Last year was Australia’s second-warmest year on record and the wettest in more than 12 years.
The figures were revealed as the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) released its official record of Australia’s climate, water and notable weather events for 2024.
BOM Climatology Specialist Nadine D’Argent said the report confirmed last year was Australia’s second-warmest and eighth-wettest year on record.
Ms D’Agent said it was warmer than average throughout the year across most of the country.
“Nationally, spring was the warmest on record, winter was the second warmest on record and summer 2023–24 was the third warmest on record,” she said.
“It was the wettest year since 2011, with overall rainfall 28 percent above average.”
Ms D’Agent said tropical cyclones brought heavy rainfall to northern parts of Australia early in the year.
“While much of northern Australia and some inland areas had above average rainfall, it was much drier than usual in Victoria, parts of South Australia and some parts of the west.”
She said these dry conditions and low inflows led to reduced water storage levels in some southern regions, including the Murray–Darling Basin.
“However, Australia’s total surface water storage volume was just under 73 percent at the end of 2024, which was similar to the end of the previous year.”
Ms D’Argent said Australia’s climate was influenced by global patterns in the oceans and atmosphere.
“Sea surface temperatures in the Australian region, as well as globally, were the warmest on record in 2024.
“Warmer oceans can increase the amount of moisture available for rainfall in our weather systems.”
She said, globally, 2024 was the warmest year on record and the warming in Australia was consistent with global trends.
Fast Facts
- 2024 was Australia’s second-warmest year on record. Australia’s warmest year on record was 2019.
- The national annual average temperature was 1.46 °C warmer than the long-term average and the warmest since 2019.
- Annual average temperatures were warmer than average for every state and the Northern Territory.
- Both national average maximum and minimum temperatures for the year were above average. The national average minimum temperature for the year was 1.43°C warmer than the long-term average, making it the warmest annual minimum on record.
- Australia’s overall average rainfall was 596 mm, which is 28 percent above average.
- Rainfall across northern Australia was 42 percent above average, making it the fifth-wettest year on record.
- Rainfall across parts of southern Australia was below average.
- Annual sea surface temperatures for the Australian region were the warmest on record.
- The extent of Antarctic sea-ice, which is the area of ocean covered by sea-ice, was below the 1991–2020 average throughout 2024.
