If you think winter bypassed Australia this year, you're right.
Australia has sweltered through an unusual winter, according to the Weather Channel's senior meteorologist Dick Whitaker.
"We've set temperature records everywhere — particularly over southern Queensland and northern NSW — and it looks like it could be one of the warmest winters on record Australia wide," he says.
Channel Nine weatherman Steve Jacobs agrees and warns us to get ready to sizzle this summer.
"We definitely have warmer temperatures on the way for spring and into summer we have an El Nino that is forming off the coast of Australia," he says.
Last week Brisbane recorded its hottest August day on record, and in rural Queensland bushfires have already started burning.
Beach weather may be fast approaching but that's not good news for our farmers.
What's on the way?
increasing temperatures across eastern Australia
less rain and warmer temperatures in NSW and Victoria
warmer temperatures but much more rain on the way for Western Australia
a very hot summer
What about the garden?
If you're planning on keeping your garden green over summer, here are a few tips from gardening guru Don Burke:
Dig a hole beside the plant and fill it up with water
The water soaks into the ground around and will probably keep the plant in water for a least a week
Push a watering probe into the ground near your favourite plants
The probe waters very efficiently by injecting water into the soil near plant roots
For more information on looking after your garden, go to www.burkesbackyard.com.au
For your comprehensive weather forecasts, visit ninemsn weather
