Extreme weather events (‘hot’ days)
Key Finding
Hot days were more frequent than average at several inland locations over the 2013 to 2018 period.
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Queensland
‘Hot’ days are classed as days with maximum temperatures exceeding 35.0°C.
Hot days are common in inland Queensland.
- Locations such as Birdsville, Boulia and Longreach all average at least 120 hot days per year.
- In summer, these areas can experience hot days for weeks on end — Boulia recorded 177 hot days in 1980.
Hot days on Queensland’s eastern seaboard are comparatively low.
- Cairns and Mackay, for example, average fewer than 5 hot days per year.
Over the period 2013 to 2018, the frequency of hot days was higher than the long-term average at several inland locations (Birdsville, Charleville, Gayndah and Longreach).
Long-term variability and trends
While a statewide assessment of the long-term trend in the frequency of hot days per year is complicated due to the impact of site changes, incomplete station datasets, and the low number of high quality recording sites from which data are available, preliminary analysis for Birdsville indicates that hot days have been more frequent so far this century than prior to the year 2000.
Birdsville Airport
Based on the 1967 to 2010 period, the average number of hot days per year is 123.
In 2018, 159 hot days were recorded.
Hot days were more frequent in the years from 2013 to 2018 than the 1967 to 2010 average.
At this location, the frequency of hot days increased over the 1967 to 2017 recording period.
Insufficient data was available for 2019.
Boulia
Based on the 1910 to 2010 period, the average number of hot days per year is 138.
In 1980, 171 hot days were recorded.
Data for 2012 to 2019 was not available.
Brisbane Airport
Based on the 1951 to 2010 period, the average number of hot days per year is 1.
In 1968 and 2004, 4 hot days were recorded.
Insufficient data was available for 2019.
Cairns Airport
Based on the 1910 to 2010 period, the average number of hot days per year is 3.
In 1935, 17 hot days were recorded.
Insufficient data was available for 2019.
Charleville Airport
Based on the 1915 to 2010 period, the average number of hot days per year is 64.
In 2017, 113 hot days were recorded.
Hot days were more frequent in the years from 2013 to 2018 than the 1915 to 2010 average.
Insufficient data was available for 2019.
Gayndah Airport
Based on the 1911 to 2010 period, the average number of hot days per year is 19.
In 2017, 61 hot days were recorded.
Hot days were more frequent in the years from 2013 to 2018 than the 1911 to 2010 average.
Insufficient data was available for 2019.
Longreach Airport
Based on the 1910 to 2010 period, the average number of hot days per year is 124.
In 2002, 175 hot days were recorded.
Hot days were more frequent in the years from 2013 to 2015 and 2017 to 2018, than the 1910 to 2010 average.
Insufficient data was available for 2016 and 2019.
Mackay
Based on the 1911 to 2010 period, the average number of hot days per year is 1.
In 2005, 7 hot days were recorded.
Insufficient data was available for 2019.
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Metadata
The frequency of ‘hot’ days at selected weather stations were calculated from Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australian Climate Observations Reference Network – Surface Air Temperature (ACORN-SAT) datasets. All datasets were current as at February 2020. Subsequent updates to data may result in minor changes to some values. For each location the number of ‘hot’ days per year are plotted for the extent of the ACORN-SAT dataset records. Years with more than 5 days of missing data are not included. Rolling 10-year averages are plotted only if there are 10 consecutive years of annual data.