Australia in March 2025

In brief

• The national area-averaged mean temperature in March was 2.41 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the warmest March on record for Australia since 1910.

• Area-averaged mean temperature was the warmest on record for New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia; for all other states and territories it was in the top ten warmest on record for respective state or territory.

• Australia's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 2.29 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the second-warmest on record for March since 1910. The national area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 2.53°C above average, the warmest on record.

• Both mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures were above average for most of Australia.

• Australia's area-averaged March rainfall total was 47% above the 1961–1990 average.

• March rainfall was average or above average for most of Australia, including the third-wettest March on record for Queensland since 1900.
• Rainfall was below average for most of Tasmania, parts of the mainland's south and west, and parts of Arnhem land in the Northern Territory.

Further information and tables of records for each state and Territory are available in the individual regional climate summaries, published on 3 April 2025.

Temperatures

Australia's area-averaged mean temperature in March was 2.41 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the warmest March on record for Australia since national observations began in 1910. The previous record was 2.03 °C above average set in 2019.

Area-averaged mean temperatures were the warmest on record for March for New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. For Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, the area-averaged mean temperatures were in the top ten warmest on record for the respective state or territory.

Australia's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 2.29 °C above average, the second-warmest March on record. Mean maximum temperatures were above to very much above average (in the highest 10% of all Marches since 1910) for Tasmania, Victoria, most of South Australia and southern New South Wales, large parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and areas of northern and eastern Queensland. Mean maximum temperatures for March were the highest on record for large areas in the south-west of Western Australia and many stations had their record highest mean maximum temperatures for March, including some with more than 50 years of data.

For Western Australia, the area-averaged mean maximum temperature was the warmest on record for March, 2.88 °C above average. For all other states and territories except Queensland, the area-averaged mean maximum temperatures were in the top ten warmest on record for the respective state or territory.

Mean maximum temperatures were below average for an area in the Queensland's Gulf Country.

The national area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 2.53 °C above average, the warmest on record, surpassing the previous March record of 2.11 °C above average in 2016. Mean minimum temperatures were above to very much above average for most of Australia. Mean minimum temperatures for March were the highest on record for large parts of the mainland. Some stations in these areas had their record highest mean minimum temperature for March.

Area-averaged mean minimum temperatures were the warmest on record for all states and territories except Victoria and Tasmania.

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 March rainfall total was 47% above the 1961–1990 average.

Queensland had its third-wettest March on record with area-averaged rainfall 124% above average, the wettest March since 2011.

March rainfall was above to very much above average (in the highest 10% of all Marches since 1900) for most of Queensland, the Northern Territory and north-eastern and inland South Australia, large parts of New South Wales, northern and south-western Western Australia and areas of eastern Victoria. Rainfall was the highest on record for March for areas of central western, northern and south-eastern Queensland and in small areas  of north-eastern New South Wales.

Rainfall in March was below to very much below average (in the lowest 10% of all Marches since 1900) for most of Tasmania and south-eastern South Australia. Rainfall was also below average for parts of Western Australia, western Victoria and the Top End in the Northern Territory.

Tasmania had its driest March since 2005, with the state area-averaged rainfall total 51% below average.

Significant weather and records

Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred

A tropical low (22U) developed in the Coral Sea on 20 February, reached tropical cyclone (TC) strength on 23 February and was named TC Alfred. TC Alfred strengthened to a Category 3 system (Severe TC) on 26 February while tracking southwards and reached its peak intensity as a Category 4 system on 27 February, generating strong winds; Frederick Reef in the Coral Sea recorded a maximum wind gust of 150 km/h on 28 February. On 2 March, Severe TC Alfred weakened to Category 2 system, then turned westwards, slowly tracking towards the south-eastern Queensland coast and stalling several times in the following days. As TC Alfred approached, coastal areas were impacted by huge waves and abnormally high tides, and warnings were issued including for tropical cyclone, flood watch, coastal hazards and hazardous swells. TC Alfred crossed Moreton Island on 7 March and stalled just off the coast from Bribie Island early on 8 March further weakening to a tropical low. The system remained slow moving near Bribie Island for much of the day, crossed it at 8 pm AEST and the mainland coast at 9 pm AEST on 8 February.

