The nation a hot spot

Year’s climate heat records

AUSTRALIA notched up another grim series of climate records in 2020, including our warmest ever spring and warmest ever November, while the year overall was our fourth hottest.

The latest Bureau of Meteorology climate report found temperatures across the country were 1.15C above average in 2020 – surpassed only by the scorchers of 2019 (both our hottest and driest year ever), 2013 and 2005.

The hottest temperature recorded across Australia in 2020 was in outerwestern Sydney on January 7, when the mercury topped out at 48.9C in Penrith, and the coldest minimum was a bonesnapping -14.2C in Liawanee, Tasmania, on August 7.

Rainfall was 4 per cent above average for the year, easing drought conditions in many areas, although some still experienced below-average falls, including western Tasmania, southeastern Queensland, and large parts of Western Australia.

The year also had the distinction of being Australia’s warmest “La Nina year” to date, although Dr Andrew Watkins, head of BOM Operational Climate Services, was reluctant to use the term as La Nina conditions – typically associated with lower temperatures and increased rainfall across the continent – were officially recognised only in September.

Senior climatologist Dr Lynette Bettio said the La Nina was at its peak now and expected to follow a “typical life cycle of decline into autumn”.

The annual climate report, released on Thursday, also reveals Australia has just finished its warmest decade.

“The mean temperature for the 10 years from 2011 to 2020 was the highest on record, at 0.94C above average, and 0.33C warmer than the previous 10 years (2001-2010),” Dr Bettio said.

Dr Watkins said 2020 was on track to be the third-warmest year on record for the entire planet.