Australia's unique climate: summer in winter and spring in autumn

The geographical location of the most mysterious continent of the earth, coupled with the relief and the oceans washing the mainland, makes the climate of Australia so multifaceted and different from the rest. Four main climatic zones can be distinguished on the territory of the country, in which weather and temperature differences are clearly manifested.

Why does Australia have calendar and climatic seasons?

The southern hemisphere dictates its own weather conditions to the seasons of the year in Australia, changing the calendar summer, autumn, winter and spring in places. Therefore, the climatic spring on the mainland begins in September and lasts until November. The summer season is limited to the period from December to February. Autumn comes in March and is replaced by a climatic winter in June, which lasts until August.

Tropical monsoon climate of Australia (subequatorial)

The north and northeast of the mainland is ruled by the subequatorial climatic zone, so the average temperature throughout the year is around 23-24 degrees. Northwest monsoons in summer bring up to 1500 mm of precipitation to the coast of Australia. During the winter months, the northern regions of the country remain almost without rain. As you move towards the center of the mainland, you can often notice severe droughts caused by hot winds.

Three Variations of Australia's Tropical Climate

The eastern part of the mainland is affected by the Pacific trade winds blowing from the southeast, so these regions of Australia are characterized by a humid tropical climate. The entire coastline of the east of the country, together with Sydney, up to the western foothills of the Great Dividing Range, is not subject to droughts. The climate here can be called mild, because in the summer season the temperatures vary between 22-25 degrees, and in winter they do not fall below 11 degrees. The climatic summer, which in Australia falls on December, January and February, is characterized by low rainfall. The climatic winter in the east of the country, on the contrary, is very wet, so floods often occur.

Deserts cover an impressive part of the country, making Australia one of the driest continents in the world. The reason for this is the significant length of the continent along the equator, coupled with mountainous areas that go around the coast along the water's edge. Therefore, most of the precipitation falls on the coast, never reaching the central regions of the country. In addition, the formation of severe droughts is influenced by the low indentation of the coast and tropical latitudes, which heat up the most.

The central and western regions of Australia are more influenced by the desert climate, where in January temperatures can exceed 30 degrees in the shade, and in July they can vary within 10-15 degrees. In the Great Sandy Desert and the Lake Eyre region, temperatures often reach 45 degrees, and in winter do not fall below 20 degrees. The temperature in Alice Springs, on the contrary, can drop to -6 degrees. Residents of these regions do not see rain for years.

Three types of subtropical climate in Australia

The southwestern regions of the country are approaching in their climatic conditions the Mediterranean coast of France and Spain. Dry and hot summers are replaced by warm, humid winters, and in January the temperature can reach up to 27 degrees, and in June it can drop to only 12 degrees. In the south of the country, which covers the western part of New South Wales, the regions surrounding Adelaide and the Great Australian Bight, there is a pronounced continental climate with droughts and large temperature fluctuations. The most favorable for living and farming is the southwestern part of New South Wales and the state of Victoria. A humid mild climate has been established here with an annual temperature range of 8 to 24 degrees.

Temperate climate zone on the island of Tasmania

T Those who dream of the weather of Foggy Albion with cool summers and warm, wet winters should go to Tasmania. There is practically no snow in the region, as it has time to melt, however, the total amount of annual precipitation exceeds 2000 mm.

You can enjoy the coolness of the Alps and catch snow in Australia from June to August in the mountains of Victoria and in the Snowy Mountains region near the capital Canberra.