National temperature, rainfall and wind extremes are available for every day. Use the links at left.

News headlines for major, newsworthy and significant events are listed below. Dates without entries weren't necessarily dead weather days; not every event gets covered, either because I don't hear of it, or I run out of writing time! If there were no reports of significant weather for the day, the headline banner says so. If recent stories are subsequently updated, an sticker appears beside them for about a week.

2003: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

December

31 December 2003
Heavy monsoonal rain in WA Kimberley, NT Top End

30 December 2003
Heat in SE Australia gives Melbourne hottest December in a century
Fires, storms in VIC
Heavy rain in WA, NT, QLD
Easing drought brings locust swarms to QLD, NSW

29 December 2003
Hot and dry in the south, wet in the north

28 December 2003
Rivers flow for first time in 2 years in NW SA
Storms bring downpours to tropical NT, QLD
Heat moves into SA

27 December 2003
Major bushfire burns north of Albany WA
Heavy storm fall in NSW NW Slopes

25 December 2003
TC Debbie brings heavy rain to WA Kimberley

23 December 2003
Ex-TC Debbie gives Katherine NT heaviest February rain in over a century

22 December 2003
Bushfire causes evacuations at Jervis Bay NSW

21 December 2003
Decaying TC Debbie brings heavy rain to NT Top End
Heavy storm falls bring flash flooding, possible tornados in VIC

19 December 2003
TC Debbie develops rapidly north of NT

18 December 2003
Storms cause damage in VIC, NT

17 December 2003
Severe storms, possible tornado in southern WA
Strong gully winds cause damage in Adelaide Hills

16 December 2003
Further severe storms in QLD

15 December 2003
Storms in central NSW

14 December 2003
Heavy storm rain in SE QLD, NE NSW

12 December 2003
Storms bring flash flooding in Central QLD, hail in NSW

11 December 2003
SE TAS bushfire causes evacuation
Storms bring heavy falls in WA, NT, QLD

10 December 2003
Hot in VIC
Damaging storms in NT

9 December 2003
Severe storms hit Gladstone area QLD
Hail, wind cause damage in Far North QLD
SA, VIC swelter
Unusually strong dust devil wreaks havoc in central SA
Cyclone Jana brushes Cocos Islands

7 December 2003
Drought eases in NSW
Downpours hit Lord Howe Island, NW NT

6 December 2003
Rain, storms lead to flooding in SE QLD but misses NSW dams
Cold in NSW, SE QLD
Strong winds cause blackouts in southern WA
Tropical downpour in NT

5 December 2003
Widespread rain, storms continue in NSW, QLD

4 December 2003
Widespread storms and rain in the east

3 December 2003
Slow-moving severe storm causes $75m damage in Melbourne
Widespread storms across eastern states

2 December 2003
Widespread storms in the east
Fires flare again in TAS, VIC

1 December 2003
Storms bring torrential rain to W NSW, NE VIC

November

30 November 2003
Heat sets records, fires continue in the southeast
Storm causes damage in southern NT

29 November 2003
Heat, bushfires in the southeast

28 November 2003
Wind, fires follow heat in SA

27 November 2003
Drought impact by numbers
Hot in southern SA

26 November 2003
Cold again in NE NT, NW QLD
Isolated storm damages Darwin suburb
Record rain on Lord Howe Island NSW

25 November 2003
Cold night in NE NT, NW QLD

24 November 2003
Hailstorm strikes Tamworth NSW
Large hail reported in SE QLD
Warm in Far North QLD

23 November 2003
Heavy rain, hail as trough exits NSW, QLD

22 November 2003
Heavy rain, storms in NSW, SE QLD

21 November 2003
Widespread storms cross NSW
Cold day in NT, hot night in W QLD

20 November 2003
Severe storms in Melbourne and NE VIC
Storms cuts power in N TAS, W NSW
Heat continues in NE NSW, S QLD
Rare sea fog blankets coastal Sydney
Bushfires continue in TAS and on NSW Mid North Coast

19 November 2003
Heatwave conditions spread in eastern AUS as TAS fires continue
Severe storms in SA, VIC with possible tornado

18 November 2003
Torrential storm rainfall in Central Austalia
Temperature extremes across the nation

17 November 2003
Bushfires continue in TAS
Widespread storms in southern WA, central AUS
Heat builds up in western QLD, eastern SA

