It was a warm year

By Djembe Archibald

Feb 9, 2024

Last year was warmer than average for Australia overall, while it was a year of contrast between the north and south for rainfall. Photo by Megan Fisher

The Bureau of Meteorology has released its official record of Australia’s climate, water and significant weather events for 2023.

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The Annual Climate Statement for 2023 includes a full analysis and description of last year’s temperature, rainfall, hydrology statistics, sea ice, oceans, greenhouse gases and significant weather events.

The report confirms 2023 was warmer than average for Australia overall, while it was a year of contrast between the north and south for rainfall.

Since temperature records began in 1910, 2023 was the equal eighth-warmest year on record and the warmest since 2020.

Both the mean annual maximum and minimum temperatures were above average for all states and the Northern Territory.

There was widespread warmth throughout the second half of the year.

The mean national temperatures for June, July, August, September, November and December were among the 10 warmest on record.

Rainfall was above average in the north of Australia and below average in parts of the east, south and west.

In the first quarter of 2023, Australia experienced multiple major flood events, mostly across inland and northern regions.

August to October 2023 was Australia’s driest three-month period since rainfall records began in 1900.

Surface water storages declined in 2023, including those in the Murray-Darling Basin.

After three years consecutive years of La Niña and widespread rainfall, La Niña weakened and dissipated through summer 2022-23.

Victorian facts and figures

Victoria overall had 628mm of rainfall in 2023, as an area average across the state, which was 5.3 per cent below average.
The mean temperature was 0.69°C warmer than the 1961 to 1990 average for Victoria and the warmest since 2019.

NSW facts and figures

NSW overall had 428.89mm rainfall in 2023, as an area average across the state, which was 22.9 per cent below average.
The mean temperature was 1.3°C warmer than the 1961 to 1990 average, making it the sixth-warmest since records began in 1910.
Water level decreased in the Menindee Lakes throughout the year and ended at 59.2 per cent by the end of 2023, significantly lower than the same time last year.

National facts and figures

Winter 2023 was Australia’s warmest winter on record, with the national mean temperature 1.53°C above the 1961 to 1990 average.
September 2023 was Australia’s driest September on record, with total rainfall around 70 per cent below the 1961 to 1990 average, and the second-driest month since national rainfall records began in 1900, behind April 1902.
August to October 2023 was Australia’s driest three-month period since rainfall records began.
Globally, sea surface temperatures were the highest on record — and each of the past 10 years have been among the 10 warmest on record.
Since national records began in 1910, Australia’s climate has warmed by around 1.5°C.