Weather News

Hot and dry winter for Northern Australia

Hannah Wilson, Saturday August 3, 2019 - 15:11 AEST

Above average temperatures and rain deficits are continuing to break records across Australia's north.

2019 has already seen multiple records fall for Northern Australia in terms of both temperature and rainfall with the Top End recording its hottest wet season ever, as well its driest wet season since 1992. Just this last month Western Australia felt its warmest July ever on record with mean maximum temperatures 2.54 degrees above their usual average. The Northern Territory also recorded its fourth warmest July and for Queensland their sixth warmest.

Rainfall levels were also below average with many southern areas of the Northern Territory recording no rain for the month, and so the territory as a whole, experiencing their lowest July rainfall since 2007. Rainfall totals were also over 60% below average for Western Australia throughout July.

While it is normal for these northernmost regions to have their bushfire seasons at this time of the year, during the winter months, the accumulation of the above average temperatures and below average rainfall are only exacerbating fire conditions.

There are currently Severe Fire Danger Warnings in place for the Darwin and Adelaide River fire forecast areas of the Northern Territory as well as the West Pilbara Coast of Western Australia. These conditions are due to a strong high-pressure system extending a ridge over northern and western Australia, which is directing dry and relatively strong winds over the region.

To keep up with the latest warning information please visit:

https://www.weatherzone.com.au/warnings.jsp

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2019

Enter a postcode or town name for local weather, or text to search the site. » advanced search

Weather News

» all stories

Satellites capture huge dust storm crossing Mediterranean Sea

14:32 AEST Images captured from satellites have revealed the colossal scale of a dust storm that turned the sky orange in parts of Greece earlier this week.