Summer weather data suggests an 'average' year, disguising several incidents of extreme weather

Heavy rain over Central Australia was just one of the remarkable weather moments this summer. (Supplied: Niamh Geoghegan, Arlparra Country, NT)

The summer weather data is in and unusually benign, with national averages hiding a remarkable period of extreme weather events in some corners of the country.

National rainfall was close to average, while temperatures in our warming world were predictably above the 1961 to 1990 average.

But in the nitty gritty is some phenomenal weather events.

Australia had the equal hottest day ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere this summer — on January 13, the mercury climbed to 50.7C, matching a record set in 1960 at Oodnadatta. 

The west in particular has had a phenomenally hot, dry summer.

Some highlights from the BOM's summer review include: 

• Marble Bar recording a total of 16 days with maximum temperatures at or over 45 degrees Celsius in December, a record. 
• Perth had six consecutive days over 40C, the longest run for any month from 123 years of observations. 

Parts of the Western Australian coast had their highest average maximum temperatures on record. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)

Tell us about the rain 

Nationwide, the rainfall was average, but parts of the east coast tell a different story.

From the Wide Bay and Burnett in Queensland, to Gippsland in Victoria, inland New South Wales, South Australia, the Centre, the Cape, the Top End and the Kimberley — many places were drenched. 

The wet summer for some was cancelled out by a dry season in southern WA, south-east SA, the central Queeensland coast and west Tasmania. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)

Some of these sites had their wettest summer on record, but none of the states got particularly close.

In contrast, Tasmania was unusually dry, recording its fourth driest summer on record. 

Areas like southern Western Australia, the south-east of South Australia and western Victoria and eastern Tasmania, which rely on rain coming from the west, were generally dry. 

There have been no shortage of storms this summer. (Supplied: Andrew Ternes)

But those that derive rain from the east, where La Niña is active, or areas that felt the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Tiffany, have had above average rainfall.

Other stand-out moments from the summer included the Todd River in Alice Springs flowing and floodwaters trickling into Lake Eyre. 

Flooding in the Channel Country and Lake Eyre Basin completely transforms the landscape. (Supplied: David Brook, OBE Organic)

But the most significant event will be the devastating flooding of the past few days.

The wettest day at an official BOM station this season came right at the end, with a colossal 701.8mm recorded at Rosebank near Upper Coopers Creek in New South Wales in just 24 hours. 

The current event along the east coast is not over, and with two months of the tropical wet season still to go there is plenty of time for more rounds of cyclones and flooding rains this summer.

So, please keep up to date with the warnings and stay safe.