Australia is the only country in the world that occupies an entire continent. True, this is the smallest continent on Earth: its area is 7,686,850 square kilometers, which is about half the size of Russia. However, on Australian territory can fit 32 times, for example, Great Britain, and about two times - all of continental Europe (except for the Russian part).
Situated between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Australia is known for its wonderful warm weather and a wide variety of climates.
According to the generally accepted classification of climatologist Vladimir Köppen, there are six climatic zones in Australia - from hot equatorial in the north of the mainland to cold alpine in the mountains of Victoria, where the most high point continent, Mount Kosciuszko.
But if you do not go into scientific details, the general picture of the climatic conditions of Australia is as follows: northern and central part mainland in the tropical and subequatorial belts, and southern regions dominated by subtropics and a temperate climate.
Like other countries in the southern hemisphere, the seasons in Australia are the opposite of what we are used to. From December to February there is summer, from March to May - autumn, from June to August - winter months and from September to November - spring.
Most of the north of the Australian continent does not experience extreme weather and major temperature fluctuations. Cool winters pass with an average temperature of +13°C, and the average temperature in the warm season reaches +29°C.
This happens because the climate characteristic of tropical latitudes brings only two weather seasons - wet and dry.
During the dry season - from May to October - it is almost always sunny, the average air humidity is 30%. The wet season in Australia lasts from November to April, this is the time of monsoons, tropical cyclones and thunderstorms.
However, in a number of regions the climate can be harsher, with significant temperature differences. This applies primarily to the sparsely populated central Australia, where a desert climate prevails, suggesting a sharp change in temperature during the day. Measurements in Alice Springs, located here, show a rise to + 40 ... 45 ° C during the day and sometimes fall to 0 ° C at night. The central part of Australia is considered uninhabitable, but there are National parks and extractive industries. So biologists and geologists going to Australia should be prepared for such weather.
The most fertile soils are located in the southern parts of the country and most of the population lives. In the southeast of Australia are also its capital Canberra and two largest cities - Sydney and Melbourne.
These regions have a temperate climate. Unlike the north of Australia, it is noticeably cooler here, all four seasons can be distinguished, and the number of hours of sunshine reaches an impressive figure - 3000 per year! For comparison, the most sunny city Russia - the resort Anapa - receives only 2400 hours of cloudless skies annually, and Moscow is almost one and a half times less.
meteorological phenomena
The average annual rainfall in Australia is approximately the same for all seasons and barely exceeds 400 mm (in Moscow - 705 mm). However, in the southern agricultural zone, wetter westerly winds dominate, which can bring up to 700 mm of precipitation per year.
Due to the Australian climate, it is best for international travelers to plan their trip to northern Australia between June and September, before the hot season starts. South Australia is best visited between November and March, when warm and sunny days begin there.
Other times are suitable for those who are interested in the sudden vagaries of the weather. For example, in September (that is, the beginning of spring) 2009 in Sydney, due to a severe dust storm, airports were closed for a whole day, highways were blocked, and most of the city was covered with a layer of tiny reddish dust brought by the wind.
It is in Australia that one of the most amazing meteorological phenomena in the world can be observed - clouds with the name "Morning Gloria". This rare and majestic spectacle occurs from late September to early November in the north of the country, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and is a series of moving cylindrical clouds, reaching a thousand kilometers in length and two kilometers in diameter.
The appearance of "Morning Gloria" is always accompanied by a squally increase in wind and sharp pressure surges on the surface, while the clouds themselves, moving at speeds up to 60 kilometers per hour, do not change their elongated shape.
The weather of the continent can bring both pleasant and unpleasant surprises, but in general, coastal Australia, especially its southern part, has a warm sunny climate, almost ideal for comfortable living, efficient work, and for
In three latitudes: subequatorial, subtropical and tropical. The northern part of Australia is a subequatorial belt, the southern part is subtropics, and most of the continent is tropics.
The climate of Australia in the northern part is characterized by a large amount of precipitation, about two thousand millimeters. Most of them are brought from the northwest by a wet monsoon in summer time. In winter, the amount of precipitation is significantly reduced, at this time there is more likely a drought, which is brought by hot winds. Average annual fluctuations in air temperature are small.
Tropical latitudes of the continent - it is here that the two main dry and humid tropical are formed. extreme eastern region is under the influence of a humid tropical climate, moisture comes here with the air masses of the Pacific expanses. The eastern slope of the Great Dividing Range and the coastal plains receive annual precipitation ranging from one thousand to one and a half thousand millimeters. The climate of Australia in this part is distinguished by a warm, mild and fairly even "temper": the temperature of the warmest days is about twenty-five degrees, and the coldest - ten. Located in the tropics and subtropics, the mainland heats up significantly. This means that the climate in Australia is arid and hot.
