Australia in March 2022

In brief

• March rainfall was 27% below average for Australia as a whole
• Rainfall was below average for most of the Northern Territory, western and central parts of Queensland, western parts of Tasmania, and across much of South Australia's Eyre Peninsula
• Rainfall for March was above average for eastern New South Wales and parts of the Riverina and Lower Western districts; in south-east Queensland, the Wide Bay and Burnett, and Darling Downs districts; parts of Western Australia in the west of the state and the Kimberley extending into adjacent inland areas; much of Victoria, and parts of eastern Tasmania
• Rainfall was highest on record for March for areas of the central and northern New South Wales coast, leading to significant flooding throughout the month
• Mean maximum temperatures for March were warmer or very much warmer than average for much of Australia. Parts of the Central Coast and adjacent inland areas of Queensland and large areas of the inland Northern Territory had mean maximum temperatures that were highest on record
• Mean maximum temperatures for March were cooler or very much cooler than average along most of the New South Wales coast and adjacent inland areas including Victoria's East Gippsland
• Mean minimum temperatures for March were warmer or very much warmer than average in large parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia, in most of New South Wales and South Australia, and across Victoria and Tasmania
• Mean minimum temperatures for March were close to average in north-eastern New South Wales, parts of south-eastern and central Queensland, and across an area of central Australia

Temperatures

The national mean temperature for March was 1.68 °C warmer than the 1961–1990 average for Australia as a whole, and the fifth-highest on record for March. The mean maximum temperature for March was 2.04 °C warmer than average, and the mean minimum temperature was 1.32 °C warmer than average. Both mean maximum temperature and mean minimum temperatures were fourth warmest on record (since 1910).

Mean maximum temperatures for March were warmer or very much warmer than average for much of Australia. A number of sites across parts of the East Central Coast and adjacent inland areas of Queensland and large areas of the inland Northern Territory had their highest mean maximum temperature on record for the month of March.

Mean maximum temperatures for March were cooler or very much cooler than average along most of the New South Wales coast and adjacent inland areas including Victoria's East Gippsland.

Mean minimum temperatures for March were warmer or very much warmer than average in large parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia, in most of New South Wales and South Australia, and across Victoria and Tasmania.

Mean minimum temperatures for March were close to average in north-eastern New South Wales, parts of south-eastern and central Queensland, and across an area of central Australia.

Severe to Extreme Heatwaves and Record Heat

At the beginning of the month severe to extreme heatwave conditions were experienced through large parts of north and north-east Queensland, with March temperature records being broken at several locations.

On 9 March, Darwin equalled its hottest March day on record, reaching 36.0 °C, during a widespread heatwave across northern Australia.

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 Tuesday 5 April 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

March rainfall was 27% below average for Australia as a whole.

Rainfall was below average for most of the Northern Territory, western and central parts of Queensland, western parts of Tasmania, and across much of South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.

March rainfall was in the lowest 10% of historical observations for the month (decile 10) for large parts of the northern Northern Territory, extending across the Queensland/Northern Territory border, in pockets along the central Queensland coast, and in south-west Tasmania.

Rainfall for March was above average for eastern New South Wales and parts of the Riverina and Lower Western districts; in south-east Queensland, the Wide Bay and Burnett, and Darling Downs districts; parts of Western Australia in the west of the state and the Kimberley extending into adjacent inland areas; much of Victoria, and parts of eastern Tasmania.

Rainfall was highest on record for March (since 1900) for areas of the central and northern New South Wales coast, leading to significant flooding throughout the month.

Persistent heavy rain and widespread flooding

At the beginning of the month, heavy rain occurred across coastal New South Wales, with the development of an East Coast Low. Rain fell upon already wet soils, full rivers and water storages. Record flood peaks occurred at Lismore on the Wilsons River, along the Tweed River, and at Coraki and Woodburn on the Richmond River. Major flooding was observed for parts of Sydney including the Hawkesbury–Nepean River at North Richmond and Windsor. Showers and thunderstorms continued to impact flood-affected areas as another East Coast Low brought widespread rainfall and renewed flooding in the second week of the month.

Later in the month, storms again brought very heavy rain to the Gold Coast as more than 300 mm was recorded in 24 hours at some locations on the 28th. Major flood warnings were issued for the Myall Creek, Narran River, and Condamine River, with major flooding occurring at Dalby and Warra on the 29th. Major flood warnings were also issued for the Tweed, Richmond, Clarence, Bellinger, and Wilsons rivers. Lismore residents were evacuated after floodwater entered the city's central business district for the second time in a month, with Byron Bay, Ballina and other Northern Rivers towns also experiencing flash flooding.

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.

More details on the extreme rainfall that has impacted large areas are expected in a follow up Special Climate Statement.

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 Tuesday 5 April 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.