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Australia's warm winter a record | Australia's warm winter a record |
(about 10 hours later) | |
Australia has experienced its warmest August on record amid soaring winter temperatures. | Australia has experienced its warmest August on record amid soaring winter temperatures. |
Climatologists have blamed both the effects of climate change and natural variability. | Climatologists have blamed both the effects of climate change and natural variability. |
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology says that August was a "most extraordinary month" with mean temperatures 2.47C above the long-term average. | Australia's Bureau of Meteorology says that August was a "most extraordinary month" with mean temperatures 2.47C above the long-term average. |
August in Australia culminated in a record-breaking heat-wave across much of the continent. | August in Australia culminated in a record-breaking heat-wave across much of the continent. |
In the Queensland town of Bedourie the temperature reached 38.5C. | In the Queensland town of Bedourie the temperature reached 38.5C. |
Elsewhere, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia have had their warmest winters on record. | Elsewhere, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia have had their warmest winters on record. |
We needed rain most probably a fortnight ago for our crops to realise their full potential and every day it doesn't rain that will fall quite dramatically John RidleyNew South Wales farmer | We needed rain most probably a fortnight ago for our crops to realise their full potential and every day it doesn't rain that will fall quite dramatically John RidleyNew South Wales farmer |
Blair Trewin, from the National Climate Centre, says the past month has brought unprecedented conditions. | Blair Trewin, from the National Climate Centre, says the past month has brought unprecedented conditions. |
"Early last week we saw a number of locations in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland break their August record-high temperatures by four or five degrees. And to break records by that sort of margin is something which is extremely rare," said Mr Trewin. | "Early last week we saw a number of locations in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland break their August record-high temperatures by four or five degrees. And to break records by that sort of margin is something which is extremely rare," said Mr Trewin. |
Scientists believe that such unseasonal temperatures are the result of global warming and of the climate's natural variability. | Scientists believe that such unseasonal temperatures are the result of global warming and of the climate's natural variability. |
There are warnings that spring in this part of the southern hemisphere is likely to bring more hot weather, exacerbating a long-standing drought. | There are warnings that spring in this part of the southern hemisphere is likely to bring more hot weather, exacerbating a long-standing drought. |
John Ridley, a grain farmer in New South Wales, is a worried man. | John Ridley, a grain farmer in New South Wales, is a worried man. |
"We needed rain yesterday, right. We needed rain most probably a fortnight ago for our crops to realise their full potential, but most probably been 30% of our yield potential gone and every day it doesn't rain that will fall quite dramatically from there," said Mr Ridley. | "We needed rain yesterday, right. We needed rain most probably a fortnight ago for our crops to realise their full potential, but most probably been 30% of our yield potential gone and every day it doesn't rain that will fall quite dramatically from there," said Mr Ridley. |
The warm, dry conditions have also prompted the authorities to warn that Australia's annual bushfire season is again likely to be severe. | The warm, dry conditions have also prompted the authorities to warn that Australia's annual bushfire season is again likely to be severe. |
Already serious outbreaks have flared to the north and south of Sydney, the country's most populous city. | Already serious outbreaks have flared to the north and south of Sydney, the country's most populous city. |
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