This makes it the nation’s 14th warmest year since comparable records began in 1910.

Most regions recorded a warm year overall, apart from Queensland, northeast New South Wales and the Kimberley.

Particularly high temperatures were recorded across inland Western Australia and the Northern Territory in January, as well as western Victoria and southern South Australia in March, with a record-breaking heatwave during the first half of the month.

Conversely, cool temperatures were recorded in southeast Australia during February and again in April, across most of the country in August, and across the southwest during November.

Australia’s mean temperature for 2008 was slightly lower than that recorded for the previous six years, partly due to a La Niña event that developed in late 2007 and continued into early 2008.

Despite the cooling effect of La Niña, Australia has now recorded a warmer-than-average year for the past seven consecutive years.

In line with the rest of the globe, Australia has experienced a background warming of about 0.9°C over the last Century.

On December 16, the World Meteorological Organization indicated that the global mean temperature was also warmer than normal during 2008 (about 0.31°C above average), making 2008 the globe’s 10th warmest year on record.

It is now 23 years since the globe has experienced a cooler than average year.

Based on preliminary data, the overall Australian mean rainfall total for 2008 was 466mm, close to the long-term average of 472mm.

The La Niña conditions that developed during 2007 resulted in a wet start to 2008 across the Top End and most of eastern Australia.

However, the event weakened during autumn and the much-anticipated autumn rains generally failed.

It was the second driest autumn on record across southern Australia.

Winter rains were mixed, while spring opened with well-below average September-October rains across most of the southeast.

Rainfall during 2008 was insufficient to break the long dry spell in the southeast (including Tasmania).

Across much of Victoria and adjacent areas of South Australia and New South Wales rainfall has been below average for most of the past 12 years.

* Details: www.bom.gov.au