Australia is such a large country that it has a huge range of climates and weather varying from snow capped mountains in the South to deserts in the North.
Being located in the southern hemisphere, Australia’s seasons are the opposite way round to many countrys. Summer occurs in December and January while the coldest months are July and August. Generally, the climate in Australia grades North to South. The North and central parts of the country are a hot desert with temperatures sometimes exceeding 50 degrees celsius. In comparison the South East corner is a temperate area with snow capped mountains.
The outback (another name for the desert) can sometimes be dry for years and rain is uncommon. The Blue Mountains and Australian Alps are a different story. These areas are often snow covered with regular rainfall and much more moderate temperature ranges. Other extremes do happen though, Australia is prone to cyclones (also known as hurricanes, typhoons and willy-whillies).
Overall, Australia is home to huge deserts, tropical rainforests, mountains, grasslands, rivers, lakes and tropical oceans. The huge range of environments leads to a large number of habitats and animals, some of which can only be found in Australia.
