As heat records tumble throughout Australia, a country town in South Australia is preparing to hit a record 49 degrees Celsius.
Key points:
- December temperature records have been broken in several SA towns
- Outback towns are enduring the most intense heat, with temperatures over 45C
- Locals are doing their best to keep cool as the heatwave intensifies
But it is going to be business as usual for Wudinna's only bakery.
Liz Habermann, who manages the Wudinna Bakery on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, said temperatures over 46C were already having an impact.
"It's just crazy. Everything's suffering," she said.
"A good way of explaining is that you walk outside and it feels like your eyeballs are burning.
"I like the heat, but when it creeps up towards 50C that's just ridiculous."
Despite the heat, Ms Habermann said there was no plan to stop baking.
"It's going to be hot in the bakehouse whether it's hot outside or not, it's just one of those things," she said.
"You can't do anything about it so why whinge about it? There's certainly others that don't have that philosophy."
Preliminary analysis by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) suggests yesterday was Australia's hottest day on record, with an average maximum across the country of 40.9C.
And large swathes of inland Australia are going to see temperatures soar even more.
On Thursday in regional SA, Oak Valley is tipped to join Wudinna with a predicted 49C, while Ceduna, Tarcoola, Port Augusta, the Nullarbor and Oodnadatta are all expected to reach 48C.
Oodnadatta holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in Australia.
| Heat records by state | Town | Temperature | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA | Oodnadatta | 50.7C | January 2, 1960 |
| WA | Mardie | 50.5C | February 19, 1998 |
| NSW | Menindee | 49.7C | January 10, 1939 |
| Queensland | Birdsville | 49.5C | December 24, 1972 |
| Victoria | Hopetoun | 48.8C | February 7, 2009 |
| Northern Territory | Finke | 48.3C | January 1-2, 1960 |
| Tasmania | Scamander | 42.2C | January 30, 2009 |
On January 2, 1960, the mercury climbed to 50.7C degrees Celsius.
"Our home thermometers only go to 50C and during summer they're at that 50C mark by lunchtime," local Hayley Nunn said.
"If we had a thermometer that could go higher than 50C — and I've been looking for one for a long time but been unable to find one — I think it would be safe to say we hit that mark every summer."
Despite the forecast, Ms Nunn — who operates the town's Pink Roadhouse, an oasis for passing travellers — said it was pretty much business as usual.
"It's quite normal for us this time of year … we're all in good spirits, we're all used to it. It's summer, it's Oodnadatta," Ms Nunn said.
"Anything over 45's hot, and you just live with it.
"February's normally the worst month for heat, so it's only the start for us."
She said locals had been preparing for tonight's Christmas light competition which will feature an obligatory appearance from Father Christmas.
"We hope he's got that message at the North Pole that it's quite hot here, but we'll see," Ms Nunn said.
Other states set to see temperatures reach 45C
In Victoria, Mildura and Ouyen are expected to hit 45C.
In New South Wales tomorrow several towns will reach 45C including Hay, Griffith and Menindee.
Birdsville in Queensland's Channel Country is also tipped to reach 45C.
In Bourke in NSW, where the temperature is expected to hit 42C, there is already a solid congregation taking refuge in the local pub.
"I can remember it getting to 50C here," said staff member Cody Simmons.
"[We've got] about seven or eight people here at the moment [but] in the air-conditioning."
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