2023 confirmed as Earth’s warmest year on record
New data released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service has confirmed that 2023 was Earth’s warmest year on record, with an annual mean temperature close to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels. According to the highly-regarded ERA5 dataset, Earth’s global...
Four weeks above 43ºC in Marble Bar
Marble Bar is on track to register four straight weeks of daily temperatures above 43ºC, possibly setting a new extreme heat record in a town already world famous for its relentless summer temperatures. Marble Bar made international headlines in...
Could we see a tropical cyclone this week?
Australia’s northern tropics are awakening, with growing potential for tropical cyclone development later this week. The image below shows the cloud and thunderstorms impacting northern Australia on Wednesday morning. Image: Himawarri-9 satellite image at 11:20am on Wednesday,...
La Nina more likely than El Nino or neutral conditions by spring this year
It was only last year that we came out of a 3-year La Niña but there is a significant chance that the Pacific Ocean returns to a La Niña state by spring this year, increasing the chances of wet...
Monsoon arriving over northern Aus this week
The Northern Australian Monsoon will arrive over the tropics this week, bringing a possible tropical cyclone, wind, rain, storms, and welcome relief from the oppressive tropical heat and humidity of the last few weeks. Image: Cloudbands and thunderstorms building around...
Extreme fire danger and heatwave warnings in WA
Scorching heat is set to impact WA this week, with extreme heatwave and fire weather warnings in place for several districts in the state. The satellite image below shows clear skies over most of WA on Monday morning,...
Record rain causes major flooding in Victoria
A band of heavy rain and thunderstorms being fuelled by tropical moisture has caused record-breaking rain and flooding in parts of Victoria. A broad low pressure trough drawing moisture-laden air towards an upper-level low pressure system has produced widespread...
Australia’s 5th warmest year on record based on daytime heat
Australia’s mean maximum temperature in 2023 was 1.34ºC warmer than the 30-year period ending in 1990, making it the country’s 5th warmest year on record. The combined warming effects of El Niño, a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and...
