5th warmest winter on record for maximum temperatures In the warmest ten winters for NSW, QLD, SA, and NT Rainfall below average, 8th driest for NSW With droughts you need to consider rainfall, temperature AND evaporation rates.
"If we had just had the eighth-driest winter on record on its own and conditions had been okay before that, it wouldn’t have anywhere near the impact we are seeing," Dr Trewin said.
"Central and western Tasmania had above-average rainfall, and rainfall was average to slightly above average in parts of southern South Australia, south-west Victoria and also parts of south-west Western Australia," Dr Trewin said.
"Temperature is really a massive influence in terms of the evaporation," Dr Gergis said.
"We have actually seen maximum temperatures in NSW running about 2.2 degrees warmer than average, which is obviously exacerbating the rainfall deficits that we’re experiencing," Dr Gergis said.
This winter’s pan evaporation rate for Australia was the third-highest on record.
Dr Trewin said dry soils could in turn affect temperatures.
We are this land of drought and flooding rain, so we do experience drought conditions," Dr Gergis said.
But now our natural variability was playing out on the background of a warmer climate.
"As Australia continues to warm, it is going to cause an exacerbation of the drying, which is going to make our droughts worse," Dr Gergis said.