Winter 2018 in Australia: Very dry with warm days and cool nights

Winter 2018 across Australia was characterised by warm and very dry conditions across large amounts of the country, with the exception of Tasmania and some parts of the mainland's south.

Australia as a whole recorded its fifth warmest winter on record (1.23 degrees above average) in terms of average maximum temperatures, which was largely helped by an unusually warm July, which was the nation's second warmest on record. In fact, July was warmer than both June and August in several parts of the country, a rare occurrence given that July is normally the coolest month of the year.

The persistently clear skies that resulted in these warm daytime temperatures meant that nights were cooler than average across many parts of the country, with the nation as a whole 0.23 degrees below average. However, some overnight temperatures were very much below average in a stretch extending from the Kimberley in Western Australia, through to central Australia to inland New South Wales, northern Victoria and inland southern and eastern Queensland.

It was the 14th driest winter on record across Australia, with the only western Tasmania, parts of the Pilbara and northern Gascoyne (WA) and western Arnhem Land (NT) seeing above average rainfall. NSW saw its 8th driest winter on record, and is currently experiencing its driest start to a year since 1965.

Similar conditions are expected in spring as the risk of an El Nino remains, with a warm and dry outlook until at least November.

Image 1, Maximum temperatures deciles across Australia. Image 2, Minimum temperatures deciles across Australia. Image 3, Rainfall deciles across Australia