Australia in November 2024

In brief

• The national area-averaged mean temperature in November was 1.83 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the fifth-warmest November on record for Australia since 1910.

• Australia's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 1.58 °C above the 1961–1990 average, while the national area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 2.07 °C above average, the second-warmest November since 1910.

• Queensland had its warmest November mean minimum temperature on record, 2.75 °C above the 1961–1990 average.

• Mean maximum temperatures were above average for Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, most of Queensland and South Australia and parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Mean maximum temperatures were below average for parts of northern Western Australia, western and central Northern Territory and north-western Queensland.

• Mean minimum temperatures were above average for most of Australia.

• Australia's area-averaged November rainfall total was 61% above the 1961–1990 average.

• November rainfall was average or above average for most of Australia except for southern Tasmania, parts of southern Victoria, far northern Queensland and south-western Western Australia.

Further information and tables of records for each state and the Northern Territory can be found in the individual regional climate summaries, published on 4 December 2024.

Temperatures

Australia's area-averaged mean temperature in November was 1.83 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the fifth-warmest November on record for Australia since 1910.

The area-averaged mean temperature for Queensland was the third-warmest on record for November, while for New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania this November was amongst the ten warmest on record.

Australia's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 1.58 °C above the 1961–1990 average. Mean maximum temperatures were above to very much above average (in the highest 10% of all Novembers since 1910) for Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, most of Queensland and South Australia, and parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Mean maximum temperatures for November were the highest on record for isolated areas on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.

Mean maximum temperatures were below average for parts of northern Western Australia, western and central Northern Territory and north-western Queensland.

The national area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 2.07 °C above average, the second-warmest on record for November. Mean minimum temperatures were above to very much above average (in the highest 10% of all Novembers since 1910) for most of Australia. Mean minimum temperatures for November were the highest on record for parts of the western Kimberley and Pilbara districts in Western Australia and areas in eastern and central Queensland and along the coast of New South Wales. Many coastal stations in these areas had record highest mean minimum temperature for November. 

Queensland had its warmest November mean minimum temperature on record, while for New South Wales mean minimum temperature was the third-warmest on record and the warmest since 2009. For all other states and territories except Tasmania, mean minimum temperatures this November were in the top ten warmest on record for the respective state or territory.

Rank ranges from 1 (lowest) to 115 (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

The national area-averaged November rainfall total was 61% above the 1961–1990 average.

November rainfall was above to very much above average (in the highest 10% of all Novembers since 1900) for most of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia, western and southern Queensland and northern Victoria, and large parts of New South Wales. Parts of the Gascoyne, Central West and Central Wheat Belt district in Western Australia had highest on record November rainfall totals.

Western Australia had its third-wettest November on record since 1900, and the wettest since 2008.

Rainfall was below to very much below average (in the lowest 10% of all Novembers since 1900) for southern Tasmania, parts of far northern Queensland and south-eastern Western Australia. Rainfall was below average also for parts of southern Victoria and Queensland's central coast.

Significant weather and records

Hot conditions across northern Australia

Persistent, intense heat that impacted most of northern Australia in October continued during November. Daily maximum temperatures were frequently in the  high 30s and low 40s and minimum temperatures in the mid to high 20s. Some early season maximum temperature records (the earliest date after 1 July a maximum temperature at least this high has been recorded) were set in parts of Queensland including 44.0 °C at Julia Creek Airport on the 8th and 43.2 °C at Mount Isa Aero on the 9th. A number of stations in Queensland also set November or early season minimum temperature records, while some stations had record number of consecutive days with maximum temperature at or above 40 °C in November:

• Camooweal Township with 15 days (83 years of data)
• Cloncurry Airport with 14 days (31 years of data)
• Mount Isa Aero with 13 days (57 years of data)
• Richmond Aero with 13 days (26 years of data).

A low to severe intensity heatwave developed from 4 November across large parts of the Kimberley and Northern Interior in Western Australia, the northern half of the Northern Territory including the Tiwi Islands and northern, north-western and central Queensland. From the 15th, heatwave conditions started to contract towards the Top End in the Northern Territory and the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. Towards the end of the month, heatwave conditions slowly eased in the Top End but continued in the far north Queensland.  Heatwave Warnings were issued throughout the month.

Severe thunderstorms in parts of eastern Australia

Severe thunderstorms developed over south-eastern Queensland and eastern new South Wales on 1 November bringing large to giant hail, heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Two thunderstorm cells were particularly severe: the first one developed south-west of Brisbane and passed directly over the inner Brisbane, bringing large hail and strong gusty winds; the second thunderstorm cell passed between Gympie and Noosa and across Rainbow Beach.

