In Australia, periods of successive day time maximums above 40°C are fairly common in the summer in the hot interior of the continent. With the exception of the NW Coast of Western Australia however, most coastal areas rarely receive more than 3 days in a row of such extreme temperatures. The frequency of such conditions increases inland, and periods of up to 10 successive days have been recorded at many inland stations. This figure increases to more than 20 days in parts of Western Queensland and NW Western Australia. The central part of the Northern Territory and the Marble Bar area of Western Australia have recorded the most prolonged heat waves. Marble Bar is the only station in the world where temperatures of more than 37.8°C (100°F) have been recorded on as many as 161 consecutive days - now that's hot!
Heat waves have been experienced in the coastal areas over the years. For example, during January 11 to January 14 1939, a severe heat wave affected SE Australia. On January 12 Adelaide had a record 47.6°C, the next day it reached 45.6°C in Melbourne and the following day Sydney reached 45.3°C.
In terms of annual average maximum temperature, the Kimberley district of Western Australia is the most consistently hot part of Australia. Wyndham has an annual average maximum temperature of a scorching 35.6°C.
If you have any comments or questions on this article please e-mail me at Gungahlin Weather Centre.
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