Australia's Climate
Drought
Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world. Only Antarctica receives less precipitation than Australia. A major problem in the dry areas is that long periods of little or no rain can result in drought. Droughts are common in Australia and threaten the survival of wildlife, livestock, and crops. Also, low water reserves can lead to poor-quality drinking water for the people of Australia.
Southern Hemisphere
Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere. This means that their seasons are at the opposite times of the years from seasons in the United States. For example, June, July, and August are winter months in Australia. Their summer months are December, January, and February. The average temperature in Sydney, Australia in July is 62 degrees while its average temperature in February is 81 degrees.
Variety of Climate
While Australia generally has warmer and dry climates you do see quite a bit of variety throughout the continent. The northern third of Australia is in a tropical climate zone. Most of the rest of Australia is in a subtropical climate zone. These areas tend to see changes with the seasons. The central part of Australia, commonly known as The Outback is mostly desert. While the coastal areas tend to be sunny and dry with seasonal rains.