Last summer in Australia was the second-hottest on record, averaging 1.89 degrees Celsius above the long-term mean since 1910, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. This followed the second-warmest winter and hottest spring, with January being the second-hottest and December the third-hottest on record. The only hotter summer was in 2018/2019, at 2.11 degrees Celsius above average. Over the last 15 years, only the summers of 2011 and 2001 were cooler than the average from 1961 to 1990. Dr. Linden Ashcroft, a climate scientist from the University of Melbourne, attributes the extreme heat primarily to climate change. He emphasizes that the high temperatures would not have occurred without human-induced climate change and warns that it will worsen if fossil fuel use continues. Despite La Niña-like conditions usually associated with cooler temperatures, the heat was widespread with all regions recording temperatures among the top six highest. Western Australia experienced its record-hot summer and the hottest nighttime temperatures. Most areas had temperatures in their top 10 records for summer, with significant dry spells in South Australia and the Northern Territory. Ashcroft believes that climate change is unmistakable and its effects are evident in everyday life, though there is potential to mitigate its impact. The Bureau’s forecast for autumn anticipates average rainfall levels nationally, with drier conditions expected in parts of Queensland and wetter conditions in the northwest. There’s also an increased likelihood of higher than usual daytime and nighttime temperatures across the country.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/01/bureau-of-meteorology-data-shows-second-hottest-summer-on-record