(Climate Commission) – The length, extent, and severity of this heatwave are unprecedented since records began. This is the longest period ever for such persistently high temperatures. For seven days running, from 2–8 January 2013, the average daily maximum temperature for the whole of Australia was over 39 °C, easily breaking the previous record of […]
Global Highlights The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for March 2013 tied with 2006 as the 10th warmest on record, at 0.58°C (1.04°F) above the 20th century average of 12.3°C (54.1°F). The global land surface temperature was 1.06°C (1.91°F) above the 20th century average of 5.0°C (40.8°F), the 11th warmest March […]
(Climate Commission) – Very hot days and heatwaves have a significant impact on human health, infrastructure, agriculture and natural ecosystems. Research at the Natural Hazards Research Centre (NRHC) has shown that heatwaves are the most significant natural hazard in Australia in terms of loss of life. There have been 4287 fatalities directly attributable to heatwaves […]
By Bruce Finley3 April 2013 (Denver Post) – The hotter, drier climate will transform Rocky Mountain forests, unleashing wider wildfires and insect attacks, federal scientists warn in a report for Congress and the White House. The U.S. Forest Service scientists project that, by 2050, the area burned each year by increasingly severe wildfires will at […]
By Olga Dobrovidova25 March 2013 (RTCC) – Climate change was back in the spotlight for the Russian media last week, with doomsday-style predictions of more extreme weather events, rapidly warming Arctic and growing global average temperatures. The scary headlines literally say stuff like Arctic temperatures might rise by up to 7 degrees by 2100 compared […]
25 March 2013 (AAP) – Victorians will face greater danger from heatwaves because of climate change and inadequate planning, a new report says. On the back of Australia’s hottest summer on record, and with heatwaves predicted to become more frequent, the state must upgrade its preparation and emergency responses, says the Victorian Council of Social […]
4 March 2013 (NIWA) – February rainfall totalled less than 15 mm (and also less than 15 percent of February normal) in parts of Northland, Auckland, and the Bay of Plenty. It was the driest February on record for Leigh (north Auckland), and Milford Sound. In the case of Leigh, it was also the driest […]
25 March 2013 (Sydney Morning Herald) – Sydney is on target for its hottest week since January and hottest March week in a decade, with an average maximum temperature of about 29 degrees. The city has already begun its unusually warm week. On Friday, the mercury rose to 31.8, 6 degrees above the long-term monthly […]
By Jane Holroyd18 March 2008 (The Age) – Melburnians tossed and turned through the warmest March night on record with the mercury dipping to a balmy minimum of 26.9 degrees just before 7.30am today. Weather bureau senior forecaster Peter Blake said it was the city’s warmest March night, beating the previous record on March 3 […]
By Peter Hannam, Carbon economy editor11 March 2013 (Sydney Morning Herald) — Melbourne’s heatwave has set more records as city dwellers endure temperatures more usually felt much further inland. The mercury touched 30 degrees late morning and peaked at 37.1 just after 4pm, exceeding the forecast high of 36. Melbourne has only posted eight consecutive […]
