Toowoomba smashes heat records in 2017
TOOWOOMBA smashed heat records last year, with some of the highest recorded temperatures in decades leaving residents sweltering.
The Bureau of Meteorology released its annual climate summary yesterday, showing Queensland had its warmest year on record in terms of mean temperature, and mean maximum temperature.
The previous record was in 2005.
Toowoomba had its warmest year in terms of highest recorded temperature, highest annual mean daily minimum temperature and highest annual mean temperature.
The highest recorded temperature was 40.8 degrees on February 12, which beat the January 4, 2015 record of 39.5 degrees.
The highest annual mean daily minimum temperature was 13.3 degrees, up from 13 degrees in 1998. The highest annual mean temperature was 18.7 degrees, up from 18.6 degrees in 2005.
Toowoomba also had more rainfall with 808mm falling, compared to an average of 727mm.
The region was also mentioned in notable weather events for 2017, with the bureau recognising the storms on Boxing Day.
An intense thunderstorm cell originated near Southbrook, southwest of Toowoomba on the afternoon on December 26.
It produced large hail stones with a diameter greater than 4cm.