Australia in March 2026

In brief

• Australia's area-averaged March rainfall total was 69% above the 1961–1990 average, the eighth-highest on record since national observations started in 1900.
• Area-averaged rainfall was above average for all states and territories except for Tasmania.
• March rainfall was the second-highest on record for South Australia and the sixth-highest on record for the Northern Territory.
• March rainfall was average or above average across most of Australia except for north-eastern New South Wales, far south-eastern Queensland and parts of Tasmania.
• The national area-averaged mean temperature in March was 0.38 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
• Australia's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 0.24 °C below the 1961–1990 average, the lowest since 2012.
• Mean maximum temperatures were average or below average for most of the mainland, and above average for Tasmania and parts of the country's west and east.
• Australia's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 1.00 °C above average.
• Mean minimum temperatures were above average across large parts of the country and below average in parts of central Queensland and smaller areas in northern and south-eastern Western Australia.

 Further information and tables of records for each state and Territory are available in the individual regional climate summaries, published on 7 April 2026.

Temperatures

Australia's area-averaged mean temperature in March was 0.38 °C above the 1961–1990 average.

Australia's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 0.24 °C below average, the lowest since 2012. Mean maximum temperatures were below to very much below average (in the lowest 10% of all Marches since 1910) for:

• most of the Northern Territory and South Australia
• large parts of western Queensland and some central and northern areas
• parts of northern and eastern Western Australia and along the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts
• parts of western New South Wales
• north-western Victoria.

Area-averaged mean maximum temperatures for Queensland and the Northern Territory were the coolest for March since 2012, and the coolest for South Australia since 2011.

Mean maximum temperatures were above to very much above average (in the highest 10% of all Marches since 1910) for:

• all of Tasmania
• areas in the west and south-west of Western Australia
• parts of far southern and northern Queensland
• much of eastern and northern New South Wales.

The national area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 1.00 °C above average. Mean minimum temperatures were above to very much above average for:

• Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales
• most of Western Australia away from the Kimberley
• large parts in the northern and southern Queensland and the Northern Territory
• parts of western and south-eastern South Australia.

Mean minimum temperatures were below average for areas in central Queensland and northern and south-eastern Western Australia.

Rank ranges from 1 (lowest) to 117 (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 69% above the 1961–1990 average, the eighth-highest on record since 1900.

For South Australia, area-averaged rainfall was the second-highest on record, behind only 1989. For the Northern Territory, area-averaged rainfall was the sixth-highest on record.

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

• most of South Australia and the Northern Territory
• large parts of Western Australia and Queensland
• western and southern New South Wales
• much of Victoria.

Rainfall was the highest on record for parts of:

• the Northern Territory's Top End 
• Cape York Peninsula and the Wide Bay and Burnett district in Queensland
• the eastern South Australia and adjoining areas in western New South Wales and Victoria.

Many stations in these areas had their record highest total rainfall for March, including a number of stations with more than 50 years of data.

Rainfall was below to very much below average for:

• parts of western Tasmania 
• much of north-eastern New South Wales
• small areas in the south-east Queensland.

Significant weather and records

Heavy rainfall in the south-east

Rainfall from a low pressure system and an associated trough that started at the end of February continued over south-eastern Australia at the beginning of March. On 1 March, the low pressure system was located over South Australia, before tracking slowly eastwards over southern New South Wales and dissipating later on 4 February. The system brought widespread heavy rain and thunderstorms to large parts of northern and eastern South Australia and, in combination with a cold front, across most of New South Wales and Victoria. Many stations had their record highest daily rainfall total for March.

Some of the highest daily rainfall totals include:

• 140 mm at Braemar and 129.0 mm at Yunta Airstrip (South Australia) in the 24 hours to 9 am on 1 March
• 116.4 mm at Hawker and 94.4 mm at Orroroo (South Australia) to 9 am on 2 March
• 179.7 mm at Sea Lake Post Office and 121.4 mm at Werrimull (Victoria) to 9 am on 2 March
• 115.0 mm at Wentworth and 103.8 mm at Mount Woowoolarah (New South Wales) to 9 am on 2 March
• 93.4 mm at Grenfell and 90.2 mm at Mandurama (New South Wales) to 9 am on 3 March.

Five-day rainfall totals (ending 9 am on 5 March) between 50 and 100 mm were recorded across large parts of central and south-eastern South Australia, northern and central Victoria and western and southern New South Wales. Five-day rainfall totals above 100 mm were recorded in a band covering parts of the Flinders and southern North East Pastoral districts in South Australia, the Lower Western and Riverina districts in New South Wales and the Mallee and Northern Country districts in Victoria. The average March rainfall for South Australia and western and central parts of Victoria and New South Wales varies between 5 and 50 mm.

