Australia's climate in 2023: Warmer with contrasting rainfall

08/02/2024

The Bureau of Meteorology has released its official record of Australia's climate, water and significant climate and weather events for 2023.

The Annual Climate Statement for 2023 includes a full analysis and description of last year's temperature, rainfall, hydrology statistics, sea ice, oceans, greenhouse gases and significant weather events.

The report confirms 2023 was warmer than average for Australia overall, while it was a year of contrast between the north and south for rainfall.

Since temperature records began in 1910, 2023 was the equal eighth-warmest year on record and the warmest since 2020.

Both the mean annual maximum and minimum temperatures were above average for all states and the Northern Territory.

There was widespread warmth throughout the second half of the year. The mean national temperature for June, July, August, September, November and December were among the ten warmest on record (the exception was October which was the 15th warmest).

Rainfall was above average in the north of Australia and below average in the parts of the east, south and west.

Only Queensland and the Northern Territory had overall above average rainfall - all the other states and territories had below average rainfall in 2023.

In the first quarter of 2023, Australia experienced multiple major flood events mostly across inland and northern regions.

August to October 2023 was Australia's driest three month period since rainfall records began in 1900.

Surface water storages declined in 2023, including those in the Murray-Darling Basin. However, Australia's total surface water storage volume remained high at the end of 2023 (74.1% of its accessible capacity).

After three years consecutive years of La Niña and widespread rainfall, La Niña weakened and dissipated through summer 2022-23. The other major global-scale influences on Australia's climate in 2023 were El Niño and a strong positive Indian Ocean Dipole which were established in early spring, and a positive phase of the Southern Annular Mode towards the end of the year.

Facts at a glance:

Winter 2023 was Australia's warmest on record, with the national mean temperature 1.53C above the 1961-1990 average.

September 2023 was Australia's driest September on record with total rainfall around 70% below the 1961-1990 average, and the second driest month since national rainfall records began in 1900, behind April 1902.

August to October 2023 was Australia's driest three month period since rainfall records began in 1900.

Sea surface temperatures for the Australian region were the seventh-highest on record since 1900 at 0.54°C above the 1961-1990 average.

Globally, sea surface temperatures were the highest on record - and each of the past 10 years have been among the 10 warmest on record.

Throughout 2023 net Antarctic sea-ice extent was either at record low levels or well below the 1991-2020 average - based on continuous satellite imagery since 1979.

Climate change continues to influence Australia's climate. Since national records began in 1910, Australia's climate has warmed around 1.5°C.

Stay up to date with latest climate information as it happens, with our weekly, monthly and seasonal climate long-range forecasts, on our website.

Keep up to date with the latest forecasts on the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au and from the BOM Weather app.

For the full analysis and report on last year's temperature, rainfall, water resources, climate influences and more:

State and territory information:

Queensland

Queensland overall had 695.23 mm rainfall in 2023, as an area average across the state, which is 11.7% above average.

The mean temperature was 1.17 °C warmer than the 1961-1990 annual average, making it the 10th warmest since records began in 1910.

More information on Queensland in 2023.

More information on Brisbane in 2023.

New South Wales (and the ACT)

New South Wales overall had 428.89 mm rainfall in 2023, as an area average across the state, which is 22.9% below average.

The mean temperature 1.30 °C warmer than the 1961-1990 average, making it the sixth-warmest since records began in 1910.

Water level decreased in the Menindee Lakes throughout the year and ended at 59.2% by the end of 2023, significantly lower than the same time last year (119.8%).

More information on New South Wales in 2023.

More information on ACT in 2023.

More information on Sydney in 2023.

Victoria

Victoria overall had 628.00 mm rainfall in 2023, as an area average across the state, which is 5.3% below average.

The mean temperature was 0.69 °C warmer than the 1961-1990 average for Victoria and the warmest since 2019.

More information on Victoria in 2023.

More information on Melbourne in 2023.

Tasmania

Tasmania overall had 1201.84 mm rainfall in 2023, as an area average across the state, which is 11.5% below average and the lowest rainfall total since 2017.

2023 was Tasmania's third-warmest year on record.

The mean temperature was 0.81°C warmer than the 1961-1990 annual average, while also being the warmest year for Tas overall since 2016.

More information on Tasmania in 2023.

South Australia

South Australia overall had 195.79 mm rainfall in 2023, as an area average across the state, which is 12.5 % below average.

The mean temperature was 1.15 °C warmer than the 1961-1990 annual average, while also being the equal seventh-warmest since records began in 1910.

More information on South Australia in 2023.

More information on Adelaide in 2023.

Western Australia

Western Australia overall had 332.27 mm of rainfall in 2023, as an area average across the state, which is 2.8% below average.

2023 was Western Australia's sixth-warmest on record.

The mean temperature was 1.03 °C warmer than the 1961-1990 average for Western Australia.

More information on Western Australia in 2023.

More information on Perth in 2023.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory overall had 625.73 mm of rainfall in 2023, as an area average across the Territory, which is 14.8 % above average.

The mean temperature was 0.36 °C warmer than the 1961-1990 average for the Northern Territory and the coolest since 2012.

More information on the Northern Territory in 2023.

ENDS...

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