Australia experiences hottest March

Canberra, April 2: March 2016 has become the hottest March ever on record in Australia, the country's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), said in its monthly climate report.

In the report released on Friday, the BoM said in March 2016, the average temperature was 1.7 degrees Celsius above the long-term average, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

This overtook the 1.67 degrees above the average in 1986 to make March 2016 the hottest March in Australia, BoM said in its report.

The unusual heat was particularly noticed in the northern and tropical part of the country, known as the Top End, where the failure of the monsoon allowed temperatures to soar.

March 2 became Australia's hottest day on record with the mercury reaching 38 degrees Celsius for average top temperature across Australia.

The hottest March came after the hottest February globally, and the hottest year for 2015.

A strong El Nino weather pattern prevailed at the start of the year, which has traditionally been associated with hotter weather, the report said.

Although the El Nino is weakening, the heat effects are expected to persist for a few more months. Climate change is thought to be adding to the unusual heat, the report added.

IANS