As the system slowly approached the mainland and moved inland, it brought heavy to intense rainfall including severe thunderstorms. Between 9 am on 6 March and 9 am on 10 March, over 200 mm was recorded from an area extending from the southern Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast districts in Queensland to the Northern Tablelands and Mid-North Coast districts in New South Wales, with falls greater than 800 mm in isolated areas of the Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands districts of New South Wales and greater than 1000 mm in Queensland's Gold Coast Hinterland. The highest rainfall total during the event was 1009.8 mm at Lower Springbrook Alert in Queensland. Many stations had their record highest daily rainfall for March or for any month, including 261.4 mm at Hervey Bay Airport (27 years of data) (with 189.0 mm in 2 hours) and 427.3 mm at K'gari Eurong (43 years of data) respectively in the 24 hours to 9 am on 9 March. 

There were significant impacts associated with TC Alfred, including riverine and flash flooding, large scale power outages, extensive coastal erosion between the Sunshine Coast (Queensland) and Coffs Harbour (New South Wales),  and reports of damage to properties, uprooted trees and closed business, schools and transport.

For more information see also Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred (22U)

Heatwaves and temperature records

Throughout late February to mid-March, a large slow-moving high pressure system and associated ridging produced periods of settled conditions across Australia's south and the interior. Limited cloud cover allowed for intense heating, leading to the development of low to severe intensity heatwave conditions across large parts of the country. Between 1 and 5 March, daytime temperatures were 6 to 12 °C above average and temperatures were above 40 °C across large parts of the interior, northern and western parts of the mainland. Many stations had their record highest daily maximum temperatures for March, including:

• 46.1 °C at Oodnadatta Airport in South Australia (77 years of data) on 1 March
• 44.5 °C at Alice Springs Airport in the Northern Territory (84 years of data) on 1 March
• 44.9 °C at Rabbit Flat in the Northern Territory (29 years of data) on 2 March
• 45.9 °C at Learmonth Airport in Western Australia (51 years of data) on 3 March
• 43.2 °C at Camooweal Township in Queensland (84 years of data) on 4 March and 
• 44.2 °C at Cloncurry Airport in Queensland (32 years of data) on 5 March.

1, 2 and 3 March all exceeded the previous record for Australia's hottest March day. 1 March  was the hottest, with an average maximum temperature nationally of 38.7 °C, compared to previous record of 38.1 °C on 10 March 2019.

Thunderstorms across the south-west of Western Australia

On 13 March, a low pressure system and associated low pressure trough brought showers, thunderstorms and strong winds to most of Western Australia's South West Land Division and Goldfields districts. Wind gusts above 60 km/h were recorded at a number of stations, with strongest wind gusts of 113 km/h and 93 km/h measured on 13 March at Gooseberry Hill (east of Perth) and Laverton Aero respectively. Daily rainfall totals to 9 am on 14 March were generally between 10 and 50 mm and locally higher, and some stations had their record highest daily rainfall for March including Mount Barker (140 years of data) which had 80.4 mm. Albany (149 years of data) had 126.4 mm, its record highest daily rainfall for any month. Flash flooding from heavy rainfall was observed across the Suth West Land Division and Goldfields districts which have average March rainfall between 10 and 50 mm.

Heavy rainfall across the Northern Tropical Coast of Queensland

Between 13 and 19 March, strong south-easterly trade winds brought heavy rainfall across the Queensland's tropical east coast. From 17 March, rainfall was further enhanced by a low pressure trough that stretched across the Gulf of Carpentaria. The highest daily totals were across the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and northern Herbert and Lower Burdekin districts. Cardwell Range recorded 402.8 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am on 20 March, the highest daily total during this event; the station also recorded the highest 7-day total (ending 9 am on 20 March) of 1090.8 mm. 

Rainfall and fluctuating temperatures in south-eastern Australia

A strong cold front moved across South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales on 15 and 16 March. Warm northerly winds ahead of the front directed by a high-pressure system in the Tasman Sea, resulted in temperatures up to 12 °C above the March average across most of south-eastern Australia. On 15 March, some stations with more than 30 years of data had their record highest daily maximum temperature for March. Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) in South Australia, which has 100 years of data, observed 41.7 °C on 15 March, its second-highest daily maximum temperature for March, and the highest in March since 1942. Nights were also warmer than average, particularly in northern Victoria and New South Wales on 16 March when for many stations temperature did not drop below 25.0 °C. Some stations had their record highest daily minimum temperature for March. Sydney (Observatory Hill) had 24.5 °C, its fourth-warmest March night on record in more than 150 years of composite data.

