Wednesday, 6 January 2016 - Annual Climate Summary for Queensland - Product code IDCKGC54R0

Queensland in 2015: Third-warmest year on record; dry across much of the State

2015 was the third-warmest year on record for Queensland. Rainfall was well below the long-term average in western, central and southern parts of the State.

• Third-warmest year on record for Queensland
• Statewide mean maximum temperature sixth-warmest on record
• Statewide mean minimum temperature fifth-warmest on record
  
• Exceptional heatwave in March
• Tropical cyclones Nathan and Marcia make landfall
• Major flooding associated with Marcia in the Fitzroy, Burnett and Mary River catchments
• Below average rainfall for the State; record low annual rainfall at some locations
• Dry in parts of western, central and southern Queensland, exacerbating long-term rainfall deficient areas
• Severe thunderstorms during January, March, all spring months and December

Queensland had its third-warmest year on record in 2015. The statewide mean temperature was 1.03 °C above the historical average and 0.22 °C below the record warmest year in 2005. The statewide mean maximum temperature was the sixth-warmest on record, with an anomaly of 1.04 °C above the long-term average. Much of the central and western parts of the State recorded well above average mean maximum temperatures, with areas in the far north and the southeast also warmer than usual. Only small pockets on the far northeast coast were near-average. The statewide mean minimum temperature was the fifth-warmest on record, and 1.01 °C above the long-term average. Parts of the Cape York Peninsula, central coast and southwest had below average mean minimum temperatures, while large areas of the central west and southern interior recorded well above average mean minimum temperatures.

Hot conditions were experienced across much of western Queensland through late February and March. An extended hot spell saw a record number of consecutive days of 40 °C or above including 28 consecutive days at Urandangi, 20 days at Boulia, and 10 days at Longreach. An exceptionally hot March saw numerous record-breaking events, including the first time a Queensland station has recorded a mean monthly maximum temperature of 40 °C or above in March, with Julia Creek, Winton and Century Mine all breaking this record. When Birdsville reached 46.5 °C on the 19th of March, it was the highest temperature ever recorded in Australia in the second half of March, and Queensland's hottest March day on record, surpassing the previous record set on 1 March 1923.  See Special Climate Statement 51.

In contrast, a significant cold spell occurred over southern Queensland from the period 11 to 17 July, as a sequence of strong cold fronts affected Queensland. Snow was reported at various locations in the Granite Belt, and sleet was reported at Eukey on 16 July, turning to snow and falling heavily at time early on the 17th. There were reports of snow flurries as far north as Toowoomba. The snow accumulations around Stanthorpe were the heaviest to have occurred since 1984. 

The statewide rainfall during 2015 was 487.5 mm, 22% below the historical average. Rainfall was below average in large parts of western, central and southern Queensland, and areas of the east coast, and pockets of the Gulf Country and the Cape York Peninsula. Townsville had its driest year on record, receiving an annual total of 397.2 mm, and the lowest rainfall recorded at this site in 74 years. Ingham also had its lowest annual rainfall on record. Near-average rainfall was recorded in the southeastern quarter of the State, and in some places in far northern and western Queensland. Above average rainfall occurred in pockets of the far west, southeast coast, on the north tropical coast between Cape Melville and Cooktown, areas of the Wide Bay and Burnett, and Capricornia districts. Much of the annual rainfall, particularly in the far west, occurred early or late in the year. For example, Mount Isa had 532.4 mm for 2015, and 443 mm of this fell in January and December. Another notable site was Kowanyama, with this station tracking well below the long-term annual average rainfall up to November, before receiving record high monthly December rainfall (618.8 mm), resulting in near average annual falls.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notable events in 2015

• Localised flash flooding in the Gold Coast from slow-moving, heavy showers on 11 January.
• Birdsville Airport received more rain in January 2015 than for the whole of 2014.
• Widespread rainfall on the east coast between Townsville and Bundaberg in the 24 hours to 9am on 22 January, and between Townsville and Mackay in the 24 hours to 9am on 23 January.
• Tropical cyclone Marcia made landfall on 20 February at Shoalwater Bay as a category 5 system.
• Flooding as a result of Marcia was significant for catchments extending from the Dawson, Don and Dee Rivers in the Fitzroy River catchment to the Upper Brisbane River.
• Charleville had its driest February on record, with no rainfall recorded.
• March statewide mean, maximum and minimum temperatures highest on record.
• Persistent hot conditions through much of western Queensland through February and March. Record consecutive days of  40 °C or above at Urandangi (28 days), Boulia (20 days) and Longreach (10 days) all records for hot spells ending in March. See Special Climate Statement 51.
• Severe thunderstorms produced hail up to 6 cm in diameter at Chinchilla on 21 March and caused flash flooding in numerous suburbs in greater Brisbane.
• Tropical cyclone Nathan made landfall on 20 March between Cape Melville and Cape Flattery.
• Flash flooding in Boonah, Beaudesert and Kooralbyn, with swift water rescues occurring on Boonah-Beaudesert Road on 4 April. Rainfall continued across southern and southeastern Queensland on 4 and 5 April with some locations receiving their highest April daily rainfall on record.
• An East Coast Low generated very heavy rainfall around Caboolture on 2 May, with flash flooding in various locations around northern suburbs of Brisbane. Heavy rain also fell in southern suburbs including Wolffdene, Waterford, Greenbank, Calamvale and Carole Park.
• June statewide mean and minimum temperatures both the third-warmest on record. Queensland had its warmest first half of the year on record.
• A rainband with embedded thunderstorms formed on 16 and 17 June and produced heavy rainfall between Mitchell and the Great Dividing Range.
• Cairns recorded its wettest June on record as a result of persistent, moist easterly flow onto the northern east coast of Queensland.
• Tropical cyclone Raquel formed to the northeast of the Solomon Islands at the end of June, and was a rare winter southern hemisphere tropical cyclone.
• Snow was reported in various locations in the Granite Belt on 17 July, and the largest accumulations of snow since 1984. Snow depths of up to 5 cm were reported.
• Severe thunderstorms produced large hail in multiple suburbs of Brisbane, in Rockhampton, Gympie and Warwick on 22 September; and hail between 4 cm and 5 cm in diameter at Fernvale, Rosewood and Dayboro on 27 October.
• Severe thunderstorms caused extensive structural damage to buildings in Booyal and Chinchilla on 28 October. Hail up to 4 cm in diameter was reported from Indooroopilly, Toowong and Archerfield.
• Numerous severe thunderstorms occurred during November. Moranbah recorded a maximum wind gust of 156 km/h on 16 November. Large hail was reported from numerous locations in the Darling Downs, Wide Bay and Burnett, Central Highlands and Coalfields, and throughout the southeast coastal districts.
• An active monsoon trough across northern Australia produced significant rainfall across the Gulf Country, Cape York Peninsula, the north tropical coast and in the North West districts at the end of December. Kowanyama had its wettest December on record.
• Thunderstorms formed along a surface trough extending from the northwest to the southeast of the State on 27 December, with locally heavy falls at various locations, including Gin Gin with over 100 mm in one hour.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

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Monthly maps
	Rainfall rank	Maximum temperature rank	Minimum temperature rank
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

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* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported.

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top