Australia in August 2023

In brief

• Nationally-averaged August total rainfall for Australia was 49.5% below 1961–1990 average, the tenth-driest on record (since 1900).

• Rainfall in August was below average for the southern two-thirds of Queensland, most of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and for large parts of South Australia, southern Northern Territory and south-western Western Australia.

• Rainfall was above average for parts of Western Australia's interior, the east coast of Cape York Peninsula and the far north-east corner of the Top End in the Northern Territory.

• Australia's national area-average mean temperature was 2.28 °C warmer than the 1961–1990 average, the second-warmest on record (since 1910) for August and the warmest since 2009.

• This was the warmest August on record for Western Australia.

• Area-average mean maximum temperature for August was 3.08 °C above average nationally, the second-warmest on record. The national mean minimum temperature was 1.49 °C above average, the fourth-warmest on record.
• Mean maximum temperatures for August were warmer than average for most of Australia, and over 4 °C  above average in a band stretching from the Gascoyne region in Western Australia to southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.
• Mean minimum temperatures for August were warmer than average for most of Western Australia and South Australia, much of the Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria, for parts of eastern and northern New South Wales and for Tasmania. Mean minimum temperatures were cooler than average for an area in central New South Wales and for pockets of eastern South Australia and western Northern Territory.

Further information and tables of records for each state and the Northern Territory can be found in the individual regional climate summaries, published on 6 August 2023.

Temperatures

The national mean temperature was 2.28 °C above average for August, the second-warmest on record since national observations began in 1910.

For Western Australia this was the warmest August on record. All other state and territories were in the top 10 warmest Augusts on record.

Australia's area-averaged August mean maximum temperature was 3.08 °C warmer than average, the second warmest on record. Mean maximum temperatures were warmer or much warmer than average for most of Australia. Daytime temperatures were amongst the highest 10% of historical observations (compared with all Augusts since 1910) for most of Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and large parts of the Northern Territory and Victoria. Mean maximum temperatures for August were the warmest on record for large parts of Pilbara, Gascoyne and Southern Interior of Western Australia and for an area stretching across the border between Queensland and New South Wales. Many stations had their highest mean maximum temperature for August on record, with some stations having more than 100 years of observations.

For Western Australia, the August statewide mean maximum temperature was 3.61 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the warmest August days on record. For Queensland and New South Wales this August was the second-warmest on record, while for the Northern Territory and all other states except Victoria, mean maximum temperature was in the top ten warmest on record

The national mean minimum temperature was 1.49 °C above the 1961–1990 average. Mean minimum temperatures were warmer than average for most of Western Australia and South Australia, much of the Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria, for parts of eastern and northern New South Wales and for Tasmania. Mean minimum temperatures were amongst the highest 10% of historical observations (compared with all Augusts since 1910) for most of the southern two-thirds of Western Australia, much of South Australia, large parts of Queensland and Victoria and areas in the Northern Territory, northern and eastern New South Wales and northern Tasmania. Mean minimum temperatures for August were the warmest on record for large parts of southern Western Australia extending into South Australia, and for south-western Queensland. Some stations in these areas had their highest mean minimum temperature for August on record.

Mean minimum temperatures were cooler than average for an area in central New South Wales and for pockets of eastern South Australia and western Northern Territory.

Rank ranges from 1 (lowest) to 114 (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

For Australia as a whole, August rainfall was 49.5% below the 1961–1990 average, the tenth-driest on record for August since national observations began in 1900.

All states and territories had below average rainfall for August, with Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia recording rainfall more than 50.0% below their August averages.

Rainfall was below or very much below average for the southern two-thirds of Queensland, most of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and for large parts of South Australia, southern Northern Territory and south-western Western Australia. August rainfall was very much below average (in the driest 10% of historical observations) for most of Darling Downs and Granite Belt extending into surrounding districts (Queensland), southern parts of New South Wales's Upper Western district, Victoria's South West, and parts of the South West Land Division (Western Australia).

Rainfall was above average for parts of Western Australia's interior, the east coast of Cape York Peninsula and the far north-east corner of the Top End in the Northern Territory.

Significant weather and records

Wet and windy in southern Australia

A cold front, preceded by gusty northerly winds and maximum temperatures up to 8 °C above the August average, brought rainfall, thunderstorms  and showers to the southern half of Western Australia on the 2nd. Storm activity was most intense along the front, bringing heavy rainfall to the Busselton Coast while widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms continued in its wake. Strong winds brought down trees resulting in widespread power outages in Greater Perth. In the 24 hours to 9am on the 3rd, widespread falls of 15 to 40 mm were recorded across the south-west of the state, while  falls of 40 to 80 mm were recorded around Bunbury.

In the following days, the cold front moved over South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales bringing rainfall, isolated thunderstorms, gusty winds and polar air in its wake. While moving across New South Wales, the front brought thunderstorms and heavy showers to the coastal areas between Wollongong and Newcastle. Some sites recorded daily rainfall totals of more than 70 mm to 9am on the 6th.

Cold mornings in the south-east

During much of August, most of the continent was under the influence of high pressure systems or high pressure ridges, which brought settled and dry conditions. Clear skies and light winds resulted in low daily minimum temperatures across south-eastern Australia between the 11th and 18th and some stations recorded sub-zero minimum temperatures. Areas of morning fog and frost impacted large parts of eastern South Australia, eastern New South Wales and most of Victoria and Tasmania during this period. Many stations in Victoria had their coldest morning this winter on the 16th.

Below average daytime temperatures

A combination of cold fronts and low pressure troughs moved across South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and southern Queensland on the 17th and 18th bringing showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds. Cold fronts were followed with cooler air, strong winds, widespread light to moderate rainfall and localised hail across southern South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory.  South-easterly winds directed by a high pressure ridge extended cold air into Queensland and across the Northern Territory. Large parts of Australia had below average daytime temperatures between 17 and 20 August. Snow was recorded in elevated areas of Victoria and New South Wales.

A warm end to the month for most of Australia

High pressure systems that drifted over the continent brought settled and dry conditions to most of Australia from the 21st. Daily maximum temperatures were generally 2 to 8 °C above the August average in large parts of the country and up to 12 °C above average in central and southern Western Australia and South Australia where some sites had their record highest August daily maximum temperature between the 27th and 31st.

Easterly to south-easterly winds directed by high pressure systems combined with warm temperatures and high fuel loads to produce elevated fire dangers across northern Australia. Between the 23rd and 26th, Fire Weather Warnings were issued for the Darwin and Adelaide River, and Gregory and Barkly North fire weather districts for Extreme to Catastrophic Fire Danger.

Night-time temperatures were also above average across much of the country, with daily minimum temperatures up to 8 °C above average in some areas.

Thunderstorms in the east

A low pressure surface trough resulted in widespread thunderstorms which impacted much of New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland on the 29th and 30th with showers, lightning and strong winds. Parts of Sydney experienced power outages, while hail was reported in many areas of north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. Daily rainfall totals were generally 10 to 20 mm, but some locations recorded totals of more than 40 mm, with highest totals around Gympie (Queensland).

Rank ranges from 1 (lowest) to 124 (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.