Climate data released from 2021 has captured the tumultuous weather of the year before, where a tornado racing its way across parts of the state barely raised an eyebrow in a year that soon became known for its unpredictability. 

The Annual Climate Statement 2021, released from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), reported that 2021 was a year of many climate firsts throughout Australia, being the coolest year since 2012, the wettest year since 2016 with a national rainfall of 509.7 mm, and the wettest november on record. 

While some parts of NSW got away scot free, the Western Plains bore the brunt of the floods of November, with a La Nina being declared by BOM just days after Gwabegar saw houses inundated with water that surged down the Warrumbungles and through the Baradine Creek. 

Reports from the Western Plains App at the time note towns such as Lightning RIdge and areas of Walgett being completely isolated as flood waters cut them from connecting towns, and Warren locals trading their cars for boats to get them to work in town. 

On 13 December, the long awaited opening of the Queensland border was an underwhelming event for Western Plains locals. While the border crossing further east saw long awaited reunions, north of Lightning Ridge the floodwater made it simply impossible to cross. 

Lightning Ridge Visitor Information Centre Manager Di Kurl said at the time “There've been people in town for a few weeks waiting for the borders to open and now they can’t get over the border because it’s flooded.”

Still, prior to the flooding events that seized the end of the year, 2021 was eventful nevertheless. 

According to BOM, despite the year being the coolest for Australia since 2012, globally, 2021 was one of the seven warmest years on record. It was also the seventh consecutive year where the global temperature was more than 1 degree above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900).

Being the second year of above-average rainfall, by the end of 2021 Australia was largely out of drought in most areas of the country for the first time in five years. Across NSW depleted water storages were replenished, with the Menindee Lakes filling for the first time since 2012. 

In September, damaging winds, heavy rain tore through the region, where giant hail of up to 7 centimetres 40 kilometres north of Bourke. 

Further afield in October, a tornado was observed at Armidale, with reports of damage to buildings and cars. 

Moving into 2022, the effects of La Nina have begun recede, but not without more rainfall to ring in the new year. The BOM predicts that the trend of above-average rainfall could continue into the year, with minimum temperatures also likely to hit above-average.