Australia (Commonwealth)_ Australia experienced its second-highest temperatures on record in 2024, as reported by the Bureau of Meteorology. The year also marked the warmest nighttime temperatures ever recorded, emphasizing the escalating impacts of global warming.
The national average temperature for 2024 was 1.46°C above the long-term average, calculated using data from 1961 to 1990. This placed it second only to the record of 1.51°C set in 2019. Nighttime temperatures stood out significantly, with an increase of 1.43°C above the average, surpassing the previous record of 1.27°C set in 1998. Maximum daytime temperatures ranked as the fourth-highest on record.
Climate experts attributed the persistent temperature rise primarily to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Professor Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, deputy director of the Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather at Australian National University, highlighted the absence of traditional climate phenomena that typically contribute to warmer years, such as El Niño or specific Indian Ocean conditions. “This has become routine,” she stated, noting that climate change was the predominant factor driving these alarming trends.
Seasonal data revealed extreme heat across the country. The spring of 2024 was the hottest on record, registering 2°C above the long-term average. Winter was the second warmest, and August saw record-breaking temperatures. Queensland reported its hottest year ever, while South Australia and Western Australia experienced their second-hottest years. New South Wales ranked third, Victoria fifth, Tasmania tied for fifth, and the Northern Territory recorded its 11th hottest year.
Although 2024 was wetter than average across much of Australia, some regions experienced drier conditions. Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania reported slightly below-average rainfall, while other states and territories saw increased precipitation.
The Bureau’s records also revealed a striking pattern: Australia’s ten hottest years have all occurred since 2005. Only two years in the past four decades—1989 and 2000—were cooler than the historical average. These findings highlight the long-term warming trend that human activity has influenced.
Professor Perkins-Kirkpatrick emphasized the unlikelihood of experiencing significantly cooler years in the future. “With all that warming baked in, having a year much cooler than average is virtually impossible,” she explained. Dr. Ailie Gallant, a climate scientist at Monash University, echoed these sentiments, stating that high temperatures are now the norm due to the lack of meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. “Every year will continue to rank among the hottest because we have not curtailed greenhouse gas emissions,” she remarked.
Interestingly, Australia has defied a global trend where minimum temperatures typically increase more rapidly than maximums. Rising nighttime temperatures, however, pose unique challenges. Dr. Gallant noted that warmer nights reduce the opportunity for the human body to recover from daytime heat, increasing health risks, particularly during heatwaves. Vulnerable communities are especially at risk due to the compounding effects of sustained heat.
“Uncomfortably warm nights have become a frequent complaint,” Dr. Gallant observed. This trend has significant implications, not only for public comfort but also for health outcomes. Prolonged exposure to elevated nighttime temperatures can exacerbate stress on the body, especially during the summer months.
Australia’s experience in 2024 serves as a stark reminder of the urgency to address climate change. Without decisive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, these extreme conditions will likely persist and intensify, posing profound risks to ecosystems, public health, and overall societal well-being.
