Australia’s Summer of Climate Chaos: Surviving Heatwaves, Devastating Fires, Torrential Rains, and Fish Kills

This year’s climate statistics are alarming. January 2025 was officially the hottest January ever recorded globally, adding to reports that 2024 was the warmest year on record. In Australia, temperatures were significantly higher as well. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reported that January 2025 saw averages 2.15 degrees above the typical range from 1961 to 1990. December also had unusual warmth, with averages 1.88 degrees higher than usual.

On January 20, the highest temperature in Australia reached an astonishing 49.3 degrees Celsius at Geraldton Airport in Western Australia. Night temperatures weren’t any cooler, with Leinster Aero recording the warmest night at 34.8 degrees on February 9.

While parts of eastern and northwestern Australia experienced wetter conditions, southern and central regions faced drier weather. Notably, the monsoon in Darwin was delayed until February 7, the latest since records began. In contrast, the end of January saw Queensland’s monsoon trough bring heavy rainfall, particularly between Townsville and Ingham. Some areas received over 1.5 meters of rain within three days, resulting in significant flooding.

February 3 recorded the country’s wettest single day, with a staggering 745.2mm rainfall at Paluma Ivy Cottage in Queensland.

This summer, Australia weathered seven tropical cyclones. The season’s first one, Tropical Cyclone Zelia, struck mainland Australia on February 14, bringing heavy rainfall to the Pilbara region.

Extreme weather also brought challenges beyond storms. In Victoria and Tasmania, bushfires raged, while marine heatwaves led to coral bleaching in vital reef ecosystems and caused extensive fish deaths along the Pilbara coast and within Tasmania’s salmon farms.

The Climate Council recently unveiled a heat map showing how different regions in Australia might be affected by climate change. Under a high-emission scenario leading to a 4.4 degrees increase by 2100, the Parkes electorate in NSW could see temperatures above 35 degrees for 120 days yearly by 2090, up from 55 days now. In Sydney’s Bradfield district, those days could rise from five to 21, while Bennelong could see an increase from six to 23.

In Victoria’s Mallee region, hot days could jump from 25 to 58 by 2090. The Casey area in east Melbourne might see hot days increase from three to 14, while Goldstein could increase from seven to 20. Queensland’s Kennedy electorate is projected to have the most days above 35 degrees, going from an average of 110 to 214 days. Brisbane itself may experience a rise in hot days from two to 24, alongside hot nights increasing from one to 33 degrees.

Source link