Queensland in 2013: Record heat, dry in the west

January saw extreme heat in the west and extreme rainfall and flooding on the coast.

• The national heatwave continued, including parts of western Queensland (see Special Climate Statement 43)
• Warmest January on record with a mean temperature of 30.74 °C
• A new state January temperature record of 49.0 °C, the state’s highest temperature since December 1972, was set at Birdsville
• Birdsville had a run of 31 consecutive days of 40 °C or above, a site record and the equal-longest such run on record for Queensland
• Ex-tropical cyclone Oswald moved south and produced heavy rainfall in the region between Rockhampton and Bundaberg, and in the ranges along the New South Wales/Queensland border (see Special Climate Statement 44 and the Flood Report)

• Wetter than normal across the south east of the state, and parts of the western interior
• East coast lows caused storm damage and coastal erosion between the central New South Wales coast and southeast Queensland from the 23rd to 26th
• Drier than usual across the north and much of the central interior
• Cooler than normal maximum temperatures over the southern half of the state, warmer than average in the north west
• Cooler than normal minimum temperatures across most of the state, apart from the far northern districts

March had cool days in the southeast, but was particularly warm in the west.

• Above average rainfall in the far north, southwest, pockets of the east coast and parts of the southern interior
• Drier than usual across the central interior and parts of the Gulf Country
• Cool days in the southeast, warm in the west - and up to 4 °C above average in the northwest
• Warmer nights in the west, cooler nights over the central coast and adjacent inland
• Two tropical cyclones: Sandra (named on the 7th) and Tim (named on the 14th), but no coastal crossings

April was wetter than usual across the southern Peninsula and adjacent inland, but dry over the southern interior and western districts. 

• Warmer than usual maximum temperatures
• Close to average minimum temperatures
• Hot daytime temperatures were experienced in the west, with Urandangi reaching 40 °C on the 22nd.
• Heavy rainfall at the start of the month across the north tropical coast
• Tropical cyclone Zane named on the 30th

• Above average rainfall in the south-west, central and Gulf Country and below average in the south-east coast and top of the Peninsula
• Above average maximum temperatures in the far south-west, Gulf Country and western Peninsula
• Above average minimum temperatures for most of the state except for the southeast
• Tropical cyclone Zane weakened rapidly to a tropical low as it traversed westward and passed over the Peninsula district on the 2nd

• Nearly 70% of the state recorded below average rainfall
• Rainfall in the southeast corner of the state was above average
• Warmer than usual nights across most of the state, except the Capricorn Coast and Central Highlands districts
• Warmer days in the northwest quarter of the state, cooler over the southeast quarter

July was warm and mostly dry.

• Mean temperature was 3rd warmest on record
• Mean maximum temperature was 4th warmest on record
• Mean minimum temperature was 6th warmest on record
• Rain patchy and below average south of Townsville
• Above average rain in the north

• Second-highest mean maximum temperature for August with 27.77 °C (the highest was in 2009 with 29.27 °C)
• Minimum temperatures close to average
• Fifth-driest August on record, with most of the state having no rain

• Exceptionally warm start to spring (see Special Climate Statement 46)
• About 30% of Queensland had its hottest September day on record on the 26th
• Mean maximum temperature the highest on record for September
• Mean temperature anomaly of 3.12 °C (above the long-term average) was the highest for any month
• Numerous temperature records broken at many locations  
• Rainfall below average apart from the far north

• Second-warmest October mean maximum temperature
• Third-highest October mean temperature
• Drier than usual in almost all areas

• Numerous and repeated outbreaks of severe thunderstorms
• Several daily and monthly rainfall records broken
• Daily rain of 267 mm at Bowen Airport on the 23rd
• No rain reported at Boulia Airport
• Warm days in the south, cool days in parts of the north

• Extreme heat affected the state at the end of the month
• A dry month, with numerous low rainfall records
• 68% below the mean December rainfall statewide
• Hottest day was at Windorah with 47.3 °C on the 29th