Australia in February 2022

In brief

• February rainfall was 24% below average for Australia as a whole
• Rainfall was below average for most of the northern tropics, Tasmania, south-east South Australia, most of Victoria except for the north-east and East Gippsland, and parts of the southern coast of Western Australia
• Rainfall for February was above average for east coast New South Wales; in south-east Queensland, the Wide Bay and Burnett, and Darling Downs regions; central Australia; the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia; and parts of Western Australia in the west of the state and the Kimberley coast
• Rainfall was highest on record for February for an area of the Sunshine Coast and coastal south-east Queensland, leading to significant flooding towards the end of the month
• Mean maximum temperatures for February were warmer or very much warmer than average for the west of Western Australia, much of the northern tropics, and for western, central, and northern Tasmania
• Mean maximum temperatures for February were cooler than average for most of South Australia and the south of the Northern Territory, much of New South Wales except the Riverina and south-west, and for far eastern Victoria
• Mean minimum temperatures for February were warmer than average for the west of Western Australia; parts of the northern tropics, mostly in the north-west of the northern Territory; for much of northern, east coast, and south coast Tasmania; and for much of coastal Victoria
• Mean minimum temperatures for February were cooler than average for most of the pastoral regions of South Australia and the south half of the Northern Territory, southern and south-eastern Queensland, north-eastern and inland northern New South Wales, extending through most of the eastern half of that state inland of the ranges

Temperatures

The national mean temperature for February was 0.06 °C warmer than the 1961–1990 average for Australia as a whole. The mean maximum temperature for February was 0.38 °C warmer than average, and the mean minimum temperature was 0.26 °C cooler than average.

Mean maximum temperatures for February were warmer or very much warmer than average for the west of Western Australia, much of the northern tropics, and for western, central, and northern Tasmania. A number of sites in South West Western Australia had their highest mean maximum temperature on record for the month of February.

Mean maximum temperatures for February were cooler than average for most of South Australia and the south of the Northern Territory, much of New South Wales except the Riverina and south-west, and for far eastern Victoria.

Mean minimum temperatures for February were warmer than average for the west of Western Australia; parts of the northern tropics, mostly in the north-west of the northern Territory; for much of northern, east coast, and south coast Tasmania; and much of coastal Victoria.

Mean minimum temperatures for February were cooler than average for most of the pastoral regions of South Australia and the south half of the Northern Territory, southern and south-eastern Queensland, north-eastern and inland northern New South Wales, extending through most of the eastern half of that state inland of the ranges.

Heatwave and fires in Western Australia at the start of the month

Ignitions across Western Australia's South West Land Division during heatwave conditions on 4 February led to multiple fires, including:

• at Bridgetown in the South West, burning 5,000 hectares and destroying property, including one house
• at Denmark in the South West, destroying 4 homes
• in the Corrigin and Bruce Rock area in the Central Wheatbelt, burning 40,000 hectares and at least one house
• and at Narrogin in the Central Wheatbelt

Slightly later in the month one house was destroyed in Jerramungup, south-east of Perth, as fires ignited by lightning burnt through around 900 hectares on the 11th.

A number of sites across the south coast of South West Western Australia had their warmest February day on record on the 5th when temperatures reached more than 40 degrees across much of the west of Western Australia, or on the 11th when daily maximum temperatures reached 42 to 45 degrees across a large area of the South Coastal and Southeast Coastal districts and adjacent inland areas. A few sites around the south-west of Western Australia had their highest mean daily maximum temperature on record for February.

Warm sea surface temperature anomalies to the west and north-west of Western Australia, and a ridge of high pressure south of the Great Australian Bight (associated with positive SAM (Southern Annular Mode) across most of summer), played an important role in this summer heat. The presence of warm sea surface temperature anomalies around the coast decreased the temperature contrast between land and ocean; this contrast is necessary to drive sea breezes. The location of the SAM pressure maximum was further west than is typical, and favoured a predominantly easterly wind pattern over Western Australia. This easterly wind regime also worked against formation of cooling sea breezes along the coast.

Fire in Tasmania's Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

In Tasmania, a fire in the Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park burned through at least 300 hectares, threatening a globally significant stand of ancient Huon pines on 15 February. Rain on the 16th to 18th helped relieve what could have been a significant fire due to difficult and remote terrain.

Record warm day for Macquarie Island

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

February rainfall was 24% below average for Australia as a whole.

