Parts of Australia to see their warmest average maximum July temperatures on record

Parts of Australia are on track to register their warmest July days on record as persistent clear skies and a lack of strong cold fronts deprive the country.

Above average day time temperatures are continuing for large parts of central and eastern Australia as cold fronts struggle to reach as far north as normal for this time of the year. Warm north to north-westerly winds sourced from northern western Australia have been impacting parts of QLD, NSW, southern NT and parts of SA during July. This trend is expected to continue through to the weekend before dry south-westerly winds move in.

Alice Springs, Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane are larger centres of note that are expected to break July records by the end of the week with a continuation of above average temperatures. Brisbane's average maximum temperature so far this month stands at 22.6c, above the long term average of 21.8c, and with a run of temperatures in the mid-20s expected until the end of the month, the record of 23.0c is likely to be broken.

Sydney's July maximum is averaging a balmy 19.2 degrees so far, well above the long-term average of 16.4c. With temperatures expected to hover around the 20-degree mark for the remainder of the month, the record of 19.5°C degrees looks to be under threat.

Whilst daytime temperatures have been well above average, night time temperatures in July have been the coldest in recent years in many areas. With the warmer than average daytime temperatures and very dry conditions, combined with very cold nights leading to severe frosts at times, this has been detrimental to farmers.

Image: Bureau of Meteorology Maximum Temperature Anomaly (°C), week ending 22nd July 2018