Australian in January 2022

In brief

• January rainfall was 22% above average for Australia as a whole
• Rainfall for January was above average for most of the mainland south-east and the north-eastern half of Tasmania, central Australia, and the Kimberley in Western Australia 
• January rainfall was the 4th-highest on record for South Australia, and the 8th-highest for Victoria
• Rainfall was below average for western Tasmania, parts of the west of Western Australia, and an area of eastern Queensland across the Central Highlands and Coalfields, the Central Coast, Capricornia and northern parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett districts
• Rainfall was also below average for some pockets of the Top End in the Northern Territory and the tip of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland
• Mean maximum temperatures for January were warmer or very much warmer than average for western to central Western Australia, around the coast of the Northern Territory and Queensland's Cape York Peninsula, through Queensland extending from the north tropical to Wide Bay and Burnett coast to south-west Queensland, western New South Wales, south-east South Australia, most of Victoria except the north-east and East Gippsland, and for all of Tasmania
• Mean maximum temperatures for January were cooler than average for parts of central and far north-east New South Wales, a large part of pastoral South Australia, along the south coast of Western Australia, and an area of the central Kimberley
• Mean minimum temperatures for January were warmer than average for the vast majority of Australia, and warmest on record for Tasmania, far south-east South Australia, and most of Victoria except the north-east, East Gippsland, and parts of the far north-west

Temperatures

The national mean temperature for January was 1.09 °C warmer than the 1961–1990 average for Australia as a whole. The mean maximum temperature for January was 0.91 °C warmer than average, and the mean minimum temperature was 1.26 °C warmer than average.

Mean maximum temperatures for January were warmer or very much warmer than average for western to central Western Australia, around the coast of the Northern Territory and Queensland's Cape York Peninsula, through Queensland extending from the north tropical to Wide Bay and Burnett coast to south-west Queensland, western New South Wales, south-east South Australia, most of Victoria except the north-east and East Gippsland, and for all of Tasmania.

A scattering of sites around the coast in south-east South Australia, Victoria, and western Tasmania had their highest mean maximum temperature on record for the month of January. A number of sites across western to central Victoria, including some around Melbourne, exceeded their January record for total number of days reaching at least 30 °C.

Mean maximum temperatures for January were cooler than average for parts of central and far north-east New South Wales, a large part of pastoral South Australia, along the south coast of Western Australia, and an area of the central Kimberley.

Mean minimum temperatures for January were warmer than average for the vast majority of Australia, and warmest on record for Tasmania, far south-east South Australia, and most of Victoria except the north-east, East Gippsland, and parts of the far north-west.

For Victoria and Tasmania as a whole, the January mean minimum temperature was the warmest on record for both states. A very large number of sites across Victoria, Tasmania, and south-east South Australia observed their warmest mean minimum temperature on record for January, with some setting records for their warmest mean minimum temperature on record for any month of the year.

During early January, severe to extreme heatwave conditions affected parts of Northern Australia, with heatwave conditions continuing to affect large parts of the north and west of the country throughout the month. 

A number of sites in Queensland's Central Coast and Capricornia districts observed a record warm day for January between the 4th and 6th when daily maximum temperatures reached 34 to 38 degrees in the region around Mackay.

As mid-month approached, a very hot airmass over Western Australia and strong offshore winds blocking the usual arrival of cooler seabreezes drove temperatures over the Pilbara to record levels. The presence of ex-tropical cyclone Tiffany over the Top End and Kimberley contributed additional heat into the upper atmosphere over the Pilbara. On the 13th temperatures in excess of 50 degrees were observed along the north-west coast. Onslow Airport recorded a maximum temperature of 50.7 °C, which is the highest temperature on record for Western Australia and equals the highest temperature on record for Australia. The previous Western Australian record was 50.5 °C, set at Mardie on 19 February 1998. 50.7 °C was first observed in Australia on 2 January 1960 at Oodnadatta in South Australia. 

