Climate latest: February temperatures are increasing over time according to data from the Bureau of Meteorology

Dr Christa Pudmenzky explains Moreton Bay's warmer February temperatures. Plus, resident Jacob Haidley discusses how the climate is changing in the region.

A typical February day in Moreton Bay is around one degree warmer than it was 50 years ago. Cape Moreton, 4 February 2021, Source: Monash University.

Moreton Bay is in for another warm weekend, with temperatures in the high 20s and a chance of light showers on Saturday and Sunday.

Data from the Bureau of Meteorology indicates February temperatures have increased significantly since 1970.

A typical February day in Moreton Bay is around 28 degrees - 1.6 degrees warmer than 50 years ago.

While this might not sound like much, higher average temperatures mean more extreme heat days, longer heatwaves and more frequent fire danger days.

Voices from your community

Jacob Haidley, Morayfield resident of 19 years, was concerned about the changes he had noticed.

"Over the time I've spent living here, each and every year the heat is only getting more fierce," he said.

"I've seen areas where a lake was just completely turned into a dry deserted swamp land.

"I bet for others who do seasonal work, it probably affects them the most.

"There needs to be a change sooner rather than later."

Community voices like Jacob's tell us how residents and business owners in Moreton Bay feel about their local climate. If you would like to contribute your voice to our column, you can fill out our 5-minute survey here.

Fast fact

Not only are our summers getting hotter, they're also getting longer.

Research from the Australia Institute found that Brisbane summers are 11 days longer than they were in the mid-20th century.

The research also found Brisbane winters are now 31 days shorter than they used to be.

In fact, all capital cities across Australia are experiencing longer summers and shorter winters.

At least 97 per cent of climate scientists agree that global warming is linked to rising greenhouse gas emissions from human activities such as burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, NASA's Global Climate Change website states.

Dr Christa Pudmenzky is a climate scientist at the University of Southern Queensland.

This column is part of a collaboration between Monash University and News Corp to deliver hyperlocal weather and climate information.

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