Climate in Australia
Australia is such a vast country that the climate can vary considerably - even within a state, but by far the largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid. The temperate south has cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. In the north, there's a tropical climate with a warm, dry season and a hot, wet season. The extreme north-west experiences monsoon systems, while the mountains of the south-east attract seasonal snow to form the Alpine snowfields.
Since the middle of the 20th century, Australian temperatures have, on average, risen by about 1°C with an increase in the frequency of heatwaves and a decrease in the numbers of frosts and cold days. Rainfall patterns have also changed - the northwest has seen an increase in rainfall over the past 50 years while much of eastern Australia and the far southwest have experienced a decline.
Seasons
Spring: September – NovemberSummer: December – February
Autumn: March – May
Winter: June – August
Average winter temperatures in the cities
For many people, winter conjures up images of snow and winter sports, but in some parts of Australia, the temperatures in July mean it's still warm enough to swim at the beach.
The table below shows the average maximum and minimum temperatures in July in Australia, as well as the annual rainfall.
| Mean temperatures (Celsius) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| July | Rain (mm) | ||
| Location | Max | Min | Annual |
| Adelaide | 14.9 | 7.5 | 553 |
| Alice Springs | 19.5 | 4.0 | 274 |
| Brisbane | 20.6 | 9.5 | 1189 |
| Canberra | 11.1 | -0.2 | 631 |
| Darwin | 30.4 | 19.3 | 1666 |
| Hobart | 11.5 | 4.5 | 624 |
| Melbourne | 13.3 | 5.8 | 661 |
| Perth | 17.7 | 8.1 | 869 |
| Sydney | 16.9 | 6.7 | 1220 |
Source: Bureau of Meteorology
What next?
- Find out about where to live in Australia
- Look for jobs in Australia
- Talk to Australian employers at an Opportunities Overseas Expo near you
- Check out Australia's climate by State
