Styx

Bushfire fatalities confirmed

Another 20 homes destroyed by bushfire in northern New South Wales yesterday bringing the tally to 60 so far in that part of Australia. Fortunately no one has lost their life but there will be short-term financial hardship and presumably many have lost sentimental assets. Pressure builds too on wildlife communities already impacted by habitat loss due to increasing urbanisation. First map is year to date rainfall showing how critically dry it is in northern NSW and southern Queensland. The second map is the two year rainfall deficiencies showing how extended the dry weather has been in that part of Australia extending into the south-east.

September - Hobart, Tasmania Dry and locally very mild. A mean temperature anomaly of +0.8c above 1981-2010 or +1.2c above 1961-1990. With the exception of August every month this year has been drier than the long-term average and on the warm side. Year to date rainfall is a lowly 307mm. Mean maximum: 16.7 ( +1.3 ) Mean minimum: 7.2 ( +0.3 ) Rainfall: 35mm ( average 53mm ) Rain days ( +1mm ) : 7/from 9 Spring starts more settled than normal with long dry periods and minimal amounts of snow in the mountains. The biggest rain event of the month was 20mm between the 6th-8th as a low pressure system crossed from the north-west to amplify off the east coast with light snow cover overnight to 800m. A front moving up from the south-west brought a few showers on the 9th with further light snow settling to 800m whilst a cold front crossing from the west on the 16th with an associated intense low off the south coast brought morning gales and a few showers. The coldest outbreak of the month was extremely brief - a few showers on the morning of the 16th with snow descending to 500m, then clearing to a cold dry night. A warming trend then began with sunny days climaxing on the 20th with a 27.2c max - the seventh highest temperature ever recorded in September. A dry cloudy westerly air stream followed replacing the heat surge from the continent, before a cold front from the west finally brought a few showers on the 29th with an overnight dusting of snow to 700m asl, ending a 12-day dry spell. Extremes in daily temperature for September ( records since 1882 ) High max: 27.2.....20th ( record 31.0 in 1987 ) Low max: 9.9.....7th ( record 6.1 in 1885 ) High min: 12.8.....15th ( record 18.0 in 1973 ) Low min: 1.4.....17th ( record -0.8 in 1897 )

This is a real sight to behold so early into October - a fairly broad area of forecast temperatures at or above 45c+.... and so far south! For the record, Australia's earliest 45c+ day into spring was on October 9th ( 2014 ) in far north-west Western Australia. The earliest 45c+ day into the season in South Australia state was October 20th ( 1988 ) but in the northern part of that state. I placed the settlement of Oak Valley on the map as BoM shows this as having the highest forecast temperature on Friday, of 44c. Regretfully, after doing my quick copy and paste job with the maps, I discover it has no weather station there, its simply a settlement that gets a weather forecast from the BoM. The next closest weather station is the town of Tarcoola just 400km to the south-east, presently its not forecast to get as hot, even though it is at the same elevation. The heat dissipates pretty quickly on Saturday.

21 homes destroyed by bushfire in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales with one fire fighter critically injured. The situation is still unfolding on Saturday afternoon with emergency alerts for a number of towns. A very early start to the bushfire season even though spring bushfires are more common than summer ones in the sub-tropics. Wind has been hot and windy from the arid north west for a number of days with temperatures in the low to mid 30s at low elevation ( about +10c above average ). If this were last week, many places would be breaking August heat records on both sides of the border. https://www.unorthodox.com.au/fire/#?p=-52.8331,70.7188,4.0771,-162.7188&z=4&s=ct&t=1567832743&v=1

BREAKING...Extremely low temperatures across the entire stretch of Western Australia's inland south this morning. A short time ago, at 4:30am Western Australia time, it was -5.4c at Salmon Gums ( 11 below average ), a record low September temperature for Western Australia, and possibly still on the way down. Salmon Gums has records since 1932. Quite a few negative readings at other places so possibly other individual records. There does seem to be an increasing tendency in recent decades for periods of very low minimums in Australia's south in the colder months, with the southward shift of the subtropical high pressure ridge.

