Climate chaos continues: Australia’s warmest end to July in decades

August 1, 2011 – AUSTRALIA – Much of central and southern Australia has had its warmest end to July in decades, with the last few days of the month 3 to 8 degrees above average. To get at least four days of this warmth at the end of July without a cool change is rare, Brett Dutschke, senior meteorologist at weatherzone.com.au said. It hasn’t happened in more than 100 years in some places, he said. In each of the past four days, Adelaide reached 19 degrees and Hobart 15, their warmest end to July in more than 120 years of records. Canberra also hit 15 degrees over four days, its warmest end to July in 36 years. In central Australia, Alice Springs’ four days of 25 degrees is the first time July has ended this way in 38 years, he said. For the east coast, it was not as warm. It was the warmest end to July in only seven years for Brisbane, reaching 21 degrees for 11 days, and the warmest end in six years for Sydney, hitting 20 over four days. The jet stream forced cold fronts to slip south of the mainland after peaking in Western Australia, leaving much of the country with clear skies and mild north-westerly winds. These winds have fed off warm waters off Western Australia, giving Perth its warmest end to July in 33 years, six days of 20 degrees despite 60mm of rain. And August will start even warmer as north-westerlies pick up. A colder change is still a few days away. –SMH.com

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