On Monday, Perth experienced its seventh day of temperatures above 40°C this February, breaking its previous record of four such days in February 2016. The city hit 42.3°C, while Geraldton reached a scorching 47.7°C, surpassing forecasts.
This extreme heatwave, affecting Western Australia for three weeks, has seen the state dominate the global list of the hottest places over 24 hours.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has warned of extreme heat conditions, extending its alert until Wednesday. The west and north of WA are enduring the worst of the heat, leading to bushfire warnings along the south-west coast.
Carnarvon and Shark Bay set new February temperature records amid Western Australia’s extreme heat.As a precaution, Cervantes Primary School and Jurien Bay District High School closed on Monday due to heightened bushfire risks. Despite these warnings, no major bushfires were reported as of Monday morning.
Jess Lingard from the weather bureau attributed the relentless heat to three persistent west coast troughs, which have trapped warm, dry air and prevented cooler conditions from moving in.
“It’s like an atmospheric traffic jam,” Lingard explained, noting that these troughs have remained stationary much longer than usual.
The heat is expected to peak on Tuesday, with temperatures in the western part of the state potentially reaching 46°C to 47°C. Inland agricultural areas around Perth are forecasted to hit 45°C. Lingard emphasized the toll of the persistently high temperatures, particularly the warm nights that impede the body’s recovery.
Climate factors including the El Niño pattern, climate change, and the Indian Ocean dipole are contributing to these extreme conditions.
On Sunday, Carnarvon set a new February record at 49.9°C, becoming the second-highest temperature ever recorded in Australia for the month. Shark Bay also set a new record at 49.8°C, surpassing its previous high by 2.5°C.
A total fire ban is in effect from Margaret River to Geraldton and east to Mount Palmer, with storm warnings issued for the Ord River region and severe weather anticipated in parts of the Kimberley.