Australia has officially recorded its highest winter temperature ever, with Yampi Sound in the Kimberley region of Western Australia reaching a sweltering 41.6°C on Tuesday.
This unprecedented figure, provisionally confirmed by the Bureau of Meteorology, surpasses the previous national record of 41.2°C set at West Roebuck on August 23, 2020. The record-breaking temperature now stands as the highest ever recorded for any winter month across the country.
The ongoing heat wave underscores a troubling trend: Australia is on track to experience its hottest August on record. Scientists attribute the extreme temperatures to global warming, which has been shortening the winter season and bringing in weather typically associated with spring and summer.
This shift has resulted in record-breaking temperatures across Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory, and New South Wales.
Unusual heatwave continues across Australia, making August potentially the hottest on record.In South Australia, the town of Oodnadatta hit 39.4°C, while Yulara in the Northern Territory reached 36°C. Fitzroy Crossing, Derby, and Wyndham in Western Australia all recorded temperatures between 40.6°C and 40.7°C.
Birdsville in Queensland also marked its hottest August day, reaching 38.4°C. Central Australia has seen temperatures up to 15°C above average for this time of year, reflecting a broader trend of unusual warmth.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines noted that the warm weather has persisted for several days and is expected to continue. Brisbane reached 31°C on Monday, with temperatures possibly climbing to 34°C by the weekend. Sydney, too, is experiencing atypical warmth, with a high of 24°C on Monday and a forecast of up to 29°C later in the week.
The Bureau of Meteorology has also issued severe weather warnings for southeastern Australia, including damaging winds affecting parts of Victoria and Tasmania.
As Australia adapts to this unseasonal heat, experts warn that while record-breaking temperatures may ease, the general trend toward warmer winters is expected to continue.