Climate highlights and notable events
Australia
- National annual mean temperature 0.56 °C above the 1961–1990 average
- Rainfall above average for parts of the east, north, and west; annual rainfall 9% above 1961–1990 average
- Rainfall deficiencies affecting greater south-eastern Queensland cleared in November
- Murray–Darling Basin water storages increased over winter and spring
- La Niña to start 2021, faded by March before emerging again in spring, La Niña declared in late November
- Negative Indian Ocean Dipole in winter and spring
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Queensland
- The year commenced with the south-eastern quadrant of Queensland affected by drought
- Deficiencies were cleared from Queensland in November, but storage levels remained low in south-east Queensland
- Severe thunderstorms in Queensland brought giant hail at times during October, including hail up to 16 cm in diameter at Yalboroo (between Mackay and Proserpine) on the 19th
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Murray–Darling Basin
- Murray–Darling Basin water storages saw significant increases over winter and spring, reaching 91% of capacity at the end of November; the highest level since May 2012
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Eastern Australia
- Heavy rainfall in late March resulted in significant coastal and inland riverine flooding in eastern and central Australia, particularly across eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland, and some parts of eastern Victoria and eastern Tasmania
- Australia's wettest November on record delivered very much above average November rainfall to large areas, and caused flooding in numerous rivers in New South Wales and Queensland from November into December
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South-eastern Australia
- A low-intensity to severe-intensity heatwave affected most of mainland south-east Australia in the days leading up to 26 January, with temperatures reaching more than 40 °C across large inland areas on the 24th
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Victoria
- A complex low pressure system in the first part of June brought heavy rainfall and damaging winds across Victoria, bringing down trees, causing structural damage and extensive damage to the electrical supply and telecommunications networks, and road closures
- Major flooding occurred in multiple catchments in the June event, particularly through West Gippsland
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New South Wales and the ACT
- New South Wales had its sixth-wettest year on record
- Second-wettest March on record for the state, and wettest November on record
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North-western Australia
- Widespread, long-running heatwaves affected the Kimberley and Top End during October, and parts of northern Australia in November and December
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Northern Territory
- Darwin Airport had 44 days of 35 °C or above in 2021; equal-second with 2020 (the record is 45 days in 2019)
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Western Australia
- The year commenced with parts of south-west to central Western Australia affected by drought; deficiencies were cleared from Western Australia in March
- For south-west Western Australia, 2021 was the wettest year since 1964
- Severe tropical cyclone Seroja made landfall just south of Kalbarri, the southernmost landfall for a tropical cyclone since the 1950s
- Perth experienced four consecutive days of 40 °C or above at the end of 2021, starting on Christmas Day
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South Australia
- Heavy rain and hail resulted in damaged crops and in flooding in South Australia's Riverland on 6 November
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Tasmania
- Heavy rain and severe winds on 9 June caused power outages and led to a few sites observing their highest June daily rainfall on record
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