This content is more than 9 years old
2013 has been a record-breaking year for Australia. The 2012/2013 summer was the hottest on record, and we have just experienced the hottest September on record. In October temperatures were much higher than average and intense bushfires burned around the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, destroying hundreds of properties and threatening lives and livelihoods. And we are still on track to break the record for the warmest calendar year ever recorded in Australia.
Five key Facts
- The period of exceptionally warm weather continues. The average temperature in Australia for October was 1.43°C above the long-term average (1961-1990).
- The record for the warmest average temperature for a 12-month period hasbeen set again—from 1 November 2012 to 31 October 2013. This is the thirdmonth in a row that such a record has been set.
- As global average temperature rises, the frequency and the intensity of hotdays and heatwaves is increasing.
- More than 100 heat-related records have been broken over the past year, and 2013 is on track to become Australia’s warmest calendar year on record.
- It is essential to rapidly and significantly reduce CO2 emissions to stabilise the climate and halt the current trend towards more extreme weather events and hotter average temperatures.