Almost the entire central part of the mainland is desert. They occupy huge spaces with a length of about two and a half kilometers. The climate of Australia - desert tropical - prevails in the west and in the central part. In summer, the temperature here exceeds thirty degrees, and in winter it does not fall below ten degrees. The Great Sandy Desert is the hottest area on the continent. Here the difference between the temperatures of summer and winter is only ten to fifteen degrees. And the climate of Australia in this region is characterized by a meager amount of precipitation.
Part of the mainland, located in the subtropics, is climatically divided into three zones: Mediterranean, subtropical continental and subtropical humid.
The first zone is close to the mild climate of the Mediterranean countries. In summer it is hot and sometimes dry, and in winter it is humid and warm. As for precipitation, there is enough of it here - from six hundred to a thousand millimeters a year.
The subtropics include the southern part of the continent, where it stretches all the way to the western part of New South Wales. Here, during the year, the temperature jumps significantly, and the precipitation does not differ in particular abundance.
The state of Victoria, the southwestern foothills of New South Wales, has its own climatic features. This part of Australia has a mild, warm and humid climate, and the amount of precipitation in coastal areas ranges from five hundred to six hundred millimeters per year. Deepening to the center of the mainland, precipitation becomes less and less. This part of Australia is favorable for agriculture, although there is a need for additional artificial irrigation. At the same time, rivers and lakes in most of the mainland do not have direct drains into the ocean, because the waters of most lakes are salty, and rivers tend to dry up partially during the hot months. In summer, the air temperature reaches twenty-five degrees, and in winter it does not fall below ten.
Of particular interest is the winter in Australia. If the summer period is relatively even, then the winter in different climatic regions is completely different. So, for example, the interior of the mainland is characterized by hot and dry winters, as those coming from the ocean, on the way to the center of the continent, have time to warm up and lose most of the moisture. In the capital, winter is different low temperatures and the presence of snow.
Australia is a continent that was not immediately studied by Europeans, distant and unusual. In addition, it is located entirely in the other hemisphere, and is also the smallest on Earth. It will be interesting to study its features for everyone who wants to have an idea about the climate and nature of different parts of the earth.
Geography of the mainland
Australia comes from the Latin australis which means "southern". Thus, the name of the mainland is directly related to its location. extreme northern point continent is Cape York. To the south is South East Point. In the west, Australia ends at Steep Point, and in the east - Byron. The length of the continent is 3200 kilometers from north to south. It covers 4100 km from west to east. Only at the beginning of the nineteenth century did Australia appear on the maps. general information about the continent became available as a result of numerous travels of the discoverers. The English captain Matthew Flinders rounded it completely and gave the name. The geography of the mainland includes several climatic zones, and each should be considered in detail. Around the continent are island groups - Melville, Bathurst, Tasmania, Groote Island, Dirk Hartog, Flinders, Fraser and Kangaroo.
Waters around the mainland
The presence of oceans directly affects what Australia has a climate. Rivers and lakes also play a role. The mainland has no connection with other continents, it is washed by the Pacific and Indian oceans. In the north are the seas - Arafura and Timor. The largest bay is Carpentaria. Shallow waters without pronounced currents stretch along the southern and western coasts. From the east, Australia is washed by the Coral and Tasman Seas, the relief of which includes deep basins. Troughs are located along the island arcs. Their depth can reach ten kilometers. 
We continue our conversation about such a continent as Australia. Climate, climatic zones and areas of this continent, we will consider further.
subequatorial climate
The strip of this type of weather covers the north and northeast. Answering the question in which belts the mainland Australia is located, the subequatorial climate should be mentioned first, along with tropical and subtropical. This area is distinguished by a small amplitude of annual temperatures and impressive amounts of precipitation, sometimes reaching more than 2000 millimeters. Bringing them to earth means that everything happens in the summer. In the winter season, the air becomes dry, hot winds blow from the continent, sometimes they can lead to drought. 
tropical climate
When answering the question in which climatic zones Australia is located, do not forget about this band. Especially on the mainland, it is expressed in two versions. Humid tropical climate distinguishes the extreme eastern part, subject to the action of the southeast trade wind. The trade winds carry air masses full of moisture to the mainland. Pacific Ocean, perfectly moistening the earth. On average, up to 1500 millimeters of precipitation falls here. The warmest month is characterized by a temperature of twenty-five degrees, and the coldest - at thirteen.
