Australia is the driest of all inhabited continents, with considerable rainfall and temperature variability both across the country and from year to year. Australia has a wide range of daily temperatures, with summer temperatures ranging from of 5.7°C in New South Wales to 30.8°C in Queensland, and to 8°C in Tasmania.
Australia is a huge area, and it has seven distinct climate regions: equatorial, tropical savanna, humid subtropical, Mediterranean, hot desert, semiarid and oceanic climates. The very center of Australia is extremely hot and dry with a desert climate.
There are four seasons across most of Australia, with the tropical north experiencing a wet and dry season. Summer runs from December to March (average temperature 29 °C), autumn from March to May, winter runs from June to August (average 13 °C) and spring from September to November.
Climate Zones in Australia
The continent of Australia can be divided into three main climate zones – arid (hot and dry), tropical (hot and wet) and temperate (cool). The arid zone covers 70% of the continent. This land is classified as arid or semi-arid. The tropical zone is located in the far north of the continent.
The reason we have so many different environments is that Australia covers a large range of climate zones. These are regions of the world that experience similar temperature and rainfall. The location of climate zones is largely determined by the sun.
The southern coast, which includes Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, has the best climate by far, with mild winters (June to August) between 41°F and 50°F (5°C and 10°C) and warm summers (December to February) between 77°F and 86°F (25°C and 30°C).
Australia's climate varies greatly throughout the eight states and territories; there are four seasons across most of the country and a wet and dry season in the tropical north. Australia's seasons are at opposite times to those in the northern hemisphere.
Why is central Australia so hot in the first place? The outback gets so hot and dry because a high pressure ridge sits over it most of the time. This high pressure ridge is the result of the relationship between the earth and the sun.
Is Australia hotter than India? India is closer to the equator as compared to Australia, and is therefore expected to be hotter. The average temperature in most of the interior regions of India is 90–104 °F. Whereas in Australia the average temperature in summer is 86 °F.
Due to the huge size of the country, Australia has serveral different climate zones. The northern section of Australia has a more tropical influenced climate, hot and humid in the summer, and quite warm and dry in the winter, while the southern parts are cooler with mild summers and cool, sometimes rainy winters.
Seasons Change
Instead of winter, the researchers believe Australians will experience spring, autumn, and a longer season they're calling "new summer." During this new season, temperatures will consistently peak above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for sustained periods of time, based on predictions.
Australia's weather and climate continues to change in response to a warming global climate. Australia has warmed by just over 1 °C since 1910, with most warming since 1950.
Climate Zones in Australia
The continent of Australia can be divided into three main climate zones – arid (hot and dry), tropical (hot and wet) and temperate (cool). The arid zone covers 70% of the continent. This land is classified as arid or semi-arid. The tropical zone is located in the far north of the continent.
Australia is a land of extremes with temperatures ranging from highs of 40°C in the central desert regions to below freezing in the higher regions of the country's southeast. Sometimes these extremes can be experienced on a single day.
The simplest way to describe climate is to look at average temperature and precipitation over time. Other useful elements for describing climate include the type and the timing of precipitation, amount of sunshine, average wind speeds and directions, number of days above freezing, weather extremes, and local geography.
Climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area. Weather can change from hour-to-hour, day-to-day, month-to-month or even year-to-year. A region's weather patterns, usually tracked for at least 30 years, are considered its climate. Photograph by Walter Meayers Edwards, National Geographic.
The six major climate regions are polar, temperate, arid, tropical, Mediterranean and tundra.
Australia is vulnerable to the effects of global warming projected for the next 50 to 100 years because of its extensive arid and semi-arid areas, and already warm climate, high annual rainfall variability. The continent's high fire risk increases this susceptibility to changes in temperature and climate.
Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the entire world. Around 18% of the Australian mainland is desert. Most of Australia's deserts are located in the Western Plateau and the Interior Lowlands.
Australia has plentiful supplies of natural resources, including the second largest accessible reserves of iron ore in the world, the fifth largest reserves of coal and significant gas resources. For a long time, commodities have made up a sizeable share of our exports.
The town is an ex-Hydro village and now a residence for Inland Fisheries Services (IFS) and a Tasmania Police station. It is known for its exceptional fishing at nearby Great Lake and hosts several trout fishing events. Liawenee is the coldest permanently-inhabited place in Australia.
The hottest months in Australia are therefore December, January and February. In these months, you might like to head south to escape the heat. The coldest months are June, July and August - a perfect time to explore up north.
Charlotte Pass, New South Wales
Charlotte Pass is Australia's coldest place, with winter temperatures often dropping well below freezing. Situated in the Snowy Mountains, the area offers pristine snow conditions and a variety of winter sports.