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Queensland records its warmest winter in 110 years with weather experts revealing spring will be dry, hot and feel like summer

Queensland has had its warmest winter ever recorded and is now in for a hot, dry spring that feels like summer, weather experts have revealed.

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Queensland has recorded its warmest winter in more than 110 years, and is now in for a hot, dry spring that feels like summer, the Bureau of Meteorology has revealed.

The Bureau released its national winter summary report on Friday, which showed temperatures in Queensland were 2.32C above average -the hottest ever recorded.

Horn Island also recorded the warmest winter night in Australia on June 6, at 26C.

Senior climatologist Senior Climatologist Dr Simon Grainger said Queensland had experienced “an entirely new winter,” this year, smashing its previous heat record.

Queensland has recorded its warmest winter on record. Picture: BOM
Queensland has recorded its warmest winter on record. Picture: BOM

“It was Australia’s warmest winter on record since our national analysis began in 1910, and also Queensland’s warmest winter on record,” he said.

“For Queensland it was 3.32C above the historical average and the previous record was 1.99C above average way back in 1973.

“A significant jump.”

Dr Grainger said high pressure systems sitting over south eastern Australia created the warm conditions against the backdrop of global warming.

Daytime temperatures were particularly warm across western Queensland, reaching 3-4C above average.

Weather will remain unusually warm into spring, reflecting summer conditions with Dr Grainger explaining Queensland would likely break further heat records.

“Our spring outlook is basically warm and dry conditions forecast for virtually all of Australia likely influenced by the potential for an El Nino still to develop and record warm oceans,” he said.

It has been a hotter then usual winter. Picture: Tertius Pickard
It has been a hotter then usual winter. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“Queensland is three times more likely to have an unusually warm spring.

“For western Queensland average temperatures will be well into the 30s, for Brisbane mid-20s … several degrees warmer and a really high threshold to exceed a previous record.”

The Bureau reported long range forecasting showing reduced rainfall throughout spring.

It will be a stark difference compared to last year, when Australia experienced its second wettest spring on record, with North Queensland’s traditional wet season also predicted to arrive late.

The increasingly warm temperatures fuelled by record sea temperatures and global warming impacts will bring a significant bushfire risk to two thirds of the state, with the entire southeast on high fire alert.

Hannah Johansson, 22 from Sweden enjoys sunny Queensland with a swim at Coolangatta beach. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT
Hannah Johansson, 22 from Sweden enjoys sunny Queensland with a swim at Coolangatta beach. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

A Suncorp insurance research survey revealed half of Queenslanders were reluctant to leave their homes during a bushfire, with half also unaware that rivers, creeks or roads do not stop the path of a very intense bushfire,

One in four admitted to not know that embers can travel up to 40km.

Suncorp’s head of home claims Alli Smith said residents should begin preparing their homes now to help reduce fire risk.

“Mind the gaps, the small gaps can be just as dangerous as the big ones because bushfire embers can creep into small gaps,” she said.

“Installing ember-resistant mesh screens stop airborne embers from entering your home during a bushfire.

The beach has been a popular spot this winter.
The beach has been a popular spot this winter.


“Clear your gutters of dry leaves and debris regularly to reduce the risk of embers igniting your home and install PVC plastic gutter fixings which, in the event of a fire, melt and become sacrificial and safely fall away from the house.

“For new builds, installing glazed windows and doors which evenly distributes heat load over the glass, and helps to prevent cracking.”

Insurance customers can check their coverage and increase their building and contents insurance online at any time however, when weather events like bushfire are close, insurers may limit changes to policies until the threat passes.

The Bureau of Meteorology climate and seasonal outlooks have been released on the bureau’s website.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/weather/queensland-records-its-warmest-winter-in-110-years-with-weather-experts-revealing-spring-will-be-dry-hot-and-feel-like-summer/news-story/1a42a36ec727d71026d050663f3dbcf1