When determining in which climatic zones Australia is located, one should not forget about the influence of the relief - it is difficult for air masses to penetrate beyond the Great Dividing Range, therefore precipitation falls there only on the western slopes and foothills. In the center and in the west - a desert tropical climate with average summer temperatures of thirty degrees and the same winter as in the previous type. What is the climate like in the desert region of Australia? There is the hottest area. In the area of the city called Alice Springs, the temperature of the summer day can rise to plus forty-five, and at night fall below zero. These territories receive three hundred millimeters of precipitation per year. Sometimes it may not rain for several years. 
subtropical belt
It is divided into three varieties - Mediterranean, humid and continental. The first distinguishes the southwestern region. It, as it is obvious from the name, resembles the conditions European countries- France and Spain. The Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot and dry summers. Winter here is wet and warm. The annual temperature range is quite small: from +23 degrees in January to +12 in June. Precipitation falls up to a thousand millimeters. In the area of the continental climate are the state of New South Wales and the environs of Adelaide. The main features of this zone are low rainfall and impressive temperature fluctuations throughout the year. Finally, the subtropical humid climate is characteristic of the state of Victoria and the southwestern foothills. Mild weather prevails here with high rainfall. In summer, the temperature reaches +24, by winter it drops by 15 degrees. The local area is perfect for growing vegetables and fruits, grazing dairy cattle or sheep.
Now you know in which climatic zones the mainland Australia is located, and you can pay attention to other details. 
and semi-deserts
In addition to the peculiarities of the climate, it is worth considering these natural areas. The climate zones in which Australia is located also affect these zones. So, one of the common zones are characteristic of the northern part of the mainland. Physical weathering leads to the appearance of a specific relief. This zone is distinguished by such deserts as Great Sandy, Simpson, Greater Victoria. They are characterized by high temperatures during the day with possible frosts at night. The difference between the Australian deserts and many others is that there is enough moisture for some vegetation. The fauna is poorly represented. In the zone of deserts and semi-deserts there are antelopes, marsupial moles, hyenas, jackals. A variety of jerboas and gerbils predominate, as well as reptiles. More animals live in fixed sands than in a rocky area. 
equatorial forest zone
As mentioned above, the climatic zones in which Australia is located also affect the natural areas found here. The zone is found on the east coast of Australia. For the formation of such a territory, high humidity and precipitation in the amount of more than two thousand millimeters per year are necessary. The hot temperature is above twenty degrees, and such a volume of rains is provided by warm currents. In such a zone, there are several tiers of plants with the top one reaching forty meters. Australian eucalyptus trees can even reach a hundred! Plants in these areas have very large leaves that remain green. all year round. A variety of snakes, frogs, spiders, lizards and insects live here. Animals are most often distinguished by their small size (for example, koalas). There are also monkeys. Larger animals simply would not be able to move either in the lower or in the upper levels of such a zone filled with thick branches, large leaves and large tree trunks.
savannah zone
The fact in which climatic zones the mainland Australia is located allows it to differ in special geographical areas. For example, the sandstones of the savannah, located in the north, are a kind of natural attraction. Rivers flowing from the mountains flood this area, resulting in the development of vast floodplains. This creates a wet savanna interspersed with rainforests and small shrubs. Many herbs and shrubs grow here. Knowing in which climatic zones the mainland Australia is located, one should not be surprised unique nature. However, world famous national park called "Kakadu" is still impossible to lose sight of. This amazing place with virgin vegetation.
The climate of Australia is subequatorial in the north of the continent, tropical in the central part, subtropical in the south of the country, and temperate in Tasmania. Due to its location, Australia has earned the honorary title of "Country where everything is the opposite" - when winter prevails in most countries of the world, hot summers in Australia, and when it comes summer season in Europe, Russia and many other countries of the world - Australia meets winter. In winter - summer, in autumn - spring, that's how it lives. In addition, the incident of nature is the fact that in the north of Australia it is much warmer than on its southern side, which again contradicts the usual logic. In Australia, when the north “suns”, the south “freezes”.
Cheap flights to Sydney
Due to the large extent of the continent and its area, Australia has a fairly diverse climate. Climatic conditions on the continent are determined by its position near the equator, on both sides of the tropic. The mainland is very hot and has the status of the driest continent on Earth. One cannot but agree with this, because the vast territory of the country is occupied by vast expanses of deserts, which stretch almost 2.5 thousand km from the coast indian ocean to the foothills of the Great Dividing Range.
In general, the Australian continent has a hot climate. The hottest are central regions countries. The southeastern part of Australia is characterized by a Mediterranean climate, similar to the climate of the European Mediterranean countries - Spain and Southern France. And the coolest part of the country is the island of Tasmania, where a typical British climate reigns - not hot in summer and rainy in winter.