The south-westerly airflow that followed in the wake of a cold front brought cooler conditions to southern South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania on 16 March, and to New South Wales on 17 March, with maximum temperatures up to 8 °C below average. A light dusting of snow was observed at higher mountain peaks in Victoria and Tasmania. Wind gusts exceeded 80 km/h at many stations across Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales, with the strongest gust of 137 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse (Victoria) on 16 March.

Another cold front crossed south-eastern Australia on 20 and 21 March with gusty winds, showers and locally severe thunderstorms. This front brought more rainfall to south-eastern South Australia with Adelaide  and the Hills receiving rainfall totals between 5 and 15 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am on 21 March. This rainfall was the highest for several months in regions that have been impacted by short and long-term rainfall deficiencies. Severe thunderstorms brought heavy falls to parts of Victoria including Greater Melbourne; flash flooding was reported in many areas. The highest daily totals to 9 am on 21 March were in the state's north-east where 30 to 50 mm were recorded.

Rain and thunderstorms in much of inland Australia

Between 22 and 31 March, tropical moisture was advected across much of Australia by a low pressure trough and an associated low pressure system, resulting in widespread showers, rain and thunderstorms with heavy falls in much of inland Australia. Showers and thunderstorms initially spread across much of the Northern Territory, northern South Australia and northern and western Queensland, then slowly extended across central and southern Queensland towards the east coast and into parts of New South Wales. Large parts of western Queensland received up to 4 times their March average rainfall, while in four days from 23 to 26 March, parts of southern and south-western Queensland had more than their annual average rainfall. Many stations across Queensland and northern New South Wales set March or annual daily rainfall records during this event, including:

• 201.0 mm at Alderley Station (42 years of data), Qld, in the 24 hours to 9 am on 24 March
• 207.0 mm at Navarra (28 years of data), Qld, to 9 am on 26 March
• 347.0 mm at Sunbury (50 years of data), Qld, in the 24 hours to 9 am on 27 March
• 290.8 mm at Lady Eliot Island (87 years of data), Qld, to 9 am on 29 March
• 114.4 mm at Pilliga Post Office (143 years of data), NSW, on 29 March) to 9 am on 29 March.

Several stations had weekly rainfall totals (ending 9 am on 31 March) exceeding 400 mm, with the highest total of 602.0 mm recorded at Sunbury in Queensland.

There was minor to major flooding across multiple catchments in western Queensland, including in the Channel Country. Along the Cooper Creek at Windorah, it was estimated that major flood level, near the January 1974 floods, occurred on the afternoon of 29 March. Upstream at Jundah, the river level peaked above the 1974 and 1955 floods. The Bulloo River at Thargomindah was last reported at 6.95 metres on the morning of 31 March, above the January 1974 level of 6.78 metres.

Widespread cloudiness and rainfall resulted in daily temperatures up to 12 °C below average across large parts of central and eastern Australia.

Tropical Cyclone Dianne

Tropical low (28U) started to develop to the north-west of the Kimberley coast (Western Australia) on 27 March. It initially moved eastwards, along the monsoon trough, while strengthening. On 28 March it started tracking southwards, towards the north-western coast of Western Australia, reaching tropical cyclone strength and was named Tropical Cyclone (TC) Dianne. TC Dianne crossed the Kimberley coast at 2 am AWST on 29 March as a Category 1 system, to the east of Cockatoo Island, north of Derby. It weakened rapidly as it moved inlands and was downgraded to a tropical low. Ex-TC Dianne brought rainfall to inland parts of the Kimberley and adjacent parts of the Northern Interior. In the 24 hours to 9 am on 29 March, Derby Aero (72 years of data) had daily rainfall total of 153.0 mm, its second-highest rainfall total for March.

TC Dianne was the 10th tropical cyclone in the Australian region and the 3rd tropical cyclone to make landfall in the 2024-25 season.

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.