Environment & Climate
Australia marks second-hottest September as climate drivers intensify warm conditions
The Guardian reports that nationwide heat pushed overnight minimum temperatures to record highs last month.
The short version
- Australia recorded its second-warmest September overall, with average temperatures 2.71°C above the 1961–1990 baseline.[The Guardian]
- Minimum night-time temperatures across the continent reached their highest levels for any September since record-keeping began in 1910.[The Guardian]
- Snow levels in Kosciuszko National Park dropped to zero in September for the first time since monitoring started in 1954.[The Guardian]
- Forecasters attribute the conditions to global warming alongside an intensifying El Niño system forecast to be historically strong.[The Guardian]
Key facts
- September average temperatures across Australia were 2.71°C higher than the 1961–1990 baseline, ranking as the second hottest on record.[The Guardian]
- Continental night-time minimum temperatures were the highest recorded for any September since 1910.[The Guardian]
- Snow depth in Kosciuszko National Park dropped to zero in September for the first time since records began in 1954.[The Guardian]
- An intensifying El Niño in the tropical Pacific is forecast to be the strongest on record and contributed to recent heat patterns.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The precise future intensity of the ongoing El Niño event remains based on forecasts.[The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.