The hot climate and low precipitation lead to the fact that almost 60% of the country's territory is deprived of runoff to the ocean and has only a rare network of temporary watercourses. No other continent has such a poorly developed network inland waters like in Australia. The annual flow of all the rivers of the continent is, in total, 350 km³.
Since Australia is located in the southern hemisphere of the globe, the "standard", for many, winter months - from December to March, are considered summer here.
So, summer in Australia begins ... in late November - early December. Yes Yes exactly. Summer in Australia is the driest and hottest time of the year. Summer Australia is a big sizzling pan. The hottest area of Australia is the Great Sandy Desert, where the temperature stays at around +35°C and even higher almost all summer. In the center of the mainland, near the city of Alice Springs, in the summer the temperature during the day often rises to +45°C (!), and at night it drops to zero and below -4 - -6°C (!).
On the most inhabited part of the mainland - the eastern (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Newcastle), in the summer season, with rather hot weather, it often rains heavily, unlike the west of Australia (Perth) - where the weather is consistently clear hot weather. During the day it is about +28°С, and the nights bring freshness and relief - +14°С, while in Sydney the nights are slightly warmer than in Perth - +17°С. The weather in South Australia (Adelaide, Melbourne) in the summer season is mild and sunny: the daytime air temperature is +25 - +28 ° C, practically the same temperature and water - you can sunbathe and swim in plenty.
January is the middle of summer in Australia, so you should not expect temperatures less than +30°C at this time of the year, well, for central regions continent, the January norm will be a temperature of + 40 ° C.
The eastern part of the country is not so hot, the climate here in January is quite favorable, for example, in Sydney during the day up to + 26 ° C, and at night up to + 18 ° C. It will be a little colder in January in Melbourne - + 25 ° С, and the nights are noticeably cooler up to + 13 ° С. In the western part of the country (Perth) it is still cloudless, and the air temperature is high, reaching +32°C. But in the north of Australia, summer is the rainy season, in January in Darwin it can rain up to 20 days in a row!
February is the last month of summer in Australia. At the same time, in the northern part of the country the weather is hotter than in the south. In the eastern part of the country in February, as before, there is comfortable cool weather, in Sydney the daytime air temperature is, on average, about + 26 ° С, and at night + 18 ° С. The water temperature reaches +22°С. In the southern part of Australia, it is also comfortable, for example, in Melbourne the air warms up to the same level during the day as in Sydney, but the nights are noticeably cooler - + 13 ° С. In the west of Australia (Perth), the weather is hotter, and during the day the thermometer shows + 31- + 33 ° С, and at night + 17 ° С. The water here is slightly warmer than in Sydney, and is +23 - +24°C.
Autumn in Australia begins in early - mid-March. Autumn is a golden time in Australia: all the forests, parks and reserves of the country are transformed into red and gold hues that captivate the eye. The heat is gradually subsiding, but the swimming season is still going on, the water is like fresh milk, and the sea is full of jellyfish: the authorities of Queensland even put special nets on the beaches to protect bathers from burns.
In March, southern Australia has warm, comfortable weather and no exhausting heat. For example, in Melbourne during the day it is about + 23 ° С, but at night the average air temperature drops to + 12 ° С, therefore, warmer clothes will be needed for evening walks. The water off the coast of Melbourne is quite warm, with an average temperature of +21 - +22°C.
On the east coast of Australia, the air temperature is also slowly starting to drop. In Sydney, in March, during the day, on average + 25 ° C, and at night + 17 ° C. But, it is unlikely that anyone will want to swim this month, since the water temperature is only + 19 ° С. In addition, the rainy season begins in Sydney in March - autumn in the east of Australia is a rather rainy season.
The northern part of Australia also lowers the temperature already in the first month of autumn. Here at the beginning of autumn there are quite strong thunderstorms, and although, for example, in Darwin, it is still hot in March and the air temperature during the day is +30 - +32 ° С, it rains every third day. In the central part of Australia, in March, it is still hot, the average daytime air temperature in Alice Springs is +32°C, dropping to +17°C at night. In this part of the country, the influence of autumn is not so noticeable, here it is still hot and dry.
April is the middle of autumn in Australia. In general, the air temperature throughout the country continues to drop - somewhere faster, somewhere slower. It is quite comfortable, and not at all hot in April on the east coast of Australia - in Sydney during the day it is + 22 ° С, and at night it is only + 13 ° С. Who wants cooler weather, welcome to Canberra - here in April + 19 ° C during the day, and + 12 ° C at night. Well, those who like the weather hotter can go to the center of the country, to Alice Springs and Ayers Rock. There during the day, in April, the weather is magnificent, for sunbathing, the weather is + 27 ° С, but in the evenings it is quite cold, and by night the air cools down to + 12 ° С.
