Channel 9 TV, Weatherzone and the BoM have been claiming Brisbane, Sydney and the Hunter experienced a record hot October. Weatherzone is quoted here in the Blacktown Sun. The ABC quotes the BoM for its story – Hottest October on record for Hunter.
However a quick check of monthly max historic BoM data shows most of the claims of all time warm records for October are either wrong or not robust.

Brisbane 040913 which averaged 28.8 in the middle of large and growing urban heat island, is a short term station with October data only from 2000.
A more reliable guide to the region would be Brisbane Aero 40842 which recorded 26.8 and equalled that in 2004. But the older Brisbane Aero 40223 with data from 1950 recorded 28.3 in 1988.
Amberley with a longer continuous record averaged 30.9 last month but 31.5 in 1988.
So there are two stations with less urban data than the centre of Brisbane which both confirm October 2013 was not a record warm month.
In the case of Sydney, the news items said the centre of the city did not qualify – despite the monster urban heat island. That should have been a red flag – but did not stop a trawl for some high number in western s8uburbs data not known for long term station sites.
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) 66124 last month 27.0 but in 1988 was 28.9 – Weatherzone should take more time over their checking.
In the Hunter there were patches where 2013 had the hottest October – eg Cessnock and Williamtown but at several other sites this was not so.
Newcastle Nobbys 25.2 last month but 25.3 Oct 1988
Newcastle University 27.3 last month but 27.5 Oct 2002
Scone Airport read 28.8 last month but only has data from 1992 – Scone Philip St recorded 29.6 in 1907, 28.9 in 1910, 32.3 in 1919, 29.3 in 1940, 28.9 in 1988.
Jerrys Plains Post Office 61086 has a long record in the Hunter – and last month recorded 29.2 but read 30.8 in 1907, 29.2 in 1912, 29.2 in 1915, 29.5 in 1922, 29.3 in 1926 & 27, 29.5 in 1936, 30.5 in 1940, 30.8 in 1944, 29.5 in 1988, 30.1 in 2002 and 29.3 in 2007.
So I think Weatherzone and BoM memories are too often too short.
Anybody noticing “hot October” claims in their areas.