A rare stratospheric warming event is disrupting the Antarctic polar vortex in September 2025, with forecasts suggesting wetter southern Australia, drier eastern Australia, and a higher chance of abnormally hot days.
The world’s worst honey bee parasite, the Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite, was detected in South Australia for the first time, authorities confirmed on September 3, 2025. The detection occurred in a managed hive from a Queensland consignment located near Pooginook in the Riverland region.
Heavy snowfall affected southeastern Australia on August 29 and 30, 2025, with 82 cm (32 inches) measured at Mount Buller, Victoria, and 40 cm (16 inches) in New South Wales resorts. Strong winds up to 130 km/h (81 mph) caused damage and power outages. The blizzard also hampered the search of double murder accused in Porepunkah, Victoria.
Two people died after a vehicle entered the Macdonald River near Wisemans Ferry during severe rainfall on August 20, 2025, as Sydney recorded 82 mm (3.2 inches) in 24 hours—its wettest day of the year and wettest August day since 2007.
Sydney has recorded more than 9 300 mm (366 inches) of rain since January 2020, marking the highest six‑year total since systematic measurements began in 1858.
A strong earthquake registered by Geoscience Australia as M5.6 hit near Kilkivan, Queensland at 23:49 UTC on August 15 (09:49 local time) on August 16, 2025, at a depth of 10 km (6 miles). The quake caused temporary power outages and minor structural damage, and marked the state’s largest on-shore earthquake in 50 years.
A bright fireball observed across Victoria, Australia just after 09:30 UTC (19:30 LT) on August 10, 2025, generated a loud sonic boom before breaking apart at low altitude. Few days later, scientists have identified a likely fall zone northeast of Maryborough, between Ballarat and Bendigo.
A bright fireball meteor was observed over western and central Victoria, Australia, at 19:30 local time (LT) on August 10, 2025, producing a loud sonic boom that shook buildings and rattled windows across the region.
Ongoing floods across New South Wales prompted emergency evacuations in areas from Narrabri to Wee Waa as the Narrabri Creek crossed major flood level on August 6, 2025.
A toxic algal bloom affecting South Australia’s coastline since March 2025 has killed more than 14 000 marine animals and spread across over 5 000 km² (1 930 mi²), prompting the state government to declare a natural disaster.
