Three states in Australia reached maximum temperatures of more than 47 degrees Celsius yesterday, amid a massive heatwave the weather bureau says may peak today.
Key points:
- Several December temperature records are forecast to be broken as the heatwave continues
- Canberra faces three successive days of record forecasts
- A cold front will move into WA late today, bringing comparatively cooler temperatures
The highs — recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) at Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia, Wudinna in South Australia, and Birdsville in Queensland — came one day after what preliminary data suggested was the hottest day on record in Australia.
But BOM spokesman Neil Bennett said today was predicted to bring record-breaking temperatures for many areas of the country.
"We feel that [on Thursday] we'll probably start to see more records being broken for December as that heat builds on into Victoria and NSW," he said.
In Canberra, the highest December temperature on record, 39.2C, is forecast to be surpassed as heatwave conditions intensify.
But if temperatures do reach the predicted 40C in the ACT, the new record for the hottest December maximum may last only one day; a top of 41C is forecast for Friday, then 42C on Saturday.
"Canberra for today is shaping up to be a record breaker," Mr Bennett said.
"The forecast maximum of 40C would break the existing Canberra record, but then we're looking at Friday and Saturday as being even hotter.
"If the record goes today, it may be a very short lived one, and we could see it go on Friday and then we could see it go again on Saturday."
If temperatures of 42C are reached in the capital on Saturday, there is the potential for the hottest recorded temperature in the ACT, 42.2C, to be surpassed.
Weather records could fall — again
The mass of hot air lingering over swathes of Australia meant the newly set record of hottest Australian day could be surpassed before the heatwave was through, Mr Bennett said.
"The extent of the heatwave is pretty remarkable so we couldn't rule it out," he said.
"It may be that the peak is today."
However cooler temperatures seeping into parts of the country today could bring the overall average temperature for the country down.
"It may be that we start to see a decrease in the area [of heatwave conditions] as we move through Thursday," Mr Bennett said.
"Certainly there are some significantly cooler changes moving into parts of WA for example tomorrow."
That cold front is expected to reach South Australia late on Friday, but respite is not expected to reach the eastern states until late on Saturday.
More on the heatwave:
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