Australia records warmest winter as Sydney averages 15.3 °C
Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania logged their hottest winter since 1910 while BoM warns above‑average temperatures may continue into spring.
Australia has recorded an unusually warm winter across much of the country, with the states of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania experiencing their warmest winter since national records began in 1910, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reported.
Nationally, mean temperatures for the season were 1.45 degrees above the 1961–1990 average, marking the third-highest seasonal value on record. On the east coast, Sydney saw near‑spring conditions through the winter, registering a mean temperature of 15.3 °C.
The previous winter mean record in Sydney was 15.0 °C, set in 2013. Other capitals, including Melbourne and Canberra, also recorded unusually high temperatures during the season.
Outlook and causes
Dr Simon Grainger, a senior climatologist at the BoM, said the tendency toward above‑average temperatures is likely to persist into the Australian spring. He noted the strengthening El Niño is contributing to the pattern and is expected to peak in late spring or summer.
The mild winter had practical effects: limited snowfall hit alpine tourism, forcing several ski resorts in Victoria and New South Wales to close their seasons early. The BoM’s outlook additionally warns of unusually high daytime and nighttime temperatures across large parts of the country as spring progresses.
Photo: press material from the event