In Western Australia, the weather in April is wonderful, but gradually becomes cooler and rainier. In Perth in April - +25°С, at night up to +12°С, but you can still swim, the water is warm - about +22°С, however, slight winds blow.
May is the last autumn month in Australia. In the west of Australia, the weather is still quite comfortable - + 21 ° C, only, more and more often, it rains. On the east coast of the continent, rain in May is also not uncommon: in Sydney, you can get wet in the rain, which is not uncommon here in May. The air temperature is getting lower, and during the day it is already about + 20 ° С, and at night, only + 10 ° С. The water also cools down, and in May, in total, + 18 ° С. In the south of the country, the May weather is very unstable: Australians joke that in Melbourne you can watch all 4 seasons in a day. In May in Melbourne during the day, it is +17 - +20°С, and at night it can get colder up to +10°С.
In the central regions of Australia, it is still arid, although, in general, the air temperature is declining here, the average daily temperature of + 22 ° C in Alice Springs is very difficult to call the temperature of late autumn. Despite this, in May, it is very cold here at night - the temperature drops to + 8 ° C and below.
The weather in Melbourne is slightly cooler than in Sydney, and here, too, it rains in May.
In the interior of southern Australia, the weather is dry. But, as you move closer to the sea, the climate becomes more favorable and mild. In Adelaide, for example, during daylight hours the average is +18°C, and at night +9°C. The water off the coast is only +16°C.
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Winter in Australia begins in early June, no matter how strange it may sound. Yes, when summer is in full swing in our country, Australians “freeze” at this time. Although to say that it is cold in Australia in winter does not turn the tongue. In general, the air temperature, in almost all regions, does not fall below +10°C. The Australian winter lasts until the end of August.
In the winter season, the mainland cools down: in the northern part, on average, by 5-6°С, and in the southern part, by 10-12°С. At this time, an area of high pressure is established above the mainland, and the north of the country is under the influence of hot and dry southeast winds, which is why it practically does not receive precipitation.
Winters in South Australia are mild but wet. For example, in Adelaide, in June, the air warms up during the day, on average, to + 16 ° C, and at night it cools down to + 7 ° C. It is cool and humid in the west of the country, in Perth, for example, during the day it is about + 18 ° C and, in total, + 8 ° C at night. It is even cooler in Canberra in June, during the daytime the thermometer shows +12°C, and at night it is completely cold, only +6°C. On the east coast of Australia, such strong jumps in temperature are not observed; in Sydney, the weather is still moderate - + 17 ° С during the day and + 8 ° С at night. The water in June here reaches its minimum mark of +16°C.
In June, it will be quite cold in Tasmania, the west wind prevails here. At this time of the year, unstable weather sets in with cyclonic rains, therefore, south of 32 ° south latitude, the winter maximum precipitation is observed. In the north and northwest of Australia, in June, on the contrary, the most favorable weather occurs. It's hot during the day and cool at night. The air becomes dry, the sky is always blue. The water in the ocean is unusually clean and, even in winter time resembles fresh milk - +25 - +26 ° С.
July in Australia is the peak of winter, considered the coldest month of the year. It will be very cool in July in the capital of Australia - Canberra. During the day here, in total, about + 11 ° С, and at night, on average, about + 7 ° С, although sometimes the thermometer can show minus temperatures. In the mountains near Canberra, winters are cold and snowy, and the weather changes quickly and unpredictably. For those who want to sunbathe and swim in the middle of the Australian winter, it is better to go to the north of the country, to Darwin, where the air temperature reaches + 29 ° C, and the water will delight you with “chic” + 26 ° C.
East Coast Australia, in July, is more like a southern European climate. average temperature in Brisbane it is + 18 ° С, in Sydney - + 16 ° С, even night frosts occur here. There is little precipitation at this time. The water in the ocean warms up poorly, its average temperature in July is about +16 - +18°C. On west coast- on the contrary, July is the rainiest month, for example, in Perth, it rains, on average, 17 days out of 30. The sea is quite cool - about + 16 ° C, therefore, only daredevils swim at this time.
August is the last winter month in Australia. On the southern coast of the country, in August, during the day the thermometer shows, on average, + 17 ° С, the nights can be called cold, about + 7 ° С. The water temperature is at its minimum mark of + 16 ° C, there is a lot of precipitation. In the north of the country, on the contrary, there is almost never any precipitation in August. In general, the northern coast of Australia, in winter, pleases with wonderful warm weather, in Darwin, during the day, on average, + 31 ° C, in the evening the air temperature drops to a comfortable + 20 ° C, well, and the water temperature is simply breathtaking - +26 - +27°С.