Hail of 6 to 8 cm in diameter was reported at multiple inland locations in south-eastern Queensland, including near Boonah, Beaudesert, Morningside and Flagstone. There were reports of localised flash flooding and damage to property/cars due to hail and thousands of customers in the Gympie region were left without power.

Between 9 and 13 November, low pressure troughs combined with humid air from the Coral Sea triggering thunderstorms across south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Many stations recorded daily rainfall totals of more than 60 mm, and the highest total of 108.0 mm was recorded at Beaudesert Alert (Queensland) in the 24 hours to 9 am on the 12th. On the 13th, large hail (3 to 4 cm in diameter) was observed in parts of the Northern Rivers in north-eastern New South Wales.

On 15 and 16 November, isolated severe thunderstorms impacted parts of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Thunderstorms brought showers, strong winds and hail. Hail with the diameter of 3 to 4 cm was observed in Gympie which also recorded 41.1 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours to 9 am on the 16th. Further south, Ripple Downs Alert had 131.2 mm of rainfall with 60 mm falling in 30 minutes. There was flash flooding in parts of south-eastern Queensland, including in the Brisbane metropolitan area.

A band of thunderstorms impacted much of central and south-eastern Queensland on the 19th, bringing daily rainfall totals between 30 and 60 mm, with some areas recording more than 80 mm. On the 20th, severe thunderstorms impacted areas around Charleville, with Charleville Aero recording 92.8 mm to 9 am on the 21st. Heavy rainfall led to flash flooding and a sharp increase in the water level of rivers and creeks in inland southern Queensland. Minor to moderate riverine flooding continued to the end of the month.

Late on the 20th and on the 21st, thunderstorms developed along the Queensland's coast as a low pressure trough combined with moist air from the Coral Sea. Persistent showers mostly impacted the south-east of the state and the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands districts. Many stations in these areas recorded daily rainfall totals of more than 100 mm, with the highest totals in the 24 hours to 9 am on the 22nd of 154.8 mm and 132.0 mm recorded at Coolangatta and Tully Sugar Mill respectively.

Very warm across large parts of the south

On 1 November, a low pressure trough developed near Australian west coast, directing warm air from the interior of the continent towards south-western Western Australia. On the 2nd and 3rd, warm conditions moved to South Australia, southern Northern Territory, New South Wales and south-western Queensland, pushed by the approaching cold front. Daytime temperatures were up to 14 °C above the November average. Nights were also warm with minimum temperatures up to 10 °C above average. Some stations had their early season maximum temperature records including Giles (69 years of data) which recorded 42.6 °C on the 3rd.

The south-westerly airflow that followed the cold front brought cooler conditions on the 4th. However, another cold front crossed the south-west coast of Western Australia early on the 5th, directing more warm air from the north towards the south and south-east.

A low to severe intensity heatwave developed from the 20th over most of south-eastern South Australia and Victoria, and parts of Tasmania and central and eastern New South Wales including ACT, with Severe Heatwave Warnings issued for Victoria's East Gippsland, and the South Coast and parts of eastern New South Wales.

The highest maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded on the 22nd and 23rd, with daytime temperatures up to 14 °C above the November average in most of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Adelaide and Melbourne recorded daytime temperatures in the high 30s, and Melbourne City had two consecutive November days with daily maximum temperature at or above 36.0 °C first time since 2007. Cooler conditions followed the south-westerly change that crossed South Australia and Victoria on the 23rd. However, in Tasmania and eastern New South Wales hot conditions persisted until the 27th when a cool change finally brought relief from the high temperatures. 

Strong winds, fires and rain in the south-east

On 16 and 17 November, a high pressure system located over the Tasman Sea and an approaching fast-moving cold front directed warm air from the interior of the continent towards the south-east.  Daytime temperatures were in the mid- to high-30s and low 40s, up to 14 °C above the November average. Multiple stations had wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h. The strongest gusts were recorded in Victoria, where in the morning on the 17th Mount Hotham, Falls Creek and Mount Buller had their record highest daily wind gust for November of 148 km/h, 124 km/h and 131 km/h respectively. Severe Weather Warnings for damaging winds were issued for parts of Victoria, Tasmania and Nes South Wales.

High temperatures and strong winds resulted in Fire Danger Ratings reaching extreme to catastrophic in parts of southern South Australia and western Victoria on the 16th and extreme in northern New South Wales and south-western Queensland on the 17th, with Total Fire Bans issued by local fire authorities.  There were a number of active fires in western Victoria.

