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Eastern Australia basks in unusually warm autumn temperatures Eastern Australia basks in unusually warm autumn temperatures
(4 months later)
Your memory is not playing tricks on you – it has been unusually warm across much of eastern Australia this May.Your memory is not playing tricks on you – it has been unusually warm across much of eastern Australia this May.
The Bureau of Meteorology said temperatures had been “definitely well above average” across most of the eastern states so far this month.The Bureau of Meteorology said temperatures had been “definitely well above average” across most of the eastern states so far this month.
The high for Sydney was 28C on Tuesday when the average temperature for May is 19.5C.The high for Sydney was 28C on Tuesday when the average temperature for May is 19.5C.
Duty forecaster Philip Landvogt said it was a similar story for “pretty much all of the eastern states”.Duty forecaster Philip Landvogt said it was a similar story for “pretty much all of the eastern states”.
Related: April breaks global temperature record, marking seven months of new highs
“All the way from Brisbane down to even Hobart is warmer than average for this part of year.”“All the way from Brisbane down to even Hobart is warmer than average for this part of year.”
In Brisbane the average high temperature for May is 23.2C – and so far this month not a day has fell below 24C. The city can expect temperatures in the mid-to-high 20s “well into next week”.In Brisbane the average high temperature for May is 23.2C – and so far this month not a day has fell below 24C. The city can expect temperatures in the mid-to-high 20s “well into next week”.
Canberra has also been warmer than the average May, with an average high of 18.9C so far this month compared with the usual 15.6C.Canberra has also been warmer than the average May, with an average high of 18.9C so far this month compared with the usual 15.6C.
And the effect has been felt as far south as Melbourne, where this month it has been 20.3C while the average May day peaks at 16. 7C.And the effect has been felt as far south as Melbourne, where this month it has been 20.3C while the average May day peaks at 16. 7C.
The cause was warm ocean temperatures off the east coast and over northern Australia and prevailing winds bringing warm air from over the central part of the country to the eastern states.The cause was warm ocean temperatures off the east coast and over northern Australia and prevailing winds bringing warm air from over the central part of the country to the eastern states.
“The combination of those two factors has been the reason we’ve had these warm temperatures,” said Landvogt.“The combination of those two factors has been the reason we’ve had these warm temperatures,” said Landvogt.
Landvogt said the warmer weather was set to continue for at least a week in many parts of Australia.Landvogt said the warmer weather was set to continue for at least a week in many parts of Australia.
A high of 25C for Sydney on Wednesday was forecast to be followed by at least seven days of temperatures in the region of early to mid-20s – all well above the May average of 19.5C.A high of 25C for Sydney on Wednesday was forecast to be followed by at least seven days of temperatures in the region of early to mid-20s – all well above the May average of 19.5C.
Tasmania and Melbourne would start to cool down early next week, with the arrival of a cold front in the coming days.Tasmania and Melbourne would start to cool down early next week, with the arrival of a cold front in the coming days.
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The warm water temperatures off the east coast of Australia and dry conditions over much of the country that were associated with El Niño were continuing but Landvogt said that system would start to break down soon.The warm water temperatures off the east coast of Australia and dry conditions over much of the country that were associated with El Niño were continuing but Landvogt said that system would start to break down soon.
Sea surface temperatures across the tropical Pacific Ocean have cooled in the past fortnight as El Niño draws closer to an end.Sea surface temperatures across the tropical Pacific Ocean have cooled in the past fortnight as El Niño draws closer to an end.
Landvogt said there was a “50-50 chance” of a La Niña weather pattern forming with the onset of winter. That could lead to more rainfall over the winter through northern, central and eastern Australia.Landvogt said there was a “50-50 chance” of a La Niña weather pattern forming with the onset of winter. That could lead to more rainfall over the winter through northern, central and eastern Australia.
The unseasonal weather follows confirmation of the hottest April on record globally – and the seventh consecutive month to have broken global temperature records.The unseasonal weather follows confirmation of the hottest April on record globally – and the seventh consecutive month to have broken global temperature records.
The latest figures, released by Nasa over the weekend, smashed the previous record for April by the largest margin ever recorded, setting 2016 up to be the hottest year ever.The latest figures, released by Nasa over the weekend, smashed the previous record for April by the largest margin ever recorded, setting 2016 up to be the hottest year ever.