Updated
It is meant to be the coldest time of the year, but
some parts of Queensland have experienced one of the hottest Julys on
record, forecasters say.
Key points:
- Brisbane, Ipswich, Warwick, and parts of the Gold Coast experience their hottest July
- The mean maximum temperature in the state was 1.8C above average
- Queensland's Emergency Services Minister urges people to stay alert for bushfire season
The Bureau of Meteorology's (BoM) latest climate summary revealed the entire state experienced warmer-than-usual days last month, with maximum and minimum temperatures above average in some places.
The average daily maximum temperature for Brisbane was 23.5 degrees Celsius, which is 1.5 C above average and a record over the 19 years that the observation site has been in operation.
It was among a number of locations in south-east Queensland that broke all-time records — including Coolangatta, Amberley, Cape Moreton and Warwick.
| Extremes in July | |
|---|---|
| Hottest Day | 33.6C at Coconut Island |
| Coldest Day | 11.7C at Applethorpe |
| Coldest Night | -0.7C Stanthorpe |
| Warmest Night | 25.2C at Coconut Island |
| Wettest Day | 86mm Babinda |
BoM forecaster Kimba Wong said many parts of the state also experienced their longest string of consecutive days of above-average temperatures.
"Brisbane had a record run of 16 consecutive days of 22C for July, where the previous record was 13 days," she said.
"That was the 16 days leading up to today and it's set to continue to be above 22C — or 22C today at least — and warmer than 22C for the next week."
The mean maximum temperature for all of Queensland was 1.86C above average, making it the sixth-warmest July on record.
The overall mean temperature was also up 1.59C.
Coconut Island in the Torres Strait had the hottest day, reaching 33.6C and also claimed the title for the warmest days and nights on average.
Meanwhile the state's bushfire season has officially started and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said Queensland was in a "similar position" to last year.
"We don't believe we will have a season as bad, however in saying that, we are expecting higher-than-average temperatures," he said.
Mr Crawford said he did not think there would be a repeat of last year's unprecedented bushfires but stressed people should not become complacent.
"All it takes is a heatwave for four and five days and the whole state can shift in a second," he said.
"Be ready for a season that could turn out like last year."
| Record highest July mean daily maximum temperature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| New Record (°C) | Old Record | Year | |
| Amberley | 24 | 23.9 | 2018 |
| Coolangatta | 22 | 21.9 | 2018 |
| Dalby | 22 | 21.8 | 2017 |
| Gold Coast Seaway | 22.4 | 22.3 | 2018 |
| Rainbow Beach | 22.9 | 22.4 | 2017 |
| Warwick | 20.3 | 20.1 | 2018 |
| Coconut Island | 32.2 | 32.1 | 2010 |
| Point Lookout | 22.5 | 22.2 | 2017 |
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