The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has released its Annual Climate Statement for 2025, confirming above-average temperatures across most of Australia and mixed rainfall totals during the year.
The report, which provides the official national record for temperature, rainfall, water resources, oceans, atmosphere and notable weather events, follows a preliminary summary issued in January 2026.
Australia recorded its fourth-warmest year on record in 2025, with the national annual average temperature 1.23°C above the long-term average. Maximum temperatures were 1.48°C above average, ranking equal fourth-warmest, while minimum temperatures were 0.98°C above average, ranking eighth-warmest.
Climatology specialist Nadine D’Argent said above-average national temperatures were recorded in every month of the year. “Heatwave conditions affected large parts of the country between January and March, and again from October to December,” she said.
“January, February, March and October were within the top five warmest on record for their respective months, and it was the warmest March on record. This continues the warming trend over recent decades as observed in State of the Climate 2024.”
She added that warming in Australia is consistent with global trends, though some regions recorded cooler-than-average minimum temperatures during winter.
National rainfall in 2025 totaled 503mm, about 8% above average. Northern Australia experienced above-average rainfall during the 2024–25 wet season despite a dry January caused by a late monsoon onset. The start of the 2025–26 wet season was also wetter than average due to tropical cyclones Fina and Hayley and the arrival of the monsoon in mid-December.
In contrast, cool-season rainfall across southern Australia was generally below average, with some areas recording totals in the lowest 10% on record.
Total surface water storage across Australia declined by 5% during the year to 68% of accessible capacity, with the Murray–Darling Basin falling 14% to 62%. Soil moisture remained below average across much of southern Australia but above average in northern regions and coastal New South Wales.
Sea surface temperatures in the Australian region were the warmest on record for a second consecutive year, reaching 0.93°C above average. Antarctic sea ice extent remained historically low, ranking fourth lowest for summer and third lowest for winter, according to the Bureau.
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