Severe-intensity to extreme-intensity heatwave conditions affected the west coast of Western Australia, from the Pilbara to the Southwest coast, just after mid-month. Between the 18th and 23rd Perth Metro had 6 consecutive days reaching at least 40 °C, the longest run for any month in 123 years of combined observations (from the official Perth records).

A handful of sites around Perth and the south-west coast of Western Australia experienced their highest mean maximum temperature for January. While the Perth Metro January mean maximum was 33.7 °C for 2022, a record for the current site, 34.4 °C was observed in January 1962 at the now closed Perth Regional Office site.

Further discussion and tables of records for each state and the Northern Territory can be found in the individual regional climate summaries, to be released on Thursday 3 February 2022.

Rank ranges from 1 (lowest) to 113 (highest). A rank marked with ’=‘ indicates the value is tied for that rank. Anomaly is the departure from the long-term (1961–1990) average.

Rainfall

January rainfall was 22% above average for Australia as a whole.

Rainfall for January was above average for most of the mainland south-east and the north-eastern half of eastern Tasmania, most of South Australia, south-west and western Queensland, most of the Northern Territory south of the Top End, and for most of the Kimberley and the eastern interior of Western Australia.

January rainfall was the 4th-highest on record for South Australia, and the 8th-highest on record for Victoria.

Rainfall was below average for western Tasmania, parts of the west of Western Australia, an area of eastern Queensland across the Central Highlands and Coalfields, the Central Coast, Capricornia and northern parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett districts, and also for pockets of the Top End and for the tip of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.

In Queensland extremely heavy rain fell around Gympie in the Wide Bay and Burnett region on the 7th following landfall of ex-tropical cyclone Seth, with more than 400 mm recorded in Bureau gauges in the hills to the north-west of Gympie. At a number of sites in the region, totals for the 24 hours to 9am on the 8th set daily rainfall records for January, and in some cases for any month of the year although mostly at sites with less than 30 years of observations. Major flood warnings were issued for the Mary River, moderate flood levels were reported on the Burnett River, and flooding affected parts of the Bundaberg CBD and parts of Bundaberg South.

Ex-tropical cyclone Seth also contributed to significant rainfall over parts of south-east Australia as a low pressure trough and cold front crossed Tasmania. Most notable were 50 to 100 mm two-day totals for 7th–8th over inland New South Wales. A number of sites in south-eastern New South Wales, north-eastern Victoria and East Gippsland, and eastern Tasmania observed daily rainfall records for January, mostly for the 24 hours to 9am on the 7th.

Severe thunderstorms on the 6th brought large hail and heavy rain to parts of Victoria around Ballarat, damaging potato and other crops, while on the 13th severe thunderstorms hit the Portland region, with the State Emergency Service called to clear almost 40 trees in the area.

From mid-January, the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Tiffany brought heavy rain to central Australia as it moved south, forming a complex low pressure system. Widespread moderate to heavy rainfall caused ponding and overland flow, together with rises in local creeks, impacting local transport networks and necessitating lengthy detours on some transport routes.

The low pressure system moved over central South Australia, bringing intense rainfall across parts of pastoral and southern South Australia between the 20th and 24th. A number of sites across the Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula set daily rainfall records for January or for any month of the year, leading to dangerous flash flooding. Rain also further exacerbated flooding in areas of outback South Australia, with damage to the Olympic Dam Highway.

The low and associated surface trough also led to storms, heavy rain, large hail, and flash flooding to western and central Victoria on the 26th and 27th. The State Emergency Service responded to more than 110 calls for help and more than 5,300 properties were left without power in Victoria’s west. Geelong was particularly hard hit by storms on the 27th.

Further discussion and tables of records for each state and the Northern Territory can be found in the individual regional climate summaries, to be released on Thursday 3 February 2022.

Rank ranges from 1 (lowest) to 123 (highest). A rank marked with ’=‘ indicates the value is tied for that rank. Departure from mean is relative to the long-term (1961–1990) average.