Some of the highest five-day rainfall totals included:

• 203.6 mm Braemar and 202.0 mm at Oodla Wirra (South Australia)
• 149.6 mm at Mildura Airport and 118.8 mm at Tongala (Victoria)
• 137.6 mm at Wentworth and 102.4 mm at Balranald (RSL) (New South Wales).

Flash and riverine flooding was observed in affected areas, as well as damage to infrastructure and road closures.

Heavy rainfall over the Northern Territory Top End

Tropical low 31U developed on 3 March over the Gulf of Carpentaria and moved over land then tracked north-westward towards the Northern Territory's Top End. 31U persisted for several days and together with the monsoon trough brought widespread showers, thunderstorms and heavy falls to the region. The four-day rainfall totals, ending 9 am on 7 March, exceeded 200 mm in large areas of the Top End. Some stations had their record March or annual daily totals, including a March record of 230.2 mm at Edith Falls Ridge and annual record of 218.8 mm at Upper Ferguson River, both in the 24 hours to 9 am on 6 March.

Heavy rainfall resulted in flash and riverine flooding, particularly at Daly and Katherine rivers. The Katherine River peaked at around 19.2 m on 7 March, similar to flooding during April 2006.

Communities were evacuated across the Daly and Katherine catchments, with many residents impacted by inundated homes, power outages and school closures.

In the following days, persistent intense showers and thunderstorms across the western Top End, due to a slow-moving tropical low (33U) and a low pressure trough, resulted in a renewed increase of the Daly River at the Daly River Police Station gauge, which peaked on 14 March at around 16.4 m, above the previous record of 16.25 m set in 1998.

Widespread rainfall across eastern Queensland

Tropical low 29U formed in the northern Coral Sea in late February and initially moved slowly to the north-west of Willis Island. From 5 March, the system tracked south-west, towards the north tropical Queensland coast making landfall near Tully and Innisfail before moving inland and rapidly weakening. On 8 March, remnants of the system turned to the south-east, moving offshore late on 9 March. The system, togerher with a low pressure trough extending across the south-eas of the state, drew in significant tropical moisture and led to heavy to intense rainfall and thunderstorms. The four-day rainfall totals ending 9 am on 10 March exceeded 200 mm in parts of central, northern and south-eastern Queensland, with the highest totals recorded in the Wide Bay and Burnett district. Some stations had their record March or annual daily totals, including annual records of 252.6 mm at Dunollie (77 years of data)  and 181.2 mm at Somerby (103 years of data) in the 24 hours to 9 am on 9 March. The heavy rainfall resulted in flooding and extensive road closures across Queensland, particularly across central and eastern areas.

Wet in parts of eastern Australia

On 13 March, a coastal low pressure trough that moved across north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland brought slow-moving thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to the region. In the 24 hours to 9 am on 14 March, Ballina Airport and Byron Bay (both in New South Wales) recorded 90.4 mm and 59.0 mm respectively. Following this, the trough moved northward into south-eastern Queensland bringing heavy falls and flash flooding to parts of south-west Brisbane. The highest rainfall totals in the Brisbane area included 88.0 mm at Greenbank and 95.0 mm at Jingle Downs. As the thunderstorms were slow-moving, they brought intense rainfall to some areas. Repentance (Coopers Creek) in New South Wales recorded 39.0 mm in 17 minutes, while Jingle Downs in Queensland had 65.0 mm in 30 minutes. The heavy rainfall resulted in flash flooding and inundated streets and properties were reported.

Widespread rainfall in central Australia

Following the exceptionally wet February, March was another very wet month across central Australia. Between 15 and 17 March, a surface trough combined with tropical moisture produced widespread rainfall over the region. The heaviest falls occurred across the southern Northern Territory, central and north-eastern South Australia and north-western New South Wales, where average rainfall for March varies between 5 mm and 50 mm. Many stations in these areas had their record highest daily rainfall totals for March including:

• 89.0 mm at Pine Hill (Northern Territory) to 9 am on 17 March
• 119.4 mm at Marree Aero (South Australia) to 9 am on 17 March
• 99.5 mm at Tibooburra (New South Wales) to 9 am on 18 March.

