Bureau of Meteorology reports April 2024 as the hottest April on record

Climate data has revealed that April 2024 was the hottest on record globally, but Australia went against the trend with a cooler than usual month.

Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Blair Trewin confirmed that major data centers reported April as the warmest month on record worldwide.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that April was 0.67 degrees Celsius (33 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1991-2020 average, and 1.58 degrees Celsius above the estimated April average for 1850-1900, which serves as a reference for pre-industrial conditions.

Even though the global trend was towards a hotter month, Australia experienced a cooler April on average.

“Australia was one of the very few regions in the world that had cooler temperatures than usual in April, with temperatures approximately 0.5 degrees Celsius below the 1961-1990 average,” Mr. Trewin explained.

“However, the year 2024 to date is about 1.0 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 average because April ended a streak of 10 consecutive months with temperatures at least 1 degree Celsius above average.”

“The seasonal outlook for June-August and July-September continues to indicate a high likelihood of above-average temperatures across Australia.”

Mr. Trewin also mentioned that Australia’s climate has warmed throughout the year due to various factors.

“Australia’s climate has experienced warming year-round, although the rate is generally slower in autumn and winter compared to spring or summer,” he noted.

The State of the Climate 2022 report highlighted a decrease in extremely cold days and nights, a longer fire season since the 1950s, and reduced snow depth, cover, and days in alpine regions since the late 1950s.

“The increase in greenhouse gas emissions, along with natural variations on decadal time scales, has altered large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns, leading to reduced rainfall from April to October in the southwest since the 1970s and in the southeast since the late 1990s,” he added.

Two-Thirds of Australia Affected by Climate Change, Says Urban Economist

Last year, consulting firm KPMG reported that natural disasters were affecting over two-thirds of Australians, emphasizing the need to enhance infrastructure with climate change effects in mind.

KPMG Research revealed that approximately 18 million Australians lived in regions impacted by at least one natural disaster in 2022, with nearly one-third affected by bushfires from 2019-20.

“It is highly likely that natural disasters and extreme events will continue to pose significant fiscal risks and impact Australian productivity. Therefore, proactive measures must be taken now to ensure resilient infrastructure for future generations,” stated KPMG Urban Economist Terry Rawnsley.

“Governments and infrastructure stakeholders must prioritize long-term sustainability in their decision-making processes from the outset.”

The urban economist pointed out that the communities least equipped to handle disaster expenses are the ones most impacted.