Australia in October 2025

In brief

• Australia's national area-averaged mean temperature in October was 2.51 °C above the 1961-1990 average, the third-highest for October since national observations started in 1910.
• Area-averaged mean temperature for Queensland and the Northern Territory was the highest on record for October, 3.29 °C and 2.82 °C above the 1961-1990 average respectively.

• Australia's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 2.81 °C above average, the fifth-highest on record for October since 1910, while the national area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 2.20 °C above average, the third-highest on record.

• Both mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures were above average for most of the Australia's mainland and close to or below average for Tasmania.
• Australia's area-averaged October rainfall total was 2% above the 1961–1990 average.

• October rainfall was above average for Tasmania, much of Western Australia, South Australia and northern Queensland, and parts of the Northern Territory.

• Rainfall was below average for much of New South Wales, and parts of Victoria and southern and central Western Australia.

 Further information and tables of records for each state and Territory are available in the individual regional climate summaries, published on 6 November 2025.

Temperatures

The national area-averaged mean temperature in October was 2.51 °C above the 1961-1990 average, the third-highest for October since 1910.

The area-averaged mean temperature for Queensland and the Northern Territory was the highest on record for October, 3.29 °C and 2.82 °C above the 1961-1990 average respectively. For New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia, area-averaged mean temperature was the third-highest, fifth-highest and seventh-highest on record respectively.

Warm conditions persisted throughout the month across large parts of the mainland with daily maximum and minimum temperatures at times reaching up to 10 °C above the October average in some areas. Low to severe intensity heatwave conditions developed across northern parts of the Northern Territory and parts of Queensland and Western Australia and continued during most of the month.

Australia's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 2.81 °C above average, the fifth-highest on record for October since 1910. Mean maximum temperatures were above to very much above average (in the highest 10% of all Octobers since 1910) for most of the mainland. Mean maximum temperatures for October were the highest on record for parts of central and southern Queensland extending into north-eastern New South Wales, and central [parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Many stations in these areas had their record highest October mean maximum temperatures. Mean maximum temperatures were below average for most of western Tasmania.

For both Queensland and the Northern Territory, area-averaged mean maximum temperature was the highest on record for October. Area-averaged mean maximum temperature for Tasmania was the lowest since 2003.

Australia's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 2.20 °C above average, the third-highest on record for October. Mean minimum temperatures were above to very much above average (in the highest 10% of all Octobers since 1910) for most of the mainland. Mean minimum temperatures for October were the highest on record for some areas scattered across northern Australia and some stations had their highest mean minimum temperature records for October.

For Queensland and the Narthern Territory, the area-averaged mean minimum temperature was the highest on record, while for South Australia it was the third highest on record.

Mean minimum temperatures were below average for small areas in western parts of Western Australia, south-central New South Wales and northern Victoria.

Rank ranges from 1 (lowest) to 116 (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 October rainfall total was 2% above the 1961-1990 average.

October rainfall was above to very much above average (in the highest 10% of all Octobers since 1900) for:

• much of Western Australia
• across Tasmania
• central and western parts of South Australia
• northern and western Northern Territory
• northern Queensland.

Rainfall was below to very much below average (in the lowest 10% of all Octobers since 1900) for:

• much of New South Wales
• parts of eastern and northern Victoria
• areas in south-eastern and western Queensland
• southern and central Western Australia. 

For New South Wales, area-averaged rainfall was the lowest since 2019, around 60% below the October average.

Significant weather and records

Severe thundrstorms in south-eastern Queensland

On the afternoon of 2 October, severe thunderstorms developed over the Wide Bay and Burnett region in south-eastern Queensland. Rainfall totals were low, but thunderstorms delivered large hail in the area around Maryborough, Childers and Harvey Bay. The size of hailstorms varied, but the diameter was generally greater than 4 cm. Giant hailstones observed in Tinana (south-west of Maryborough) were up to 8 cm in diameter.

Widespread rainfall in southern Australia

A cold front and an associated low pressure trough which advected tropical moisture from the Indian Ocean producing a cloudband, moved across south-western Western Australia on 3 October, with a band of rain, isolated thunderstorms and showers. The front and trough moved slowly eastwards to central and eastern parts of Western Australia, southern South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales, and finally contracting to the central New South Coast on 7 October. Daily rainfall totals were generally 5 to 15 mm with locally higher totals. The highest daily rainfall total during this event was 60.0 mm recorded at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport, the record daily total for October for this station which has 87 years of data. The average October rainfall for the interior of Western Australia is less than 25 mm.