August - Hobart, Tasmania A wet month with heaps of snow on the mountain at times but not particularly cold. A mean temperature anomaly of -0.3c below 1981-2010 or +0.1c above 1961-1990. It was the first colder than average month since February 2018 relative to the 1981-2010 values. This was the first wetter than average month of the year ( long-term averages ), clawing back 2019's big rainfall deficit. Mean maximum: 13.7 ( -- ) Mean minimum: 5.0 ( -0.7 ) Rainfall: 99mm ( average 53mm ) Rain days ( +1mm ) : 9/from 17 A cold front on the 3rd brought a few showers with snow settling near 900m and a front on the 7th brought a local shower or two with light snow settling near 800m. At this point, the biggest cold outbreak of the winter for south-east Australia began with multiple fronts moving up from the south into the continent but this was all to west of Tasmania, while a new low was approaching Tasmania from the south-east. Between this activity on either side the weather was cold, cloudy and calm. The south-east low moved up Tasmania's east coast on the 10th-11th bringing continuous showers ( 27mm ) which fell and settled as snow, but only to 800m. Cold fronts between the 19th-24th with intense low pressure to the south brought big bouts of rain at times combined with snow to moderately low levels, between drier periods. The 19th was windy with a morning snowline of 500m, the 20th became extremely windy ahead of a late front ( 120kmhr/75mph gust in the city ), very wet late on the 21st into the 22nd with a lot of snow on the mountain down to 450m and very wet late on the 24th into the 25th with a lot of snow again down to about 400m asl. This level is just above the highest suburbs. The weather settled down after this with calmer days that were predominantly dry. Extremes in daily temperature for August ( records since 1882 ) : High max: 18.5.....15th ( record 24.5 in 1977 ) Low max: 8.8.....10th ( record 5.5 in 1974 ) High min: 9.4.....27th ( record 15.0 in 2005 ) Low min: 1.2.....9th ( record -1.8 in 1962 )

BoM have uploaded the provisional winter averages for 2019 - ahead of the written summary and media release which should be out on Monday. It was the 15th warmest winter in Australia and ninth driest. June was +0.26c July +1.6c and August +0.26c nationally ( anomalies compared to 1961-90 ). Must admit I am surprised by the positive value for August. The fractionally colder than normal month in Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory was not enough to compensate for areas of warmth in Queensland and Western Australia. Shame about that. Australia has not had a colder than average month ( relative to 1961-90 ) since October 2017.

Perth recorded its highest August temperature of 30.0c on Wednesday ( 11 above average ) blowing away the 1940 record by +2.2c. Other stations in and around Perth, including Rottnest Island, also set a new record for August ( and winter ). Perth has records since 1897 from two official sites - the present one has been operating since 1993. Appears to be an average month in Perth for mean temperature. Perth highest August temperatures ( records since 1897 ) 30.0.....2019 August 28th 27.8.....1940 27.2.....1949 27.2.....1948 27.2.....1914 27.0.....2015

These skiers had a big surprise. You have to be very lucky to see a platypus on land. Mt Field National Park about 50 miles to the west of Hobart, elevation 1200-1300m asl.

There is 203cm of snow on the ground at Spencers Creek ( 1830m asl ) in the Snowy Mountains in southern New South Wales, a location used by Hydro NSW to measure snow depth on a weekly basis since 1954. It is near the major ski-fields. Maybe more to come before 'the melt' begins in earnest. https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/our-energy/water/inflows/snow-depths-calculator/ It is the third year in a row for snow depth to exceed the long-term average, which is 198cm, or 186cm median. Interestingly, annual peak snow depth this decade is more than last decade, with a slightly longer season of snow on the ground. I don't think anyone saw that coming. http://gergs.net/gallery/ Worth pointing out though Hydro NSW also measures snow depth at the lower locations of Deep Creek ( 1630m ) and Three Mile Dam ( 1470m ) and its a decade-on-decade loss of snow and shortening seasons at these lower levels. All the charts can be found via above link.

