Key facts
- Australia's September average temperature was 2.71C above the 1961-1990 mean.
- Minimum temperatures were 2.52C above average, a record for September.
- Global heating has warmed Australia by over 1.5C since 1910.
- Western Australia had its second-wettest September on record.
- Snow depth at Spencers Creek reached zero in September for the first time since 1954.
- Thredbo recorded its hottest September day at 16C.
Australia experienced its second-hottest September on record last month, with average temperatures significantly above the long-term mean. This heatwave was driven by a combination of global heating and a strengthening El Niño climate system, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Across the continent, average temperatures were 2.71C higher than the 1961 to 1990 average, and minimum night-time temperatures set a new record for any September since records began in 1910.
While most of the country experienced dry conditions, Western Australia bucked the trend with its second-wettest September on record and the wettest since 1904. New South Wales and Victoria, however, recorded some of their driest Septembers. Climate scientist Dr. Linden Ashcroft stated that climate change is the clear driver, noting a "seasonal creep" where winter ends earlier and spring begins sooner.
Alpine regions also saw record-breaking temperatures. At Spencers Creek in Kosciuszko National Park, snow depth fell to zero in September for the first time since monitoring began in 1954. Thredbo recorded its hottest September day at 16C and its first September average daily minimum temperature above freezing. Victoria's alpine areas also registered their hottest Septembers on record.