2013 is Australia's hottest year on record

Last year was the hottest ever recorded in Australia, with temperatures well above average roasting most of the country since September 2012, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

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The national average temperature in 2013 was 1.2°C above the long-term average of 21.8°C, with longer periods of warmer-than-average days last year and "a distinct lack of cold weather", the bureau said in its annual climate statement released today.

Numerous heat records were broken during the year, including the warmest summer and spring, the warmest January and September, the hottest summer day (January 7) and the warmest winter day (August 31).

January also marked the hottest week and hottest month since records began in 1910, the ABC said.

A new record was set for the number of consecutive days the national average temperature exceeded 39°C - seven days between January 2 and 8, which almost doubled the previous record of four days set in 1973.

Heat turned up on regional Australia

All states and territories recorded above average temperatures in 2013, with Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia all breaking annual average temperature records, AAP reported.

It was the second-hottest year on record for New South Wales and Queensland, third for Victoria and fourth for Tasmania.

The highest temperature for the year was 49.6°C recorded in Moomba, South Australia, on January 12, the highest for the state since 1960 and the sixth highest ever officially recorded in Australia.

The same January heatwave set record hottest days in Hobart (41.8°C) and Sydney (45.8°C).

There were 10 tropical cyclones for the year, slightly below the long-term average.

The bureau says Australia has experienced just one cooler-than-average year in the past decade: 2011.

Nationally averaged rainfall was slightly below average for the year, with 428mm.

Globally, 2013 was the sixth warmest year on record, the bureau said.