Record Heat and Flooding for Australia
Current satellite image of Australia.
Perth, Australia, has experienced one of its hottest and driest summers on record.
Since November, temperatures have averaged nearly 5 degrees F (3 degrees C) above normal. The latest in a series of heat waves began on Feb. 25 and has persisted through Monday.
High temperatures were no lower than 98 degrees F (36.4 degrees C) and has been as hot as 107 degrees F (41.5 degrees C) during this period.
The normal high temperature for the end of February is 88 degrees F (30.8 degrees C). Unusually dry weather has accompanied the heat wave this summer, with roughly half the normal amount of rain falling.
In fact, since Jan. 1, only 0.02 of an inch (0.6 mm) of rain has fallen, well short of the average of 1 inch (24.9 mm) of rain that normally falls during the same period.
Meanwhile, the other side of the continent is coping with severe flooding. Over the past three days, nearly the average annual rainfall has fallen over portions of southwest Queensland, resulting in severe flooding.
The towns of Charleville and Roma have been declared disaster areas, resulting in hundreds of people to be evacuated. Thirty patients from Charleville's hospital have been flown to a hospital in Brisbane.
The State Emergency Service has been called to more than 200 jobs to help with evacuations and to survey the damage.
The flooding rains have been the result of a monsoonal low pressure system that moved very slowly through the state.
Much of southwest Queensland has been in a drought since 2002 and 2003. The heavy rains have ended, but the flooding will persist through the end of the week until flood waters can recede.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 113° | Death Valley, CA |
| Low | 30° | Bellemont, AZ |
| Precip | 9.70" | Miami, FL |
WeatherWhys®
A large, horrific tornado struck the city of Joplin, Mo., last year on this date. The twister cut a deadly path across the south side of the city, leaving over 159 dead and at least 1,150 injured. The Joplin tornado currently ranks as the 7th deadliest tornado in U.S. history.
This Day In Weather History
New Hampshire (1814)
A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.
Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly totals topped 11 inches at New York City, 9 inches at Bridgeport, Conn., and 8 inches at Baltimore (all three totals set records for May).
Rough Weather
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