Strong winds in the south-east

A cold front crossed south-eastern Australia on 10 October with strong to damaging winds, showers, and cooler temperatures. With a high pressure ridge stretching across southern parts of the mainland, a deep low pressure system to the south of Tasmania and a strong change of pressure between them, a cold front brought winds with gusts in excess of 80 km/h to south-eastern South Australia, much of Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales. Multiple stations had record daily wind gusts for October. The strongest wind gusts recorded in Tasmania were 163 km/h, 139 km/h and 130 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse, Scotts Peak Dam and kunanyi/Mount Wellington Pinnacle respectively.

Severe Weather Warnings for damaging winds were issued covering most of Tasmania, lower south-eastern South Australia and southern parts of Victoria. There were reports of power outages across Tasmania. Prolonged windy conditions resulted in large waves and swell off the southern coast, with waves up to 7 m off the south-eastern South Australia and south-western Victoria.

Tropical moisture brings thunderstorms and showers to northern and eastern Australia

Between 10 and 18 October, warm conditions and tropical moisture advected by low pressure troughs resulted in unstable conditions and thunderstorms across northern, central and eastern parts of the mainland.  On 10 October, thunderstorms developed over northern parts of the Northern Territory, inland Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales; rainfall totals were generally low to moderate but a cluster of severe thunderstorms that crossed the Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands and Mid North Coast districts in New South Wales brought large to giant (more than 5 cm in diameter) hail to some areas. A damaging wind gust of 100km/h was reported with these storms at Glen Innis Airport AWS, its record daily wind gust for October. On 11 October, thunderstorms impacted the Kimberley in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, north-eastern New South Wales and central and south-eastern Queensland. The highest daily totals in the 24 hours to 9 am on 12 October was recorded at Northern Territory's Old Delamere (112 years of data) which observed 95.2 mm, its record daily rainfall total for October.

On 12 October, widespread thunderstorms impacted parts of central and south-eastern Queensland. Large to giant hail was observed in an area north of Woodford, while in the 24 hours to 9 am on 13 October, the Brisbane weather station recorded daily rainfall total of 6.4 mm, its first daily total greater than 1.0 mm since 22 August (51 days).

On 15 October, thunderstorms developed over northern Western Australia, with daily totals generally between 20 and 50 mm and locally higher, including Gibb River (104 years of data) which observed 70.4 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am on 16 October, its record daily rainfall total for October.

17 October saw widespread thunderstorms, some severe, impact northern and eastern New South Wales, bringing heavy rainfall and damaging winds. Large to giant hailstones were observed at many locations including, Coonabarabran, Molong, Gulgong and Camden. On 18 October, thunderstorms impacted south-eastern Queensland, with large to giant hail reported at Maroon, Samford and near Caboolture.

Very warm across large parts of the country

Hot, dry and sunny conditions dominated across large parts of Australia during October, resulting in above average temperatures and many stations set their record highest October temperatures or early season records (i.e. the highest temperature observed so early in the season). It was particularly warm between 17 and 22 October due to a northerly airflow.

On 17 October, an approaching cold front directed very warm air from the north to the central and southern parts of Western Australia. On the following days, warm conditions moved eastwards, to South Australia, southern parts of the Northern Territory, southern Queensland and New South Wales. Maximum and minimum temperatures were 12 to 18 °C above average. Many stations set October daily maximum temperature records of more than 40.0 °C. On 21 October, Birdsville Airport (Queensland) with 46.1 °C and Wanaaring Post Office (New South Wales) with 44.9 °C set their respective state October records, while Moomba Airport (South Australia) with 45.0 °C was 0.4 °C below the state October record. On 22 October, record daily maximum temperatures for October were observed along much of the New South Wales coast, while a number of stations in the state's interior had record daily minimum temperatures. Brewon AWS recorded a minimum temperature of 30.1 °C, a new state record minimum temperature for October. Hot and dry weather with strong, gusty winds ahead of the cold front resulted in extreme fire danger conditions for the Greater Sydney, Hunter, Illawarra and Central West Slopes and Plains districts on 22 October.

