Exceptional autumn heat in northern and central Australia. (issued 24/3/15)

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Special Climate Statement

Key points:

• Maximum temperatures averaged 5 to 7 °C above average over most of the Gulf Country from 6 to 19 March
• Temperature records approached or set on 19 March, including:
  • Northern Territory and Queensland—hottest area-averaged March day on record
  • Birdsville—highest temperature ever recorded in Australia for second half of March; 46.5 °C
  • Jervois—highest maximum temperature for March for the Northern Territory; 44.0 °C
  • Moomba—hottest ever for South Australia this far into autumn; 45.4 °C

Maximum temperature anomalies

(difference from 1961–1990 average)
for period 6–19 March 2015 (°C)

Information courtesy of the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).