A special climate has formed in the interior of Australia. It is hot and dry here in winter, and very cold at night. In Alice Springs, the average daytime temperature in August is +22°C, dropping to +5 - +3°C at night, or sometimes even to slightly below zero temperatures.
In early September, spring comes to Australia, which combines the features of the other three seasons. In general, the spring climate is very similar to the autumn climate: not too hot and not too cold. The thermometer, everywhere, begins to rise, and the sun shines even brighter, and the Australian continent begins to slowly blossom with bright colors.
Already in September it warms up noticeably East End Australia, in the daytime, in Sydney, about + 20 ° C, and at night up to + 10 ° C. The water here becomes warmer by a couple of degrees and in September it is +18°C. In the southern part of Australia, in September, it is still cool, for example, in Melbourne, during the daytime, the thermometer will show only + 16 ° С, and at night - about + 6 ° С. In Adelaide, it is a little warmer - during the day the air warms up to + 17 ° С, but the nights are still cold, about + 8 ° С.
The northern coast of Australia continues to delight with excellent weather - there is practically no rain here in September, and the daytime air temperature, for example, in Darwin is + 32 ° C, in the evening it is quite a comfortable temperature for walking, and + 23 ° C at night . Despite the fact that this Northern part continent, and the day and night air temperatures here also rise upwards, and what is even more pleasant, the water temperature rises along with this, reaching a delightful + 27 ° C in September.
October is the middle of spring in Australia, air and water temperatures, everywhere, continue to rise steadily. In the southern part of the country, in October, it often rains, the temperature is not high, for example, in Melbourne, during the day, about + 18 ° C, and at night only + 8 ° C. The water temperature near the coast has become a little higher, but still quite cool - + 18 ° C, it's too early to swim. In the west of Australia, on the contrary, there is a dry and warm spring. In Perth, the daytime air temperature reaches +22°C, although the nights are still quite cool up to +10°C. The water temperature near the coast is warmer than in Sydney and Melbourne, but noticeably colder than on the northern coast, and is only +19°C.
In the north of Australia, in October, grace. It is very warm and comfortable here, there is very little rainfall. During the day, in Darwin, the air temperature is +27 - +29°С, at night, about +23 - +24°С. Water at north coast continues to warm up and is +27 - +28°C.
Spring heat quickly reaches the central regions of Australia, in Alice Springs, in October, during the day, there is already real heat, the air temperature warms up to + 30 - + 32 ° С, dropping to + 15 ° С at night, precipitation, at this time years are incredible.
November is the last spring month in Australia, spring is coming to an end and the Australian summer is just around the corner. November is already a very warm month. Even in the "cold" Canberra, in November, it is very comfortable - the daytime air temperature rises to +22 - +23°C, dropping to +15°C at night. The east coast of the country also pleases with excellent weather - for example, in Sydney there is not as much precipitation in November as in the summer, and the daytime air temperature is +23 - +24°С. At the same time, the water near the coast warms up to + 21 ° C, so you can already swim!
In the west of Australia it is traditionally warmer than in the east, during the day in Perth, in November, the daytime air temperature will be + 25 ° C, however, the nights here are noticeably colder, and the thermometer often drops to a temperature of + 12 ° C. Precipitation, in November, is not observed on the western coast of Australia, and the water temperature warms up to + 21 ° С. The central regions of the country are hot to the limit, in Alice Springs the daily air temperature in November is +33 - +35 ° С, in the desert areas it is even much higher. But, daily fluctuations make themselves felt in the spring, and at night the temperature drops exactly 2 times, thus averaging +16 - +17 ° С.
Australia is an arid arid continent. About 40% of its area receives less than 250 mm of precipitation per year, and about 70% - less than 500 mm per year. Much of Australia may not experience significant rainfall for several consecutive years. The driest area is around Lake Eyre, in South Australia, which receives less than 125mm of rain annually. Droughts are widespread in many inland areas of Australia. Australia's wettest region is near the Tully region of Queensland, where humid air rises over the eastern slope of the Atherton Plateau and receives up to 4,500 mm of precipitation per year.
The northern and northeastern parts of the continent are distinguished by a large amount of precipitation - up to 1,500 mm, and in some places more than 2,000 mm, which fall mainly in summer. In winter, during the dry season, rain falls only occasionally. The entire area of the coastal plains and eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range is also well moistened, with an average of 1,000 to 1,500 mm of precipitation.
