Fierce heatwave conditions which set temperatures records along the Queensland coast last week eased on the weekend, but have receded inland where they look set to stay for at least a week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Maximum temperatures last Sunday reached 45 degrees at many centres in outback Queensland.
As a consequence, there will be many very hot days in our region up to the third week of December – and more of the same at the end of December to early January. Unfortunately, there will not be much rain until late January or early February.
Last week’s heatwave from Cooktown to Rockhampton was noteworthy in that many towns recorded maximum temperatures three degrees higher than the previous record for November. A few towns also recorded their hottest-ever day for any month.
There will be many very hot days in our region up to the third week of December – and more of the same at the end of December to early January.
Cairns recorded 42.4, 42.1, and 40.5 on three successive days – this has never happened in November in 128 years of records, and only once before when there was a three-day spell of just over 40 in late January to early February 1923.
Cairns also recorded its hottest November on record with a reading of 33.7, about half a degree above the previous hottest November of 1905. Mackay had its hottest November since 1939, while Townsville recorded its hottest November since 1971.
The summers of 1905-06, 1913-14 and 1939-40 were very hot over most of the continent east from Eucla in the Nullabor.
Despite the hot start to November, maximum temperatures were close to normal at most places in our regions.
A cold snap about the 8th resulted in several cool days for the remainder of the month. Above-average rain was recorded at Moree, Dubbo and Narrabri during November.
Once again, it fell short of average in Coonabarabran, which is yet to record a wet month this year.
Rainfall was above average at Deniliquin, Hay, Wagga and Albury. Down south, Macquarie Island recorded its warmest November in 71 years. This, too, may lead to this summer being hotter than normal in our region.
The Southern Oscillation Index was plus 3.0 in October and -0.1 in November.
I do feel that this is not an El Nino situation.