...20 years ago - crikey - It was overcast in Salisbury with some patchy very light rain, but it was dry during the height of the eclipse. Still a profound experience! I was doing telephone marketing at Anglian Home Improvements in Estcourt rd, but no work shift that morning. I was thinking, the Millennium is approaching and here is an Eclipse and at that point in my young life it all felt a bit spiritual, for want of a better word..

Difficult to quantify how big this snow event is - but in terms of the multi-day widespread nature of low-level snow in Victoria and New South Wales, together with the massive amounts in the mountains - it's definitely one of the bigger events of the century. Unfortunately, the cold polar air has slung up into the mainland to the west of Tasmania so just a wet mushy snowline for us above 800 metres. It is not exceptionally cold anywhere so it's hard to find any cold weather records of any note and the minima in the days ahead don't look particularly remarkable either. Ignoring that though, it's a pretty cold start to August for average temperature would be nice to see a month finish up colder than average.

Snow last fell in Canberra ( 580m ) in August 2015 and last settled in the city in May 2000. South-east and eastern Australia is about to be hit by the biggest winter weather system since at least 2015, with snow levels as low as 400-500m in Victoria and 500-700m in New South Wales ( defined as low-level in these states ). Perhaps a metre of snow above 1500m which is a solid fall by Australian standards.

July - Hobart, Tasmania Mild with a mean temperature anomaly of +1.1 compared to 1981-2010 or +1.4 compared to 1961-1990. Every month since March 2018 has been warmer than average here. Mean maximum: 13.5 ( +1.2 ) Mean minimum: 6.0 ( +1.1 ) Rainfall: 47mm ( average 52mm ) Rain days ( +1mm ) : 11/from 14 Some active weather systems during the first half of the month but quieter and drier in the second half. There was no significant cold weather this month and the snowline never dropped below 600m. Windy with showers on the 1st/2nd as an intense low passed to the south with an associated front crossing Tasmania. 10mm fell on the 2nd and this was the wettest day of the month. Intense high pressure followed bringing a run of sunny days with morning fog and inland frost. The 11th-14th resumed windy, wet but colder as a broad area of low pressure passed to the south with a series of fronts in rapid succession. Snow settled at 600m with heavy snow about exposed western and central highland areas. A further front on the 17th brought more showers with snow settling near 700m. For the rest of the month there was long dry periods with occasional weak fronts bringing only a local shower or two as high pressure extended ridging south. A dusting of snow near 700-800m on the 23rd and 29th to top up a reasonable month for snow up high. Extremes in daily temperature for July ( records since 1882 ) : High max: 17.9.....1st ( record 22.1 in 1901 ) Low max: 9.3.....12th ( record 4.7 in 1888 ) High min: 10.0.....1st ( record 12.9 in 1985 ) Low min: 1.8.....31st ( record -2.8 in 1981 )

Are they checking out the site or just the temperature sensor? Has that been mentioned at all? If it's a manually read site, then verifying if its working accurately by taking comparative readings with another sensor makes some sense to me. It is a potential national record after all so its best to make sure everything is up to scratch. Automatic weather stations are flagged as suspect straight away if the data coming in shows unusual rises or decline.

Can't believe what I am reading. Following events from a distance with a lot of interest. I'll also add the words mild alarm.

A lot of snow in Tasmania this week with police rescuing and searching for stranded bushwalkers. It is the biggest snows since August 2015 and comes after a quiet June. Unfortunately, no low-level snow event so far - the snowline hasn't dropped below 600m which is a little bit unusual. The temperature has been close to slightly above average across the state with a bigger positive anomaly along the coast.