A cold front then brought rainfall and thunderstorms which were most intense over eastern Victoria. Daily rainfall totals in the 24 hours to 9 am on the 18th were between 20 and 40 mm through eastern Victoria, eastern New South Wales and much of Tasmania, with isolated totals exceeding 50 mm, including at Mount Hotham (Victoria) which had 88.4 mm.

Unseasonal rain in large parts of Western Australia

Between 18 and 22 November, unseasonal rain and thunderstorms developed over large parts of western and central Western Australia due to deepening low pressure trough along the west coast and the associated low pressure system, which advected tropical moisture from the Indian Ocean. The low and trough moved slowly eastwards, bringing rainfall to eastern parts of the state.

Showers and thunderstorms developed around much of the west coast and adjacent inland areas on the 19th with widespread daily rainfall totals of 10 to 25 mm through the Central West, southern Gascoyne, South-West and parts of Wheatbelt districts. The highest daily rainfall totals were associated with thunderstorms in the state's far south-west, near Bunbury. In the 24 hours to 9 am on the 20th, many stations had their record highest daily rainfall total for November, including Brunswick Junction (116 years of data) which recorded 56.8 mm and Burekup (74 years of data) which recorded 92.0 mm.

On the following day, the most active thunderstorms and heaviest rain were over parts of the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne and Goldfields districts, with highest daily totals to 9 am on the 21st of 52.2 mm and 40.0 mm recorded at Mount House Airstrip and Yarraquin respectfully.

Thunderstorms and showers continued on the 22nd over northern and eastern parts of Western Australia, with region of rain and storms then moving into parts of South Australia and the Northern Territory. 

Tropical moisture brings rainfall to multiple states

From 23 November, a slow-moving low pressure trough and associated cloudband extended from the Northern Territory into South Australia, Victoria, Western New South Wales and Tasmania, bringing rain, showers and isolated thunderstorms. The moist tropical air resulted in unusually high dew point temperatures across much of the south-east. Darwin Airport had its highest November Preciptable Water (total water in a coulumn of air) on record on the 21st. Many sites in the south-east had near-record November Precipitable Water totals in the following days.

In the 24 hours to 9 am on the 24th, daily rainfall totals between 10 mm and 40 mm were recorded in central and south-eastern South Australia, including 42.0 mm at Mount Barry station (45 years of data) and 28.6 mm at Oodnadatta Airport (77 years of data), the highest and 2nd-highest November daily totals for these stations respectively. In the 24 hours to 9 am on the 25th, many stations across northern Victoria recorded rainfall totals between 30 and 50 mm, with the highest total of 73.8 mm recorded at Werrimull (96 years of data) in the state's north-west, the highest November daily rainfall total for this station.

On the 26th, an intensifying low pressure system centred south of South Australia and moving eastwards, advected more humid air over southern and south-eastern parts of the country. High humidity levels generated widespread morning fog, impacting particularly parts of Tasmania and Victoria including at Melbourne Airport, which disrupted operations on some days.

On the 27th, the cloudband extended from the Northern Territory, through western Queensland, western New South Wales, eastern South Australia to Victoria and Tasmania. Humid and unstable air led to development of severe thunderstorms across north-eastern Western Australia, central Northern Territory and large parts of south-eastern Australia. High daily rainfall totals in the 24 hours to 9 am on the 28th were recorded in north-eastern Victoria and across northern Tasmania. Dartmouth Reservoir (Victoria) which has 107 years of data, received 70.8 mm, it's record highest daily rainfall for November. Numerous thunderstorms impacted Greater Melbourne in the afternoon bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and flash flooding to many suburbs. Across northern Tasmania, many stations had daily rainfall totals in excess of 40 mm. Some stations had their record highest daily rainfall for November, while Savage River Mine (59 years of data), which recorded 104.6 mm and Deviot Jetty (37 years of data), which recorded 130.2 mm, had their record highest daily rainfall totals for any month (annual). There was moderate flooding along the North Esk River on the 28th, while a Flood Watch issued on the 29th covered all of northern Tasmania.

On the 28th and 29th, the area with storms moved into northern parts of the Northern Territory, western and southern Queensland and much of New South Wales. The highest daily rainfall totals to 9 am on the 28th were recorded in the Illawarra and the Central West slopes and Plains districts in New South Wales and the North West district in Queensland, with totals generally 30 to 60 mm. Heavy rainfall resulted in flash flooding while damaging winds uprooted trees in some areas.

Rank ranges from 1 (lowest) to 125 (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.