Australia's record-breaking winter beats average highs by 2C [3.6F], Climate Council says

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/19/australias-record-breaking-winter-beats-average-highs-by-2c-climate-council-says

Michael McGowan
Monday 18 September 2017

It’s always hot in Bidyadanga but a few degrees can make a big difference in the remote Aboriginal community, about 190km south of Broome in Western Australia.

“It’s always hot – it’s the desert – but the difference between 33C [91.4F] and 36C [96.8F] can be quite oppressive,” said Shaun Burgess, a teacher in the community.

This winter, it mattered more than most – 2017 was Australia’s warmest on record for average maximum temperatures, which reached nearly 2C above the winter average and beat the previous record set in 2009 by 0.3C, according to a report released by the Climate Council on Tuesday.
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In July alone 72 records were broken for the highest maximum temperature, including in Sydney, which set a record high of 26.5C.

Bidyadanga was one of those 72; on July 27 it reached 36.3C, the hottest day in Australia’s warmest July. It also broke its previous July record of 35.7C, set in 2016.

“It’s made it really difficult to do things like go camping or fishing with the students, which is something we’ve done a lot of in previous years,” Burgess said. “There’s been less of an opportunity to clear the mind, less of a reprieve, I guess.”

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“Winter warm spells are lasting longer, occurring more often and becoming more intense,” the report said. “The likelihood of such warm winters occurring will continue to increase as global temperatures rise.”

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