Australia's Climate Zones
Australia's climates are another factor which makes Australia so unique. Australia's climates can be split into climate zones, these zones include tropical, mild tropical, semi arid grassland, arid , warm temperate, mediterranean, and cool temperate/ alpine.
The tropical zones in Australia are the coast of the Northern Territory, Western Australia north of Broome, Cape York and the northern part of the Queensland coast above Mackay. Tropical zones are hot and humid. The temperature in tropical zones are high all year round. The average annual lowest temperature is 15 degrees C. They are distinctive because of the monsoon or wet season and the dry season, most rain occurs in the wet season. The wet season is hot and humid with an average January maximum temperature of > 30 degrees C.
The mild tropical zones in Australia are the eastern coastline from Coffs Harbour in northern NSW to Mackay, taking in Brisbane, the Gold, Sunshine and Fraser coasts, and the Whitsundays. A narrow strip of WA coastline between Exmouth and Broome also has a Sub Tropical climate. It is a mild climate with a low winter rainfall and reliable summer rainfall. The average annual lowest temperature is 10 degrees C in these areas. The summers are warm, humid and wet. The average January maximum temperature < 30 degrees C.
The semi arid grassland zone is located in Central Australia. Inland Australia has very high summer temperatures. In this climate zone a dry summer with prolonged drought is common. The semi-arid northern part has a hot, dry summer and mild winter.
The arid zone of Australia is also located in Central Australia. The arid zone is similar to the semi arid grassland zone as it has very high summer temperatures and a dry summer with prolonged droughts are also common. The more arid southern part of this zone has a hot dry summer and a cold winter with an average annual lowest temperature of -5 degrees C.
Australia's warm temperate zones include inland Queensland, New South Wales tablelands, the coastal region south of Sydney and north to Coffs Harbour. In WA it is approximately the coastline south of Exmouth to Geraldton and inland to Meekatharra. The warm temperate zones have cool winters with light frost, which is usually non-existent on the coast. The ocean moderates the temperature in the coastal zones. The rainfall is reliable all year round. The average annual lowest temperature is 5 degrees C. These zones have warm summers and the average January maximum temperature is < 30 degrees C. Temperate zones experience all of the four seasons.
The Mediterranean zones include most of southern coastal Australia from Melbourne, Adelaide through to Perth. This climate zone shares many of the characteristics of the warm temperate zone, except for rainfall which is predominantly in winter with low rainfall in summer. The winters in this zone are cool, the average annual lowest temperature is 5 degrees C. The summer is warm to hot but has a low humidity.
The cool temperate and alpine zones in Australia include Tasmania, Canberra and the ACT, all high mountain areas which include the Granite Belt of SE Queensland, the high areas of the NSW tablelands (Armidale, Glen Innes), the Southern Tablelands of NSW and the high areas of Victoria. These zones experience cold winter temperatures with heavy frosts during the cooler months and snow. Summers are warm and mild. The average annual lowest temperature is 0 degrees to -5 degrees C.
The tropical zones in Australia are the coast of the Northern Territory, Western Australia north of Broome, Cape York and the northern part of the Queensland coast above Mackay. Tropical zones are hot and humid. The temperature in tropical zones are high all year round. The average annual lowest temperature is 15 degrees C. They are distinctive because of the monsoon or wet season and the dry season, most rain occurs in the wet season. The wet season is hot and humid with an average January maximum temperature of > 30 degrees C.
The mild tropical zones in Australia are the eastern coastline from Coffs Harbour in northern NSW to Mackay, taking in Brisbane, the Gold, Sunshine and Fraser coasts, and the Whitsundays. A narrow strip of WA coastline between Exmouth and Broome also has a Sub Tropical climate. It is a mild climate with a low winter rainfall and reliable summer rainfall. The average annual lowest temperature is 10 degrees C in these areas. The summers are warm, humid and wet. The average January maximum temperature < 30 degrees C.
The semi arid grassland zone is located in Central Australia. Inland Australia has very high summer temperatures. In this climate zone a dry summer with prolonged drought is common. The semi-arid northern part has a hot, dry summer and mild winter.
The arid zone of Australia is also located in Central Australia. The arid zone is similar to the semi arid grassland zone as it has very high summer temperatures and a dry summer with prolonged droughts are also common. The more arid southern part of this zone has a hot dry summer and a cold winter with an average annual lowest temperature of -5 degrees C.
Australia's warm temperate zones include inland Queensland, New South Wales tablelands, the coastal region south of Sydney and north to Coffs Harbour. In WA it is approximately the coastline south of Exmouth to Geraldton and inland to Meekatharra. The warm temperate zones have cool winters with light frost, which is usually non-existent on the coast. The ocean moderates the temperature in the coastal zones. The rainfall is reliable all year round. The average annual lowest temperature is 5 degrees C. These zones have warm summers and the average January maximum temperature is < 30 degrees C. Temperate zones experience all of the four seasons.
The Mediterranean zones include most of southern coastal Australia from Melbourne, Adelaide through to Perth. This climate zone shares many of the characteristics of the warm temperate zone, except for rainfall which is predominantly in winter with low rainfall in summer. The winters in this zone are cool, the average annual lowest temperature is 5 degrees C. The summer is warm to hot but has a low humidity.
The cool temperate and alpine zones in Australia include Tasmania, Canberra and the ACT, all high mountain areas which include the Granite Belt of SE Queensland, the high areas of the NSW tablelands (Armidale, Glen Innes), the Southern Tablelands of NSW and the high areas of Victoria. These zones experience cold winter temperatures with heavy frosts during the cooler months and snow. Summers are warm and mild. The average annual lowest temperature is 0 degrees to -5 degrees C.