Tropical Cyclone risk area. Although cyclones hitting Brisbane are rare, they have happened in the past. The last cyclone to affect Brisbane but not directly cross the city was Tropical Cyclone Hamish in March 2009, although the cyclone remained approx 350 km (220 mi) north of Brisbane but caused significant damage to beaches and caused the worst oil spill in Moreton Bay. Average annual temperature of the sea is 24 �C (75 �F), from 21 �C (70 �F) in July to 27 �C (81 �F) in February.
In November 2011, Brisbane saw 22 days with no recorded rainfall, which is the driest start to November since 1919.
August 2012 was the city's driest August and the driest month ever experienced in its recorded history (records at the Brisbane Airport commenced in 1929, although the station closed in February 2000). At the meteorological station in the city's downtown core (Brisbane Station), only 0.2 mm of precipitation was recorded in August 2012
