Global Sea Surface Temperature

The sea surface temperature (SST) varies much more slowly than atmospheric temperatures due to the heat capacity of water. As such, the SSTs lag the atmospheric temperatures on a seasonal timescale by about 3 months. The lowest SSTs are usually observed in early Spring and the highest SSTs are observed in early Autumn.

In tropical regions, SSTs greater than 26°C are considered suitable for formation of tropical cyclones.

The data displayed in this map is the weekly average, centred on the date shown.

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Spring heat on the horizon

13:08 AEDT An unseasonably hot airmass will linger across parts of southern Australia next week, with temperatures set to reach the 40s across Australia's interior and the low 30s in some capital cities.

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