16 November 2003
Fires continue in TAS
Widespread thunderstorms bring heavy rain
Hot, windy and stormy in NSW

15 November 2003
Heatwave brings bushfires to SA, VIC, TAS
Severe storms cause $10m damage in WA

14 November 2003
Heatwave moves east
Drought effects still felt

13 November 2003
WA heatwave exits stage right
Lightning starts bushfire near Albany WA

12 November 2003
Records fall in WA Southwest as heatwave continues

11 November 2003
WA heatwave intensifies
Unusually cold day in central western NT
Storm causes damage in Gunnedah NSW
Heavy rain from pre-wet season storms in the NT

10 November 2003
Heatwave continues in WA
Heavy thunderstorm falls on NSW Central Tablelands

9 November 2003
WA heatwave moves south
Further isolated heavy storm rains in NSW

8 November 2003
WA heatwave begins
Heavy rain in NE NSW storms

7 November 2003
Warm in southern WA as Kimberley heat continues

4 November 2003
Cold nights ease in the SE
WA lightning sets wheat ablaze
Unusually severe storms in NT

3 November 2003
Widespread frosts as records fall in the southeast

2 November 2003
Hail, snow and record cold as second front moves through NSW
Severe storms, large hail in NE Kimberley

1 November 2003
Wintry weather continues in the south
Bushfires burn near Taree and in Sydney's south

October

31 October 2003
Severe wintry weather in the south as heat records fall in QLD
Unusually high tides in SA

30 October 2003
More heat records fall in QLD, NT

29 October 2003
Dust storm moves across NSW, QLD
Strong winds intensify bushfires in NSW, QLD
Heat continues in QLD

28 October 2003
Extraordinary synoptic situation brings heat and dust storms to SA, NT, QLD, NSW, cold to VIC
Heat records fall in QLD, NT

27 October 2003
Heat, dust storms in SA, NT, QLD
Bushfires accompany major damage at Uluru, NT
Bushfire burns in NE TAS
Wet in the West

26 October 2003
Severe storms lash SE QLD, NSW North Coast

25 October 2003
Severe storms, large hail hit eastern SE NSW
Hail, heavy rain in VIC
Severe storms in SE QLD
Dust storms in SW QLD
Bushfire causes minor damage near Bundaberg QLD

24 October 2003
Thunderstorms bring heavy rain, hail to SE QLD, NE NSW

23 October 2003
Storms bring heavy falls to SE QLD

22 October 2003
Low level snow in TAS

21 October 2003
Severe storm strikes Wagga NSW

20 October 2003
Widespread storms eastern NSW/QLD
Front brings copious rain to western TAS

19 October 2003
Widespread dust raised along trough in eastern AUS

18 October 2003
Hot in SA
Heavy thunderstorm in Darwin

16 October 2003
Scattered severe storms in NSW, QLD

15 October 2003
Scattered severe storms in VIC, NSW
Strong winds cause damage in Port Pirie SA

13 October 2003
Cold in the NT
80% of NSW still in drought

12 October 2003
Further cold records fall in northern NSW

11 October 2003
More record cold nights in central and SE Australia
Major WA bushfire brought under control

10 October 2003
Cold in the east, hot in the west
Storms in SE QLD, NE NSW

9 October 2003
Temperature records fall as wintry blast hits TAS, VIC, SA
Bleak day in TAS

8 October 2003
Snow to low levels in TAS
Bushfire burns over 1,000 square km in WA Kimberley

7 October 2003
Storms, cold in NT, QLD, northern NSW

6 October 2003
Cold day in the Centre as rain, storms spread east

5 October 2003
Storm line brings downpours, large hail to Sydney and Hunter NSW

4 October 2003
North QLD bushfire "most ferocious in years"

3 October 2003
Another cold day over central southern Australia, but heat records topple in coastal QLD

2 October 2003
Widespread useful rain sets October records
Storms cause damage in NE NSW, SE QLD
Cold again across the south
Hail causes crop damage in southern WA

1 October 2003
Violent storms cause damage in northern and central NSW
Widespread rain spreads from SA into NSW, VIC and southern QLD
Cold day in southern Australia

September

30 September 2003
Wet, cold in western SA
Widespread frosts again in SE SA, VIC, southern and central NSW
Heavy dust on QLD central coast

29 September 2003
Cold, stormy and very wet in southern WA
Snow in TAS, VIC, NSW
Fires continue in NE NSW

28 September 2003
After the heatwave come extensive frosts in VIC, NSW
Calm, cooler weather helps firefighters in NSW, VIC

27 September 2003
Fire and snow as heatwave concludes
Hottest September day recorded

26 September 2003
Bushfires burn in NSW, VIC, QLD
Temperature records fall in WA, Lord Howe Island
Snow in TAS

25 September 2003
Heatwave continues to break records
67 bushfires blaze in eastern NSW
High winds cause havoc in northern TAS

