(Australian Associated Press)

AUSTRALIA’S WEATHER IN 2017

* Third warmest year on record

– 22.76C mean temperature (0.95C warmer than 1961-1990 average)

* Warmest year on record for Queensland (annual mean temperature 24.63C) and NSW (18.75C)

* Maximum temperature across year (29.82C) second-warmest on record for Australia

* Annual rainfall 504mm (8pct above long-term average)

– Wet start and end to year but June-September sixth-driest on record

* March, July, August, October, December ranked in their top 10 warmest individual months

* Perth daytime temperature close to average but warmer than average in other capital cities

– Brisbane mean maximum of 27.3C equals 2016’s record

– Sydney, Hobart, Canberra daytime temperatures in top three warmest
NOTABLE WEATHER EVENTS IN 2017

* Mass coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef in early 2017 – first recorded instance over consecutive years

* Severe tropical cyclone Debbie brought flooding and heavy rain in Queensland and northeastern NSW in March/April

* Exceptional warmth with records set in southeastern Australia and southern Queensland in January/February and in Victoria, NSW and Queensland during last week of September

* Warmest daytime temperatures on record for Northern Territory during the dry season (May-September)

* November warmest on record for Tasmania; second warmest for Victoria

* Ninth wettest year on record for Western Australia, Darwin.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology