Australians felt the full force of extreme weather in 2020.
Drought and heat fuelled devastating bushfires from the first day of the year.
The hottest day came just four days into the new year.
A Senior Climatologist at the bureau, Dr Blair Trewin, says the temperature reached 48-point-9 degrees Celsius at Penrith Lakes, west of Sydney.
The same month, a severe hailstorm struck the A-C-T, dropping hail up to 6cm in diameter.
The coldest temperature was recorded in Tasmania in early August.
Annual rainfall was four per cent higher than average, but varied considerably depending on the region.
The tropical cyclone season was slightly less active than normal.
There were eight tropical cyclones, compared to a long-term average of eleven.
The arrival of La Nina in late September had a cooling affect and is forecast to bring wetter than normal conditions in 2021.
Dr Watkins says that will reduce the bushfire risk.
People are urged to have their fire plans ready to go.