24 September 2003
Sydney records hottest-ever Sept night as NE NSW, QLD swelter
Gusty winds bring varied problems in SA, VIC, TAS, NSW

23 September 2003
Extreme September heat continues in NSW, QLD, SA and NT
Bushfires blaze in NE NSW
Warm gales in the south =Alpine snowmelt = flooding

22 September 2003
September heatwave sets records across five states

August

25 August 2003
Record rain brings major flooding to TAS
Flooding eases in VIC

24 August 2003
Storm force winds cause broadscale damage in NSW, VIC, TAS
Records fall as all NSW and VIC receive beneficial rain
Deluge brings flooding to TAS

23 August 2003
Warm night in NT, QLD
Widespread rain begins in NSW, VIC

22 August 2003
Rain, gales, hail and rare low-level snow in WA

21 August 2003
Severe storms sweep across SE SA and western VIC
Strong winds, heavy showers precede front in WA

20 August 2003
Further temperature extremes across the continent

19 August 2003
Isolated heavy showers give big totals to coastal NSW
Overnight warmth in WA, NT, SA
Overnight cool in SA, TAS

18 August 2003
Southerly cold change in TAS, VIC, NSW
Warm in WA

3 August 2003
Damaging gales, heavy rain in SW WA
Temperature extremes in the west
Warm, strong northwesterlies in the southeast

2 August 2003
Widespread cold mornings continue in eastern Australia
Extreme low humidity in the Centre
Gales, heavy rain as front approaches SW WA

1 August 2003
Frosty morning in most of eastern Australia

July

31 July 2003
Cool dry air brings cold nights to north and east
Heavy seas graze NSW Central Coast

30 July 2003
Medium level snow continues in NSW, VIC, TAS
Cold again in SE QLD

29 July 2003
Wintry across SA, NSW, VIC, TAS
Another cold morning in SE QLD, NE NSW

28 July 2003
Another cold morning in NSW, QLD
Another wintry blast arrives in SE Australia
Surprise showers in the NT dry season

27 July 2003
Cold in SE QLD, NE NSW

26 July 2003
Snow fades out in NSW, TAS
Widespread low minimum temperatures across Australia
Flooding subsides in VIC, TAS

25 July 2003
Wintry weather continues in TAS, VIC, southern NSW and SA
Flooding continues in VIC, TAS

24 July 2003
Snow falls to medium levels in VIC, NSW
Minor flooding develops in VIC
Major flooding, snow, gales as Low grazes TAS

23 July 2003
Widespread heavy rain in VIC, TAS, southern NSW
Rare winter dust storms in NSW, QLD, NT
Temperature extremes across the nation
Light snow in SA