Rainfall for February was below average for most of the northern tropics from the western Kimberley, through the northern half of the Northern Territory, and most of the northern half of Queensland. Rainfall was also below average for Tasmania, south-east South Australia, most of Victoria except for the north-east and East Gippsland, and for pockets of the Nullarbor coast and south-west Western Australia.

February rainfall was in the lowest 10% of historical observations for the month (decile 10) for large parts of the north of the Territory, western and central southern Victoria, adjacent parts of south-east South Australia, and parts of south-east Tasmania.

Rainfall for February was above average for the east coast in New South Wales; in south-east Queensland, the Wide Bay and Burnett, Darling Downs, and parts of southern Queensland; a large area spanning the southern Northern Territory and northern South Australia; the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia; and parts of Western Australia in the west of the state and the Kimberley coast.

Rainfall was highest on record for February for an area of the Sunshine Coast and coastal south-east Queensland, leading to significant flooding towards the end of the month.

Storms in south-east Queensland and north-west Western Australia

Severe super cell thunderstorms over Brisbane city, the outer suburbs, and Moreton Bay on 1 and 2 February brought intense rainfall, downed trees, and a short-lived tornado. Delays to transport, damage to buildings, and power outages resulted.

Very heavy rainfall was observed at Country Downs, near Broome in north-west Western Australia, at the start of the month with 652.2 mm during the 24 hours to 9 am on 1 February; the highest on record in Country Downs' 51 years of observations and a new annual daily rainfall record for the site.

Persistent heavy rain caused widespread flooding across Queensland's south-east and Wide Bay and Burnett 

A humid onshore airflow across much of the east coast combined with a coastal trough through southern Queensland, and an upper-level trough aloft. This led to unsettled conditions and heavy rainfall continuing across south-eastern Queensland and parts of eastern New South Wales from 22 February to the end of the month as the coastal trough remained nearly stationary. A blocking high over the Tasman Sea contributed to the near-stationarity of the coastal trough, and was important in setting up the moist onshore flow, drawing easterly winds from over the warm Coral Sea.

Intense rainfall led to flash flooding and riverine flooding across large areas of south-east Queensland and the Sunshine Coast, as well as parts of New South Wales, as high daily totals fell on already saturated catchments. Multi-day rainfall totals for the 6-days ending 9 am on 28 February were at least 2.5 times the February average rainfall across parts of south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales, with some parts of Queensland having received in excess of 5 times their monthly average rainfall for February. Totals for the 6 days were above 200 mm over a large area from the New South Wales Mid North Coast to the Wide Bay and Burnett District in Queensland. More than 30 sites have reported 6-day totals in excess of 1,000 mm (1 metre of rain), with the highest totals mostly between the Gympie region and Numinbah.

A number of sites across the region, from near Bundaberg to the Illawarra in New South Wales, observed their highest monthly total rainfall on record for February, with a few setting records for any month of the year. A large number of sites across south-east and southern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales observed daily rainfall records for February or for any month of the year during the event.

Widespread major flooding resulted across south-east Queensland, including on the Mary River at Gympie, reaching the highest levels since 1893; on the Sunshine Coast reaching levels similar to 1992; at Brisbane City exceeding the peak height of the 2013 floods; and on the Bremer River at Ipswich reaching levels similar to 2013.

Minor to moderate flooding occurred in parts of New South Wales, including flash flooding affected Sydney's western and inner western suburbs on 22 and 23 February, with major flooding occurring in north-east New South Wales as the system moved southward into the state overnight on the 27th and into the last day of the month. The Lismore levee was overtopped on the morning of the 28th, with the river level exceeding the March 1974 peak and leading to numerous people requiring rescue.

Larger-scale climate drivers contributing to this rainfall event included La Niña in the tropical Pacific Ocean, very warm sea surface temperatures over the Tasman Sea and around north-west Australia, persistent high pressure in the Great Australian Bight related to a positive phase of the SAM (Southern Annular Mode), already wet soils, and climate change. As the climate warms, heavy rainfall events are expected to continue to become more intense — see State of the Climate 2020. A warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapour than a cooler atmosphere; this relationship can increase moisture in the atmosphere by 7% for each degree of global warming, which in turn increases the likelihood of heavy rainfall events. Increased atmospheric moisture can also provide more energy for some processes that generate extreme rainfall events, which further increases the likelihood of heavy rainfall due to global warming.

A Special Climate Statement discussing this event, including details of flooding and rainfall records set, will be produced following the conclusion of the event. 

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.