The central and western parts of Australia receive, on average, 250 - 300 mm of precipitation per year. Part of the water that falls here quickly and deeply seeps through the permeable soil and becomes inaccessible to plants, and part evaporates under the hot rays of the sun.
When to go to Australia. Australia is a year-round country to visit, at any time of the year you can choose one or another corner where the weather will be simply gorgeous. The main thing is not to make a mistake with this choice.
If you are planning to visit big cities Australia, such as Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane or go on a sightseeing tour, best months for the trip will be September, October and November (Australian spring), as well as March, April and May (Australian autumn). In the summer months it will be uncomfortable here because of the heat, the winter months will please few people with their coolness.
lovers beach holiday, and those who want to fry the bones on famous resorts Queensland, and also, to plunge into the underwater kingdom of the magnificent Great Barrier Reef, the months from December to March (Australian summer) are more suitable. The summer months are also the perfect choice for both surfers and dufing enthusiasts. In winter (June, July, August) it will be quite cool here, the beach season, at this time, is excluded, in the remaining months there is quite a lot of precipitation.
Beach fun will be very pleasant on south coast Australia (Adelaide, Albany), as well as on the west coast of the country - since the climate here is cooler than in the north, the summer months (December, January, February) will be the ideal time to relax. The rest of the year it is cooler here, and in winter (June, July, August) there is no beach holiday at all.
If you are planning to visit magnificent Melbourne, then it is also better to go there in the summer (December, January, February). In addition, in the summer, walks and excursion tours in the parks and reserves of Tasmania - there is simply no better time for this, as many national parks are open only during the season from December to March. In winter (June, July, August) in Melbourne and Tasmania it is quite cool, and at other times of the year it often rains.
To visit the central regions of the country, such as Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, as well as the desert territories of Australia, the winter months (June, July, August) are suitable, when the suffocating heat subsides a little, but you should always remember that hot weather during the day absolutely guarantees cold in the evening, and often frosts at night. When going on a trip, keep in mind such a large temperature difference and take warm clothes with you. You should not go to these areas during the summer months (December, January, February), temperatures of +40 ° C in the shade, few will like it, and make it difficult for you to travel and sightseeing. It is strongly not recommended to go to these desert areas in the summer for people who do not tolerate the heat!!! It's just dangerous to health!
The cool months are from June to September ( australian winter) can be comfortably spent on the northern coast of the continent. Here, at this time, the weather is beautiful, for a beach holiday, rains are practically excluded, and the water resembles fresh milk. But in the summer (December, January, February), it is better to refrain from traveling to this part of Australia - heavy rains will not let you enjoy the amazing nature of this country.
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Climate of Australia: climatic zones
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Australia's climate is not uniform. Because of big size Australia has different types of climates in different parts of Australia. Temperatures can range from freezing in the Snowy Mountains in southern Australia to extreme highs in the Kimberley region in the northwest of the continent.
Again, due to the size of the continent, there is no single seasonal calendar for the entire continent. Australia is located within six climate zones, which are represented by two main climate models.
The first model (“moderate”) is characteristic of the temperate zone, as well as desert and semi-desert. The second model (“wet / dry”) covers the equatorial, tropical, and subtropical zones.
Climatic zones of Australia
Temperate belt ("moderate" model)
The temperate zone extends to the coastal regions of New South Wales, most of Victoria, Tasmania, the southeastern tip of South Australia, and the southwestern part of Western Australia. The seasons in the temperate zone are presented in the same way as in most other places in the southern hemisphere:
- Summer: December to February
- Autumn: March to May
- Winter: June to August
- Spring: September to November
Based on this, Christmas in Australia is held in the middle of summer. Besides, summer holidays for students fall in the winter.
Two other climate zones that also experience temperate climates are:
- Semi-desert belt (savanna) - represented by a strip of arid and semi-arid desert in the central regions of the country, as well as in the region north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.
- The Desert Belt is an arid and semi-arid region in the center of the continent, extending long distances in South Australia and Western Australia, far south in western Queensland, and far north in the eastern tip of New South Wales, and nearly half of the Northern Territory.
Tropical belts ("wet/dry" model)
The three Australian climate zones that fall into this category are:
- The equatorial belt is the tip of Cape York, as well as the islands of Bathurst and Melville, north of Darwin.
- Tropical belt - along the northern part of Australia, includes Cape York, the northern part of the Northern Territory, the territory south of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and the Kimberley region.
- The subtropical belt is a coastal and inland belt starting from Cairns, along the coast of Queensland, and receding inward to the northern regions of New South Wales and the coastal strip north of Perth, towards Geraldton in Western Australia.