During this event, some stations had a record number of consecutive October days with maximum temperature equal or above 40.0 °C, including:

• Cutin Springs in the Northern Territory with 4 days (60 years of data)
• Longreach Aero in Queensland with 9 days (59 years of data)
• Camooweal Township in Queensland with 10 days (84 years of data).

A cool change brought a decrease in temperatures to South Australia and New South Wales from 22 October, but very warm conditions continued in Queensland until 27 October.

On 27 October, warm north-westerly winds resulted in high daily maximum temperatures across Southeast Coast and Wide Bay and Burnett districts and a number of stations in coastal areas set records for the warmest October day, including 39.1 °C at Brisbane Airport and Sunshine Coast Airport, and 38.3 °C at Coolangatta, which all surpassed their previous October maximum temperature records by more than 2 °C.

Widespread thunderstorms and damaging winds in the south-east

On 21 and 22 October, south-eastern Australia experienced a complex weather event marked by severe thunderstorms, intense rainfall and destructive winds, driven by a rapidly developing low-pressure system. The system passed along the coast of SA and Vic, and the associated cold front swept across South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and new South Wales bringing a band of thunderstorms, some severe, and showers, as well as widespread damaging to locally destructive winds. The low pressure system moved to the Tasman Sea on 23 October, easing conditions across much of the south-east of the country, with cooler conditions following the front.

Most of Victoria experienced damaging winds on 22 October, with the strongest wind gusts recorded in the mountains or at the exposed coastal locations, including 130 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse, 120 km/h at Colac (Mount Gillibrand) and 117 km/h at Falls Creek. There were widespread impacts due to the strong wind, including uprooted trees and power outages. Melbourne also experienced damaging winds with 94 km/h recorded at Melbourne Airport and 107 km/h at Fawkner Beacon. The highest rainfall totals were observed in Tasmania where 20 to 40 mm was recorded at stations in the state's north and east.

A low pressure system that developed south of the coast of South Australia on 25 October interacted with tropical moisture bringing a broad band of rain and isolated thunderstorms to central and eastern South Australia. On 26 October, the low pressure system passed through the Bass Straight bringing widespread 20 to 40 mm rainfall totals to the central and eastern Victoria and south-eastern New South Wales. A band of severe thunderstorms moved across the west of the state with strong winds, and a likely tornado resulted in building damage, fallen trees and power outages in Melbourne's western suburbs. The highest daily total during this event was 71.8 mm at Mount Baw Baw. In the 24 hours to 9 am on 27 October, Melbourne (Olympic Park) recorded 35.4 mm, the highest daily rainfall since April 2024. Flash flooding was observed in parts of the Greater Melbourne.

Thunderstorms in Queensland and New South Wales

Between 26 and 29 October, low pressure troughs brought widespread thunderstorms, showers and gusty winds to north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern and central Queensland.

On 26 October, severe thunderstorms impacted southern and south-eastern Queensland, including the Brisbane Metro, parts of the Darling Downs and the south-east coast. Intense rainfall and large to giant hail were observed across Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba regions. Archerfield Airport and Amberley AMO recorded wind gusts of 96 km/h and 94 km/h respectively, the second-highest and third-highest gusts in October for these stations respectively. There were reports of uprooted trees and damage to structures and thousands of properties were left without power.

On 27 October, severe thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall to some areas, as well as gusty winds to south-eastern and central Queensland. Flash flooding was observed in some areas and large hail was reported across the Wide Bay.

Large to giant hail was reported in the area of Gladstone in Queensland's Capricornia district on 28 October, while on the following day Rockhampton recorded giant hail with estimated diameter of 7 cm.

During this period, the most widespread rainfall was recorded in the 24 hours to 9 am on 29 October. Large parts of New South Wales and eastern Queensland recorded daily totals of 20 to 40 mm, with the highest totals recorded across the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales where several stations had more than 100 mm. Brisbane Aero had 61.0 mm and Brisbane city recorded 53.8 mm, the highest October daily totals at these stations for at least four years.

Rank ranges from 1 (lowest) to 126 (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.