Much of the southern parts of the Northern Territory and central and north-eastern South Australia recorded three-day rainfall totals, ending 9 am on 18 March, of more than 50 mm. The highest three-day totals, exceeding 200 mm, were recorded in southern parts of the Lasseter district in the Northern Territory. Yulara Airport, near Uluru, recorded a three-day rainfall total of 149.8 mm, its highest March total since 1988, and Alice Springs Airport had a three-day total of 92.4 mm. The average March rainfall total in the region is around 30.0 mm. In South Australia, Marree Airport had a three day-total of 127.2 mm, compared to the average March total of only 12.0 mm. The heavy rainfall over the region resulted in flash and riverine flooding, further prolonging the closure of many roads and isolation of communities from the rainfall at the start of the month.

Thunderstorms in Greater Sydney

A coastal low pressure trough and humid atmosphere resulted in severe thunderstorms which impacted parts of the Illawarra, Sydney Metropolitan and Hunter districts late on 17 March. Thunderstorms brought gusty winds and heavy to intense rainfall, with the heaviest falls over eastern parts of Sydney. In the 24 hours to 9 am on 18 March, rainfall totals of 55.0 mm, 89.6 mm and 90.4 mm were recorded at Sydney (Observation Hill), Rose Bay (Royal Sydney Golf Club) and Radwick respectively. There were reports of flash flooding in some areas.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle

A tropical low 34U formed on 15 March near Vanuatu and the following day it entered the Australian region. It continued to track westward over the warm waters of the Coral Sea while strengthening and on 17 March reached tropical cyclone intensity and was named Tropical Cyclone (TC) Narelle. TC Narelle rapidly strengthened further, reaching a Severe TC intensity (Category 3 system) on 18 March. By the morning of 19 March, it was a Category 5 system. Severe TC Narelle made landfall on the north Queensland coast, north of Coen on the Cape York Peninsula, around 7 am AEST on 20 March as Category 4 system. After landfall, Narelle continued tracking west over the Peninsula, weakening to a Category 2 system. Narelle brought widespread rainfall and strong winds to the Peninsula district. Wind gusts exceeded 100 km/h at several stations including 115 km/h at Lockhart River Airport and 109 km/h at Weipa Aero, the record highest for March for this station. Two-day rainfall totals (ending 9 am on 21 March) exceeded 200 mm across the region, including 345.8 mm at Scherger RAAF, 293.2 mm at Weipa Aero and 280.3 mm at Moreton Telegraph Station, the record highest 2-day rainfall total for March for this station (107 years of data).

On 21 March, Narelle moved over the Gulf of Carpentaria and intensified into a Category 3 system, continuing westward towards the eastern Top End of the Northern Territory. Narelle made a second landfall early in the morning on 22 March near Cape Shield as a Category 3 system. It rapidly weakened and was downgraded to a tropical low. Ex-TC Narelle continued to track westward across the Top End and on 23 March moved over the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf near the border between the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Two-day rainfall totals ending 9 am on 23 March, exceeded 100 mm across much of the Top End including 206.0 mm at the Adelaide River Post Office, 204.0 mm at the Central Arnhem Plateau and 128.0 mm at Cooinda Airstrip.

Later on 23 March, ex-TC Narelle moved over the north-east Kimberley coast (Western Australia) continuing in the west-southwest direction across the region. In the 24 hours to 9 am on 24 March, some stations recorded more than 100 mm of rain, including 166.0 mm at Truscott and 146.2 mm at Kalumburu. Later in the morning of 24 March, the system moved over waters west of the Kimberley coast continuing to track in a west-southwesterly direction parallel to the Western Australian coast.  It rapidly re-intensified into a tropical cyclone in the early morning of 25 March and later in the day reached Category 3 intensity. On 26 March, Narelle passed close to Karratha and Onslow as a Category 4 system. Gales and destructive winds impacted the Pilbara and northern Gascoyne coasts where some stations observed their record highest March or annual wind gust. Early on 27 March, Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle started to track to the south, passing close to the North West Cape and Exmouth as a Category 4 system but then began to weaken due to interaction with land. Severe TC Narelle made landfall in the afternoon on 27 March south of Coral Bay as a Category 3 system.

Some notable wind gusts were (in chronological order):

• 144 km/h at Rowley Shoals on 25 March (March record)
• 150 km/h at Bedout Island on 26 March (annual record)
• 185 km/h at Varanus Island on 26 March (annual record)
• 170 km/h at Barrow Island Airport on 26 March (annual record)
• 163 km/h at Thevenard Island on 27 March (annual record)
• 150 km/h at Onslow Airport on 27 March
• 200 km/h at Learmonth Airport on 27 March (2nd-highest on record for March)
• 133 km/h at Carnarvon Airport on 27 March

Narelle continued to move to the south-south-east passing to the east of Carnarvon and Geraldton, then through southern inland parts of Western Australia bringing widespread rainfall and thunderstorms. Early on 28 March, it was downgraded to a tropical low while continuing to track over land impacting the Central West district before moving further inland and south across the South West Land Division.

