BOM’s Annual 2018 Climate report
Australia’s third-warmest year on record, with the annual national mean temperature 1.14 °C above average
Summary:
- Both mean annual maximum and minimum temperatures above average for all States and the Northern Territory
- Annual national mean maximum temperature second-warmest on record (1.55 °C above average)
- Widespread warmth persistent throughout the year; January, February, March, April, July, October, and December all amongst the ten warmest on record for Australian mean temperature for their respective months
- Nationally-averaged rainfall 11% below average for the year at 412.8 mm (1961–1990 average 465.2 mm)
- Rainfall below average for very large areas, affecting central and southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, eastern South Australia, and the South West Land Division in Western Australia
- Rainfall above average for northwestern to southeastern Western Australia, and scattered areas elsewhere in northern Australia
- El Niño–Southern Oscillation neutral for most of the year, despite a very weak La Niña which decayed in early 2018, and the tropical Pacific Ocean warming steadily from late winter
- A positive Indian Ocean Dipole event during
