Australia's climate and weather
Northern vs southern australia |
Australia's location and size means that it has a variety of climates. The temperature can range from from tropical rain forests, deserts and cool temperature forests to snow covered mountains.
Due to the size of the continent, there is not one single seasonal calendar for the entire continent. Instead there are six climatic zones (also called climatic classes): equatorial, tropical, subtropical, desert, grassland and temperate. These translates as two main seasonal patterns. The first is a Summer/Autumn/Winter/Spring pattern in the Temperate zone (also affecting the Desert and the Grassland climatic zones). The second is a Wet/Dry pattern in the tropical north (which includes the Equatorial, Tropical and sub-tropical). Depending upon where you are each Month, the season will vary on whether the weather is defined by the Temperate zone seasons or the tropical seasons. |
Northern Australia lies in the tropics and has warm to hot temperatures throughout the year. In summer, northern Australia receives heavy rainfall, mainly in the form of thunderstorm activity from low pressure systems. In winter, northern Australia experiences fine, sunny and warm conditions while southern Australia has cool, wet winters with light misty rain.
Southern Australia has much cooler temperatures, especially in Tasmania and in the Snowy Mountains. Summer and winter variations in climate are the result of the way pressure systems operate. Southern Australia is generally dry with mild to warm temperatures.
Eastern Australia is generally wetter all year than the western part of the continent, which is influenced by stable high pressure systems.
Southern Australia has much cooler temperatures, especially in Tasmania and in the Snowy Mountains. Summer and winter variations in climate are the result of the way pressure systems operate. Southern Australia is generally dry with mild to warm temperatures.
Eastern Australia is generally wetter all year than the western part of the continent, which is influenced by stable high pressure systems.
Australia's Dryness
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Australia’s significant feature is its dryness. Australia receives less rain than any other continent except Antarctica and about two-thirds of Australia’s land surface is classed as desert or semi-desert. No continent has less runoff from its rivers than Australia. Rainfall in Australia is not only low but also very unreliable. Large areas of the inland have an average of less than 250 millimeters of rainfall a year. Because of this Australia experiences major droughts interspersed with wet periods. The frequency of heatwaves and bushfires, and the number of cyclones and their tracks are also associated with the Southern Oscillation.
Cyclones are a tropical weather phenomenon. They are usually encountered in Australia between November and April, and they mostly take place in the north of the country. The Western Australian and Northern Territory coasts, as well as the Queensland coast, are the usual places that cyclones occur. About six cyclones happen in Australia every year, often producing much rain and strong winds. Some cause widespread heavy rainfall inland.
Weather may vary day to day in different locations.
Cyclones are a tropical weather phenomenon. They are usually encountered in Australia between November and April, and they mostly take place in the north of the country. The Western Australian and Northern Territory coasts, as well as the Queensland coast, are the usual places that cyclones occur. About six cyclones happen in Australia every year, often producing much rain and strong winds. Some cause widespread heavy rainfall inland.
Weather may vary day to day in different locations.