South East Queensland
Climate overview

Rainfall across the South East Queensland (SEQ) region was generally above average for the 2012–13 year (Figure C1). The total area-averaged rainfall over the SEQ region during the 2012–13 year was 1,151 mm, which is well above the long-term area-averaged rainfall of 971 mm (1900-2013).

These rainfall conditions are similar to those experienced in the 2011-12 (see Account 2012), when rainfall was also very much above average in places for the region. This contributed to a slight increase in the inflow volumes into the water storages during the 2012-13 year (see 1.1 Storages).

Figure C1 Map of annual rainfall deciles for the South East Queensland region during the 2012–13 year

Annual rainfall ranged from more than 2100 mm in a localised area in the southeast of the region, to less than 1000 mm through much of the central and western parts of the region (Figure C2).

Figure C2 Map of total annual rainfall for the South East Queensland region during the 2012–13 year

Generally below-average rainfall was experienced across much of Australia during the 2012-13 year. There were no strong influences from large-scale climate drivers over the 2012-13 year. Conditions in the Pacific Ocean were neutral and a negative Indian Ocean Dipole event developed during winter 2013 (at the end of the 2012-13 year).

The area-averaged monthly rainfall was generally below the long-term average for the first half of the 2012-13 year and above average for the second half (Figure C3). January 2013 was the wettest month of the 2012-13 year in the SEQ region, the fourth wettest January on record and rainfall almost three times that usually received. February 2013 was also a wet month; the area-averaged rainfall was almost double the long-term average. In contrast, August 2012 was the third driest on record for the region.

Figure C3 Graph of total monthly rainfall for the South East Queensland region during the 2012–13 year compared with the long-term average and percentiles for the region

Evapotranspiration across the South East Queensland (SEQ) region was generally average to above average over the reporting period (Figure C4). The total area-averaged evapotranspiration over the region during 2012–13 was 838 mm.  

Figure C4 Map of annual evapotranspiration deciles for the South East Queensland region during the 2012–13 year

The total annual evapotranspiration for the SEQ region during 2012–13 is shown in Figure C5. The long-term average evapotranspiration (1911-2012) for the region is 847 mm.

Figure C5 Map of total annual evapotranspiration for the South East Queensland region during the 2012–13 year

The South East Queensland (SEQ) region experienced mean temperatures generally above the long-term average during the 2012-13 year (Figure C6).

Figure C6 Map of annual mean temperature deciles for the South East Queensland region during the 2012–13 year

Mean temperatures across the SEQ region ranged from more than 20 °C in coastal and central parts of the region to less than 18 °C along much of the western and southern borders (Figure C7).

Figure C7 Map of annual mean temperature for the South East Queensland region during the 2012–13 year

Monthly mean temperatures for the SEQ region were above the long-term average between July 2012 and January 2013, and equal to or below the long-term average for the remainder of the period (with the exception of June 2013) (Figure C8). January 2013 was the eighth warmest January on record for the SEQ region.

Figure C8 Graph of average monthly mean temperature for the South East Queensland region during 2012–13 year compared with the long-term average and percentiles for the region