most of country
- Drier than average for Australia as a whole, but particularly dry in western NSW, southwest Queensland and the Top End
- Wetter than average along coastal areas of NSW and large parts of inland WA
THE AUTUMN AHEAD:
- Day and night-time temperatures likely to be above average for most of Australia
- Neutral rainfall outlook for most of country
- March might be wetter than average in the south and drier than average in northern parts
A STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN:
NSW/ACT
THE SUMMER THAT WAS:
- Rainfall far below average in much of far western NSW but above average in coastal regions
- Temperatures far above average over most of NSW & ACT
- Mean top temperatures for NSW & ACT the warmest on record in December - 4.31C above the long-term average
THE AUTUMN AHEAD:
- Day and night-time temperatures likely to be above average for most areas
- There's no strong push towards wetter or drier than average conditions for most areas, but parts of western NSW have a slight chance of wetter than average conditions
VICTORIA:
THE SUMMER THAT WAS:
- Warmer than average days across much of the state, but days close to average in southern areas
- Night-time temperatures above average across most of the state
- Rainfall above average in the southeast but below average in parts of the north, far east
THE AUTUMN AHEAD::
- Night-time temperatures likely to be warmer than average across the state but days expected to be average
- Rainfall likely to be above average in the west
QUEENSLAND
THE SUMMER THAT WAS:
- Summer likely to be second-warmest on record for Queensland
- Rainfall below average for the state as a whole, but wetter than average for parts of the southeast and central interior
THE AUTUMN AHEAD:
- Day and night-time temperatures likely to be above average for most areas
- Parts of northern Queensland likely to be drier than average
TASMANIA
THE SUMMER THAT WAS:
- Warmer than average summer overall
- Below average rain for most of the state, especially the southeast
THE AUTUMN AHEAD:
- Day and night-time temperatures likely to be above average across the state
- No strong push towards wetter or drier than average conditions for most areas
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
THE SUMMER THAT WAS:
- Warmest December on record and a warmer than average January
- Driest December since 1972 and a drier than average January
- Summer was warmer and drier than average despite cool, wet February
THE AUTUMN AHEAD:
- Day and night-time temperatures likely to be above average for most of the state
- Rainfall likely to be above average in southern parts, particularly in March
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
THE SUMMER THAT WAS::
- Likely to be among three warmest summers on record
- Wetter than average summer for large parts of the state including the Pilbara, east Gascoyne, and interior due to cyclones Blake and Damien
THE AUTUMN AHEAD:
- Night-time temperatures likely to be above average across the state
- A high chance of warmer than average day time temperatures in the north
- Wetter than average conditions expected in southern parts, and drier than average conditions in the north
NORTHERN TERRITORY
THE SUMMER THAT WAS:
- Likely to be among the three warmest summer periods on record
- Warmer than average days and nights for the entire territory
- Below average rainfall for parts of the Top End and southwest NT, but Cyclone Esther pushed rainfall above average in areas west of southern Gulf Coast
THE AUTUMN AHEAD:
- Day and night-time temperatures likely to be above average for most areas
- Many parts likely to be drier than average.
SOURCE: Bureau of Meteorology
Australian Associated Press
