2013 was HOT STUFF!

2013 was Australia's hottest year since measurements began. The average temperature across Australia was 21.8 °C, which is 1.2 °C above the long-term average (1961-1990) and 0.2 °C higher than the previous record year, 2005.

The year started hot, when on January 7 Australia recorded its hottest day ever, with an average maximum temperature across the country of 40.3 °C. January was also the hottest on record, as was the entire summer.

Other temperature records that were broken in Australia last year included the hottest winter day, the hottest spring average and the hottest September average.

Almost every day of the year was above average (in red)
Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Scientists say that the record temperatures in 2013 could not have happened without the extra carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses that humans have been releasing into the air. Professor David Karoly from the University of Melbourne said that the 2013 temperatures "could not occur due to natural variability alone and [are] only possible due to the combination of greenhouse climate change and natural variability".

Temperatures in Australia have been steadily rising since the 1950s
Source: Bureau of Meteorology

This information comes from the Annual Climate Statement 2013 from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. You can read the full report here, or watch the video below.



Hot links

• The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has a climate page with loads of interesting data about Australia's climate.
• And if you have never looked at the BoM's rain radars, don't click on this link or you risk becoming addicted.
• In September we reported that the 'pause' in global warming over the last 15 years is all the ocean's fault, and in November we reported another record breaking climate event, typhoon Haiyan.