Weedy Seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus), at South Palmy July 8th 2022. Photo: Adriaan van der Wallen - there is a colony of these off Barrenjoey at a dive site called 'Weedy Seadragon'
Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the southern hemisphere, including areas around Australia, are expected to be warmer than average during the Winter of 2025. The Bureau of Meteorology indicates that day and night temperatures are likely to be above average across Australia for this time of the year.
The BOM reports that areas off the south-west Australian coastline may be more than 3°C warmer than average.
The warm ocean temperatures surrounding Australia are a key contributor to the ongoing abnormal heat and are expected to continue until at least mid-Spring.
The additional heat in the ocean contributes to warming the air above the surface, leading to warmer winds and influencing the local environment.
The BOM states the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the Australian region during May 2025 were +0.62 °C above the 1991–2020 average; the warmest May on record since observations began in 1900. Since July 2024, SSTs have been the warmest or second warmest on record for each respective month.
The SST analysis for the week ending 8 June 2025 shows warmer than average waters around most of the Australian coastline, except for parts of the north. Large parts of the coastline are up to 2 °C warmer than average, with small patches off the south-west Australian coastline more than 3 °C warmer than average.
BOM: Sea surface temperature forecast maps update June 11 2025
BOM: NSW sea temperature update June 12 2025:
Global SSTs remain substantially above average. Monthly averaged SSTs in 2025 have been the second warmest on record for each respective month, second only to temperatures recorded in 2024.
The CSIRO and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology State of the Climate Report 2024, released every two years, found Australia’s weather and climate has continued to change, with an increase in extreme heat events, longer fire seasons, more intense heavy rainfall, and sea level rise.
The report recorded our oceans have heated up by 1.08°C on average since 1900. In fact, Australia’s oceans are warming faster than the global average. But the oceans off south-east Australia and the Tasman Sea are a particular hotspot and are now warming at twice the global average.
The report records the average annual carbon content embedded in Australia’s fossil fuel exports between 2010 and 2019 (1,055 megatonnes) was more than double the average annual national carbon emissions over the same period (455 Mt). However, the emissions of these carbon exports are accounted in the countries where the fossil fuels are used, so Australia is heating up the planet much more than the report can record.
CSIRO Research Manager, Dr Jaci Brown, said in 2024, when the report was released, warming of the ocean has contributed to longer and more frequent marine heatwaves, with the highest average sea surface temperature on record occurring in 2022.
"The East Australian Current is shifting further south because of changes to the winds and the winds change because of changes to the surface temperature of the ocean," Dr Brown explained
"There's these feedbacks between the atmosphere and the ocean as they talk to each other. As one thing changes, it changes something in the other one which feeds back to the atmosphere."
“Increases in temperature have contributed to significant impacts on marine habitats, species and ecosystem health, such as the most recent mass coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef this year,” Dr Brown said.
Impacts on species and habitats
One recurring change witnessed the past several years has been the deaths of thousands birds off our coasts through starvation - birds that rely on zooplankton for food. Zooplankton can survive in warm waters, however, they thrive in cooler waters. Marine heatwaves have been causing shifts in where and when zooplankton occur, and how large they grow.
See: Shearwaters washing up on local beaches for third year in a row: Mass mortalities of Starving Birds attributed to Australia's Lose-Lose Policy on the Australian Environment - October 2024
Another is local seagrasses - the nurseries for marine life in estuaries.
Profile of the Week Monika's Doggie Rescue: In need of Good People with Great homes for Pets - Foster Carers Monika's Doggie Rescue
2 Cowan Road, Ingleside
www.DoggieRescue.com
www.facebook.com/doggierescue
www.twitter.com/monikadogrescue
www.instagram.com/monikadogrescue/
Although here are a variety of reasons people may give up a beloved pet, just as they were after Covid re-openings, pet re-homing facilities across Australia are currently full as owners surrender dogs and cats, this time stating they do so due to the cost-of-living impacts.
Across Sydney there has been an uptick in dogs aged just 12 months, not just older dogs whose owners may have passed away, who are being dumped. Although some flinch or avoid being touched by people, indicating they have been abused, owners being unaware how much a pet costs has become the primary reason there are a lot of homeless dogs.
According to the Australian Veterinary Association, the average dog owner spends more than $25,000 caring for their canine companion. Cat owners could spend $21,000 on average. The RSPCA states within the first year of dog or cat ownership, people could face up to $3,500 of expenses on vaccinations, vet visits, food, de-sexing, grooming, bedding, toys and treats.
This is also causing a massive slow-down on rehoming animals - and for shelters being able to take on new dogs and cats that need a home. Numerous full shelters are reporting a wait-list of people who want to surrender their dog.
RSPCA national data shows around 81,000 pets were surrendered in the 2023/2024 financial year, with only 27,000 finding new homes.
However, in Pittwater, for over a quarter of a century, Monika's Doggie Rescue has sought to find the homes for these pets.
Monika's DoggieRescue is a registered charity that believes in saving and re-homing as many pets as they can from the council pounds. For many years Monika Biernacki and a group of volunteers have been rescuing pets from death row and successfully re-homing them with permanent and loving owners.
Their motto at present is 'don't shop - adopt'.
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Pictures Cremorne Point Walk: June 2025 by Joe Mills
DIY Ideas 11 Ways to keep your home warm, safe and save money this Winter
Food Winter Warmers Leek And Potato Soup, Coq Au Vin + Apple, Date and Walnut Cake With Caramel Sauce
It's that time of year when you want something hot and substantial - 'rib sticking' food in other words. With food prices having increased an average of 25% over the past few months, choosing seasonal ingredients, that usually come at a better price, and items grown not too far from home to eliminate transporting goods add-on costs, this Issue a few of the dishes we've been making to feed a hungry family without breaking the budget.
Events Raturdays, Warringah Rugby's Annual Luncheon, Band Comp. at Palm Beach, Music, Markets, Social Groups, + lots more.
