Situated in the southern hemisphere, Australia’s seasons are in reverse to those of Europe and North America. This of course means that Australia’s Christmas falls in the peak of its summer and that instead of spending Christmas by the cosiness of the fire place, Australians celebrate the birth of Christ either at the beach or by the pool. Although similar in name to those in the northern hemisphere seasons, Australian seasons follow very different patterns. A generally very dry place, Australia is characterised by its considerably hotter summer and the varying rainfall patterns experienced across the country.

In sharp contrast to mainstream calendar, the indigenous peoples of Australia – especially the Jawoyn, from the Northern Territory - divide year into six seasons. Lasting from January to February Jiorrk is the wet season, Bungarung signals the end of the rains and coincides with the period between March to mid-April and Jungalk is the hot start of the dry period and lasts from mid-April to the end of May. Malaparr, the cooler, middle part of the dry period, lasts from June to the end of August, the humid time is called Worrwopmi and lasts from September to the end of October. Wakaringding, the humid time when the first rains begin to fall, lasts from November until the end of December.

All different kinds of weather

Large in land mass, Australia enjoys a variety of climates, which at various points in time and at various locations may include scorching summers, snowy winters, humid and wet seasons, and torrential downpours.

The north part of Australia is largely tropical and the weather is typified by high temperatures and high humidity as well as distinct wet and dry seasons. The centre of the country is in reality a desert, therefore experiences a dry type of weather with high daytime temperatures and little rainfall. The temperate regions are located in the south part of Australia, experiencing moderate rainfall and temperatures ranging from hot to cold.

Although influenced by changes in the season, temperatures in Australia generally remain within the range of 50 degrees Celsius and lows of sub-zero. However the distinctive lack of very heavy mountain ranges and the presence of warming oceans around its coastal regions, ensure that in comparison to other continents, Australia’s lowest temperatures are significantly higher.

Tropical regions

As mentioned earlier, tropical regions of Australia are located in the north of the country, including the central and northern parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland, and the northern parts of Western Australia. The weather in the Australian tropics can be divided into two distinct seasons: the wet season and the dry season.

Hotter than the dry season and with temperatures between 30 and 50 degrees Celsius, the west season roughly runs between November and April, effectively covering both summer and spring. The large amounts of water in the air cause high humidity, which in turn influences the increase in temperatures. Floods are also frequent thanks to the heavy rain the region receives. In contrast, the dry season is characterised by lower temperatures and clear skies, especially during the day. The average temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius.

There is however a short in time span ‘built-up’ period, juxtaposed between the two main seasons. During the 'build up' humidity levels rise considerably and so does people’s expectations for the first signs of rain. When the rain finally does arrive, it’s cooling relief also signifies a huge drop in humidity levels. 

Dry regions

Central Australia is home to Australia’s driest regions. It stretches from most of central and southern Western Australia, through the southern parts of the Northern Territory and most of South Australia, to the far west regions of Queensland and New South Wales, and the north-western parts of Victoria.

The days are intensively hot and the nights intensively cold with temperatures range from around 40 degrees celsius in the summer to between 16 and 24 degrees celsius in the winter. Night time temperatures can range anywhere between 19 degrees Celsius to zero degrees Celsius. Rain is more notable for its absence, only occasionally tempering the prevailing dry condition and as a result most of central Australia is normally in a state of drought.

Temperate regions

Although mostly found on the south-eastern coast, reaching south from Tasmania through most of Victoria and New South Wales into the southern parts of Queensland, the temperate regions of Australia also include most parts of South Australia and the south-western tip of Western Australia.

Here the weather can change dramatically at any given time of the year, temperatures averaging around 30 degrees Celsius in the summer. The winters in the temperate regions are either cool or cold with average temperatures hovering around 15 degrees Celsius. Summer prevailing fine weather is often punctuated by extended periods of heat waves and droughts. On the other hand, the winter season is usually cold, wet and windy, and mild in comparison to winters usually associated with European weather.

Although snow is extremely rare in temperate Australia and virtually non-existent in the dry and tropical regions, along the mountain range that passes through New South Wales and Victoria – the Great Dividing Range, to give it its proper title – snow falls quite frequently. 

Drought

Australia is the driest inhabited continent and as a consequence, water is scarce and precious, especially since droughts often punctuate Australia’s unpredictable and varied rainfall patterns.

Bushfires

Thanks to its weather, Australia is always on bushfire alert (bushfires are large, out of control fires that occur in Australia's bushland). As the Australian summer is characterised by low humidity, high winds and low rainfall, the combination of sunshine and high temperatures makes trees and grass very dry and very easy to burn. Also, most Australian native plants have a tendency to burn quickly and easily, especially the Eucalyptus trees who have a lot of oil occurring naturally in them, making them extremely dangerous in a bushfire.

Cyclones

A phenomenon typical of tropical climates, cyclones usually include Australia in their destructive route between November and April, mostly taking place in the north of the country with Western Australian and Northern Territory coasts, as well as the Queensland coast, the usual places they occur.