Two-day rainfall totals, ending 9 am on 28 March, greater than 50 mm were recorded across a large area from Port Headland  to Cape Cuvier and inland and south to Mount Narryer and Mount Magnet Aero, as well as across parts of the Lower West and South West districts. The highest two-day totals exceeded 200 mm in the far south-west of the Pilbara and north-east Gascoyne districts. Many stations had their record highest daily rainfall totals for March.
Some notable daily rainfall totals were (in chronological order):

• 172.0 mm at Cygnet Bay to 9 am on 25 March (2nd-highest for March)
• 208.0 mm at Barrow Island to 9 am on 27 March (28 years of data, March record)
• 231.4 mm at Learmonth Airport to 9 am on 27 March (82 years of data, 2nd-highest for March)
• 328.0 mm at Winning to 9 am on 28 March (129 years of data, annual record)
• 208.0 mm at Williamburry to 9 am on 28 March (139 years of data, 2nd-highest for March)
• 62.8 mm at Perth Metro to 9 am on 28 March (34 years of data, March record)
• 75.2 mm at Yarrahdale to 9 am on 28 March (143 years of data, 2nd-highest for March)
• 102.8 mm at Mandurah to 9 am on 23 March (26 years of data, record for March
• 62.4 mm at Marradong to 9 am on 28 March (130 years of data, 3rd-highest for March)
• 55.0 at Donnybrook to 9 am on 28 March (127 years of data, 3rd-highest for March)
• 50.0 mm at Newbicup to 9 am on 29 March (109 years of data, 3rd-highest for March)

There were significant impacts associated with Severe TC Narelle, including uprooted trees, widespread damage to properties, power outages and flash and riverine flooding. Exmouth was particularly impacted as Narelle passed near as a Category 4 system, and was likely the strongest TC to impact the North West Cape region since Severe TC Vance in March 1999.

Severe TC Narelle was the 10th TC in the Australian region this 2025-26 season, the 6th TC to reach sever intensity and the 4th TC to make landfall on the Australian coast. Narelle is only the second system, after Severe TC Ingrid in March 2005, to make landfall 3 times at Severe category strength, since reliable estimates of TC intensity started in 1980-81.

Cold in the south-east

A cold front and a low pressure trough crossed south-eastern Australia on 26 March followed by a strong southerly airflow with gusty winds. After the cold front moved offshore to the Tasman Sea, a deep low pressure system developed off the New South Coast on 27 March. A burst of very cold air followed the front with daily maximum temperatures up to 12 °C below average across parts of eastern South Australia, north-eastern Victoria, much of New South Wales and south-western Queensland. Daily minimum temperatures were up to 10 °C below average for large parts of South Australia, most of New South Wales, southern and western Queensland and south-eastern Northern Territory. Many stations across New South Wales observed record lowest March daily maximum temperatures on 27 March, including:

• 13.3 °C at Coonabarabran (63 years of data)
• 9.0 °C at Katoomba (60 years of data)
• 9.7 °C at Cooma Airport AWS (36 years of data)
• 15.1 °C at Wellington (61 years of data)

On 28 and 29 March many stations in northern and eastern New South Wales and across southern and central Queensland observed record lowest daily minimum temperatures for March, including:

• 4.6 °C at Brewarrina Hospital, New South Wales (61 years of data) on 28 March
• 10.3 °C at Murwillumbah, New South Wales (53 years of data) on 28 March
• 6.2 °C at Amberley AMO, Queensland (85 years of data) on 28 March
• 12.4 °C at Mount Isa Aero, Queensland (60 years of data) on 29 March
• 9.6 °C at Camooweal Township, Queensland (84 years of data) on 29 March
• 14.1 °C at Tennant Creek Airport, Northern Territory (57 years of data) on 29 March.

A number of stations in Victoria and New South Wales observed wind gusts of more than 80 km/h, with the strongest gust of 100 km/h at Grampians (Mount William) in Victoria and 115 km/h at Dubbo Airport AWS in New South Wales on 26 March. The front brought rain and showers to eastern Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales and 10 to 20cm of snow was observed in the Alpine areas in Victoria and New South Wales – the first snow of the year, and a dusting of snow was recorded in parts of the Central Tablelands district in New South Wales. A deep low off the New South Wales coast resulted in extremely large waves across eastern coastal waters, with significant wave heights up to 5.7 m reported on buoys off the Illawarra and Sydney coasts on 28 March. Erosion and some beachside propery damage was reported for the New South Wales south coast.

Rank ranges from 1 (lowest) to 127 (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.