Wet and dry seasons
The climate of Australia in the tropical regions in the north of the country, included in the equatorial and subtropical belts, is characterized by high air temperatures, high humidity, and distinct wet and dry seasons.
In the tropics of Australia wet season, called the monsoon season, lasts about six months, from November to March. At this time, it is hotter than in the dry season - the air temperature is kept from 30 to 50 degrees Celsius. During these months, the humidity is high and it often rains, which often causes floods.
dry season it also lasts about six months, usually from April to October. The air temperature is cooler during this time and the skies are usually clearer during the daytime. The average temperature is about 20 degrees Celsius.
Air temperature in Australia
As already mentioned, there is no single climate in Australia, so the air temperature also varies, depending on the region. The table below lists the main cities in Australia with monthly average air temperatures.
| Sydney (New South Wales) | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | sen | Oct | But I | Dec | |
| Max °C | 26 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 |
| Min °C | 19 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 17 |
| Melbourne (Victoria) | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | sen | Oct | But I | Dec | |
| Max °C | 26 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 24 |
| Min °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 12 |
| Brisbane (Queensland, southeast) | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | sen | Oct | But I | Dec | |
| Max °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 29 |
| Min °C | 21 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 20 |
| Cairns (Queensland, northern part) | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | sen | Oct | But I | Dec | |
| Max °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 31 |
| Min °C | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Big barrier reef(Queensland) | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | sen | Oct | But I | Dec | |
| Max °C | 31.8 | 31.5 | 30.7 | 29.3 | 27.6 | 25.9 | 25.6 | 26.4 | 27.9 | 29.7 | 30.8 | 31.8 |
| Min °C | 23.5 | 23.3 | 22.6 | 21.0 | 18.9 | 17.3 | 16.3 | 16.3 | 17.7 | 19.8 | 21.4 | 22.8 |
| Uluru (Ayers Rock, Northern Territory entity) | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | sen | Oct | But I | Dec | |
| Max °C | 38 | 36 | 34 | 29 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 32 | 34 | 37 |
| Min °C | 21 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 17 | 20 |
| Perth (Western Australia) | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | sen | Oct | But I | Dec | |
| Max °C | 32 | 32 | 30 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 26 | 29 |
| Min °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 15 |
| Canberra (Australian Capital Territory) | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | sen | Oct | But I | Dec | |
| Max °C | 28 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 26 |
| Min °C | 13 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 11 |
| Adelaide (South Australia) | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | sen | Oct | But I | Dec | |
| Max °C | 28 | 28 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 26 |
| Min °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 |
| Hobart (Tasmania) | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | sen | Oct | But I | Dec | |
| Max °C | 22 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 |
| Min °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 |
| Darwin (subject of the Northern Territory)) | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | sen | Oct | But I | Dec | |
| Max °C | 32 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Min °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Extreme weather in Australia
Cyclones, snow and floods
The tropics in Australia can experience cyclones during the wet season. In inland, desert regions, total drought can persist for several consecutive years, and rains can lead to floods. The rainiest months in the capitals southern states- from May to July.
Along the Great Dividing Range - mountain range, stretching along New South Wales and Victoria, snow falls regularly. The snow season in the Australian Alps in southeastern Australia lasts from June to September.
Cyclones
Cyclones are a tropical climate phenomenon. They usually take place in Australia between November and April, in the northern part of the country. Their most common places of occurrence are the coasts of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.
About six cyclones occur annually in Australia. Australia's most famous cyclone is Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin in the Northern Territory around Christmas 1974. As a result, forty-nine people died and over 600 were injured. Darwin had to be evacuated as the city was nearly 80 percent damaged. However, Tracy is not the worst cyclone to hit Australia. In 1899, a hurricane in Australia claimed over 400 lives and destroyed an entire pearl and fish fleet in Queensland.
Arid regions of the desert
The driest regions of Australia are located mainly in the central part of Australia in arid and semi-arid desert regions, which are characterized by heat daytime air and low rainfall.
The arid desert regions of Australia are characterized by extreme heat during the day and extreme cold at night. The air temperature varies from 40 degrees Celsius in summer to 16 and 24 degrees Celsius in winter. At night, the temperature varies from 19 to zero degrees Celsius.
Drought
The climate in Australia in the desert regions differs from the conditions during a drought. A drought is an extremely long period of water scarcity - mainly due to lack or lack of rainfall.
Australia has had many severe droughts over the past 200 years. The drought of 1895-1903 lasted eight years, and caused the death of half of all sheep in Australia, and forty percent of cattle. The 1963-1968 drought resulted in a forty percent reduction in the wheat crop across Australia. In the central part of Australia, the same drought lasted longer - as much as eight years, from 1958 to 1967.