22 July 2003
Snow falls in WA
Record cold night on Lord Howe Island

21 July 2003
Wintry blast hits WA
Hot in central southeastern Australia

20 July 2003
Strong wind, hail and temperature contrasts in SW WA

19 July 2003
Unusually dry and cold in the Alps
Further widespread fog in WA

18 July 2003
Widespread fog in WA

17 July 2003
Brief heavy rain sets record in SE WA

16 July 2003
Record warmth on NSW Northern Tablelands

15 July 2003
Wintry weather in TAS

14 July 2003
Temperature extremes in WA
Strong winds buffet SE states

3 July 2003
Record cold on Macquarie Island

June

25 June 2003
Cold day in NW VIC
Rain and gales in SW WA

24 June 2003
Heavy rain QLD North and Central coasts
Widespread fog again in VIC

23 June 2003
Light snow on NSW Tablelands
Widespread fog in NSW, VIC

22 June 2003
Heavy rain in WA Gascoyne
Cold pool brings snow to Vic, NSW

May

13 May 2003
Floods, traffic chaos as flooding rain begins on NSW Central and Illawarra Coasts

12 May 2003
Isolated storms, showers give heavy falls in WA, NSW, QLD

11 May 2003
Thunderstorms bring some heavy falls to SA
Unseasonable rain off N QLD coast

9 May 2003
Unusually warm night across southern Australia
Fog blankets Perth

8 May 2003
WA warmth contracts to the SE
Drought continues to cover most of NSW

7 May 2003
WA heat moves east

6 May 2003
Heat sets new records in SW WA

5 May 2003
Cold morning in W VIC, SE SA

4 May 2003
Strong winds bring heavy seas to NSW, QLD coasts

3 May 2003
Still warm in SW WA, coastal NT
Wintry blast sweeps TAS

2 May 2003
Hot again in SW WA, coastal NT
Heavy storm rains in SE Qld

1 May 2003
Hot in western WA and coastal NT

April

30 April 2003
Torrential rain on Lord Howe Island
Brief heavy rain in southern SA, western TAS

29 April 2003
Widespread fog in the east

28 April 2003
Heavy rain in NSW Tweed Valley, QLD Gold Coast, NE TAS
Record cold in WA

22 April 2003
Heavy rain eases on North QLD Coast
Warmth continues in WA

21 April 2003
Heavy rain continues on North QLD Coast
Warm in WA

20 April 2003
Heavy rain continues on the QLD North Coast
NEWSBITS: Warm in WA

19 April 2003
QLD North Coast wet season goes out with a bang
NEWSBITS: A bleak Easter along the NSW coast

18 April 2003
Cold, wet and windy start to Easter in coastal NSW

March

24 March 2003
Heavy showers along NSW Sydney and Central Coasts
NEWSBITS: Cold airmass moves into the tropics

23 March 2003
Heavy thunderstorms graze NSW Central Coast

22 March 2003
Storms bring blackouts, heavy rain to SE QLD

21 March 2003
Best rain in 5 months sets records in TAS
Cold in SE Australia
NEWSBITS: Heavy storm falls in central southern QLD

20 March 2003
Duststorms cross NSW
Widespread rain in TAS, gales in Bass Strait
NEWSBITS: Dam's speedy fill in SE QLD

19 March 2003
Active cold front brings dust, storms and heavy rain to SA, NSW, VIC, TAS
NEWSBITS: Warm night in W VIC; NT storms; Strong wind gust at Cloncurry QLD

February

16 February 2003
Record rain in western and central NT

15 February 2003
Widespread rain in central and western NT
NEWSBITS: Storms bring useful falls to SW QLD; Widespread storms but not much rain in NSW

14 February 2003
Hot in SA
NEWSBITS: Early morning storms bring heavy rain north of Sydney

13 February 2003
Torrential rain on Bathurst Is as monsoon strengthens across northern Australia
Flood peaks move down inland QLD rivers
NEWSBITS: VIC fires continue to cause concern

12 February 2003
Flooding peaks in QLD coastal rivers
NEWSBITS: Fire conditions improve in southern NSW

11 February 2003
Heavy storm falls across the tropics
NEWSBITS: Heat continues its slow eastward movement in WA; QLD flood crests near the sea

10 February 2003
Steady, heavy rain relieves drought in central southern QLD
Active storms sweep across Sydney
NEWSBITS: WA heat moves slowly east; Fires spare historic Kosciuszko huts; Lightning starts fires in VIC Gippsland

9 February 2003
NEWSBITS: Hot around Perth; Flooding continues in coastal QLD

8 February 2003
Huey sends it down in central western QLD
Storms bring flash flooding, hail, stong winds in central NSW

7 February 2003
Major flood area expands in QLD
NEWSBITS: VIC fires still active

6 February 2003
Remains of Beni flood central eastern QLD
NEWSBITS: VIC fires continue

5 February 2003
Heavy QLD rain as ex-TC Beni comes ashore
NEWSBITS: Containment breakthrough on Vic/Snowy fires as Kosciuszko Park reopens; Northern WA heat continues to break records

4 February 2003
TC Beni plays cat and mouse off Central QLD coast
Bushfires a worry in TAS
Hot, dry January worsens drought
High temperatures break records in northern WA, NW NT
NEWSBITS: Desert downpours continue in WA; Hot in SA, Vic, Tas

3 February 2003
Torrential rain in SE QLD
NEWSBITS: Cobar cools, but at a cost; SA heat, WA cold; Vic and NSW fires

2 February 2003
Wild temperature variations, storms in southern WA
Ex-TC Beni brings rain, gales to NE NSW, SE QLD
NEWSBITS: Victorian Alpine fires continue to burn

1 February 2003
NEWSBITS: Windy in TAS, E QLD : Hot with bushfires in southern WA

January

26 January 2003
Torrential rain brings flooding south of Cairns QLD

25 January 2003
Long-lived tropical low brings flood rain to northern WA

23 January 2003
High winds with storms in SE WA

22 January 2003
Further damaging storms in southern QLD

21 January 2003
Storms cause damage in SE QLD

19 January 2003
Gusty storms in SA

15 January 2003
Peripatetic low causes flooding, record rain in NT, QLD Gulf Country

9 January 2003
Tropical low brings torrential rain to NE NT

7 January 2003
Tropical low brings heavy rain, cool weather to NT Top End

6 January 2003
Severe storms in NSW, VIC

5 January 2003
Unnamed cyclone brings rain, gales to NE NT

Previous years' indexes