June - Hobart, Tasmania Staying dry with very mild days. A mean temperature anomaly of +0.7c compared to 1981-2010 or +0.8c compared to 1961-1990. Mean max: 13.6 ( +1.2 ) Mean min: 5.5 ( +0.2 ) Rainfall: 19mm ( average 54mm ) Rain days ( +1mm ) : 5/from 9 Not much winter action this month but there was a good stretch of frosts near the end of the month. Chiefly mild until the 18th with high pressure centered over eastern Australia with north-west winds off the continent. Occasional fronts in this mild stream bringing a few showers, locally. Heavier rain in Tasmania's north and west. A cold front on the 3rd brought a brief colder south-westerly wind change with 7mm and settled snow, but only to about 800m level. On the 18th a cold front introduced a prolonged colder period with a few showers between the 18th-21st with settled snow, but only to about 700m level. Sunny days with frost followed - severe inland as high pressure crossed from the west. Much milder but continuing sunny from the 26th as high pressure moved to the east with a northerly wind off the continent. A few showers on the 30th as a cold front crossed from the north west. The wettest day was 7mm on the 3rd. Extremes in daily temperature for June ( records since 1882 ) : High max: 18.1.....28th ( record 20.6 in 1907 ) Low max: 9.9.....25th ( record 4.3 in 1985 ) High min: 11.1.....29th ( record 15.0 in 2016 ) Low min: -0.2.....25th ( record -2.8 in 1972 )

May- Hobart, Tasmania Mild and dry. A mean temperature anomaly of +0.7c compared to 1981-2010 or +1.1c compared to 1961-1990. Mean maximum: 15.8 ( +0.7 ) Mean minimum: 8.2 ( +0.6 ) Rainfall: 23mm ( average 45mm ) Rain days ( +1mm ) : 6/from 13 Continuing dry this year as high pressure dominates across southern Australia. Up until the 26th only 9mm had fallen for the month on fronts coming in from the west. Generally moderate winds but strong and gusty ahead of a front on the 10th. Becoming progressively colder toward the end of the month as a broad deep low passed to the south. A series of cold fronts bringing showers with snow descending to the 600m level. A milder dry westerly wind change followed. The wettest day was 7mm into the 30th. Extremes in daily temperature for May ( records since 1882 ) : High max: 19.7.....15th ( record 25.7 in 1997 ) Low max: 10.1.....29th ( record 6.1 in 1921 ) High min: 12.2.....3rd ( record 16.2 in 2005 ) Low min: 3.1.....29th ( record -1.6 in 1962 )

I would hesitate to use the word rare to describe snow in Queensland. It last fell in 2016 and settled in 2015 ( much more heavily ). According to a snow historian it is likely to fall a couple of times a year and be observed on the ground every few. Almost exclusively, this will be in the mountainous area near the New South Wales border in the far south-east of the state just below Brisbane, where there are small towns, such as Stanthorpe and Applethorpe, near 800m elevation. This mountain area is the far northern end of the Great Dividing Range a chain of mountains which extends all the way up from south-east Australia. The 'Welcome to Queensland' sign is somewhere near 1000m asl ( I am not exactly sure where it is ). I would personally describe a snow event as 'rare' if it is way out of season, is unusually heavy or there's snow beyond a normal range, none of which applied this time, but I guess certain words are open to interpretation. The link below is a fascinating archive of snow events in Queensland with trend line graphs. There has even been snow fall in Brisbane observed from the hills there ( elevation 100-200m asl )! http://www.weatherarmidale.com/qldsnow.htm

Big frosty chill across eastern Australia behind the cold snowy change in the south-east. A May state record for Queensland this morning with a low of -6.9c at the town of Stanthorpe, an elevated town near the New South Wales border. A number of Queensland towns also broke their respective May temperature record this morning, says ABC news. Second month in a row for a record monthly low for an Australian state. BoM forecasting a warm dry winter overall, but potential for severe frost periods.

Fantastic start to wintertime with substantial snow across Tasmania settling 600m elevation with further heavy falls happening tonight. Photos picked from different locations thanks to those who took them. Also substantial falls across mountain areas of south-east Australia as ski season gets off to an early, bumper start.

Haven't seen a picture like this before. Not quite sure what is going on here; maybe some dust in the atmosphere blown in from the continent, adding to the vividness. Or just ideal conditions, ideal positioning, and timing..

Dust storm whipped up by cold front envelopes the city of Mildura ( population 50,000 ) in rural north-west Victoria, at 5pm Tuesday. Described as being unusually intense. It has been a dry start to the year in southern and central Australia.