What is the hottest day in Australian history?

The heat, which was concentrated over one fortnight in January, caused mass wildlife deaths, sparked bushfires and led to a rise in hospital admissions.

Only 10% of these mentioned a potential link to climate change,[2] but a report by Australia's Climate Commission entitled Angry Summer states that climate change can be directly linked to the severity of the heatwave. Vast areas of the nation are struggling through a second and third year of drought. The heatwave was a major news event and the Australian media wrote over 800 articles about the heat-wave. A paper in the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Climate reported that heatwaves have occurred with increasing frequency over the previous 60 years. [3][4] The reporting of the heatwave in the Australian media attracted controversy in the scientific community, as very few articles cited a correlation between the event and climate change, which it was correlated with according to studies conducted by the University of Melbourne. The Health Department has activated its heatwave hazard plan and is liaising with various agencies, hospitals, businesses, infrastructure providers and sporting clubs to minimise the risks of heat to the public. [7] The hottest day on record for the whole of Australia was recorded as 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) at Oodnadatta on 2 January 1960, which is the highest official temperature recorded in Australia. Australia has experienced its hottest day on record with the national average temperature reaching a high of 40.9C (105.6F), meteorologists say. The dominant climate driver behind the heat has been a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) - an event where sea surface temperatures are warmer in the western half of the ocean, cooler in the east. The first day of Perth's heatwave yesterday just missed out on the 40C forecast, peaking at 39C, but the city has another three days of temperatures close to 40C to go. Can you guess if the movie is a prequel or sequel? … "So when you combine all of the maximum temperatures recorded on any given day, the hottest on record was on the January 7 back in 2013, when we saw an average maximum of 40.3C," she said. A prolonged heatwave affected Melbourne which was exacerbated by power blackouts. Shop now, The climate phenomenon linking floods and bushfires, Why Australia will see a long and dangerous summer, "Australia's climate is increasingly influenced by global warning, In pictures: Australia's drought seen from the air, Climate emergency 'clear and unequivocal', Sydney protesters demand action on climate change, Last summer (2018-2019) was recorded as the nation's hottest on record, At least five of the days were recorded among the nation's top 10 hottest, Australia's deadly relationship with heat, How Australians weathered the last heatwave, How 'one-third' of a bat population died in two days. Last summer (2018-2019) was recorded as the nation's hottest on record, as average temperatures soared past 30C (86F) for the first time. Bom says it's expecting national mean temperatures to be at least 1.3C above the long-term average of 27.5C. Taking the average of maximum temperatures across the country is the most accurate measure of a heatwave. [7] The length of the heatwave in outback Queensland was unusually long. "[The heat] will creep into South Australia initially, we will start to see those temperatures rise over South Australia on Monday and Tuesday," Ms Eadie said. The Bureau of Meteorology said "extensive" heat on Tuesday tipped the mercury past the previous record of 40.3C set on 7 January 2013. Extremely heavy rainfall continued into February as tropical low pressure systems caused havoc in eastern Queensland. [10] Record maximum temperatures for that month were experienced in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. At least five of the days were recorded among the nation's top 10 hottest on record. The Increasing Frequency Of “Hottest Day In Australia EVER” Although the single hottest day in Australia was almost six decades ago, that doesn’t mean we aren’t experiencing extremely hot temperatures today. Australia could experience its hottest day on record next week as a hot air mass building in Western Australia that has generated a potentially deadly heatwave in Perth makes its way east.

Preliminary analysis suggested that Tuesday was the hottest day on record for Australia, with an average maximum across the country of 40.9C. Officials predicts that 2019, on the temperatures recorded so far, will be among the four warmest years on record. Australia has just registered its hottest day on record — and the heat is only set to worsen over the next few days across the nation. [8] Maximum temperatures in late 2012 were up to 1.6 °C (2.9 °F) above average. Australia has experienced its hottest day on record with the national average temperature reaching a high of 40.9C (105.6F). Perth recorded its earliest December day above 40C on December 3, peaking at 41.6C in what was its hottest first week of summer on record. According to Bom, Australia has warmed overall by just over 1C since 1910, with most of the heating occurring since 1950. Central Australia experienced a lack of cloud cover due to low moisture levels during the hottest part of the year. The Australian summer of 2012–2013, known as the Angry Summer or Extreme Summer, resulted in 123 weather records being broken over a 90-day period, including the hottest day ever recorded for January on record, the hottest summer average on record, and a record seven days in a row when the whole country averaged above 39 °C (102 °F). This is a list of weather records, a list of the most extreme occurrences of weather …

The record comes as the nation battles an unprecedented bushfire crisis that has prompted public anger about climate inaction. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), Four days in a row of 40 degrees triggers rare deadly heatwave warning for Perth, No relief from Perth's sweltering start to summer, with heat to return 'with a vengeance' on Friday, It's been almost four years since Perth endured a heatwave, but that may be about to change, ASIC boss steps aside pending investigation into $118k tax expenses, First flight carrying Australians stranded overseas due to coronavirus arrives in Darwin from London, Live: Morrison wants thousands of stranded Australians home by Christmas, Live: Leaving interruptions aside, Trump leans into attacks while Biden digs into policy, AFP arrests 44 men over 'abhorrent' child abuse material shared online, Andrews says Preston outbreak won't derail restrictions plan after parent tests positive, Dashcam captures moment toddlers run towards busy road after escaping childcare centre, Lawyers asked Ghislaine Maxwell one question 28 times. Seven-day rainfall totals over 1,000 mm (39.4 in) were recorded in some areas of south-eastern Queensland. The city has never recorded more than two 40C days in December, but that record will be challenged this week. [11] Parts of South Australia equalled or nearly broke temperature records in the first two weeks of March. [5], "An Australian Christmas – relax if you can", Australia links 'angry summer' to climate change – at last, "Heat wave creates new Australian records", "Temperatures off the charts as Australia turns deep purple", "Temperature hits all-time record in Sydney", "Queensland swelters in marathon heatwave", "Records tumble as Melburnians endure long hot spell", Off the Charts: Extreme Australian summer heat, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Angry_Summer&oldid=980601615, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 27 September 2020, at 11:51.

[14] Research conducted by the University of Melbourne and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Systems Science attributed the record temperatures to anthropogenic influences. Australia is one of the highest emitters of carbon pollution per capita, largely because it is still heavily reliant on fossil fuel power. Average daily maximum temperatures were the highest between 2 and 8 January 2013. Currently the city is tracking about 6C above its mean December maximum of 29.1C. New Zealanders urged to be vigilant on long weekend as Covid app use falls, Venezuela's Maduro, citing Pope, asks congress to consider same-sex marriage, PM Imran Khan, Bhutanese counterpart discuss Covid-19, other issues, The best exfoliating ingredients for brighter and clearer skin, according to dermatologists, Donald Trump reverts to type in debate – and it isn't 'magnificently brilliant', Duchess Camilla sparked a huge fan reaction with her latest outfit, Darwin Nunez will eclipse Joao Felix €126m transfer as Benfica boss braces for exit, WhatsApp to offer in-app purchases, cloud hosting services, 150 booked for terrorism after attack on police in Pakistan, Biggest regrets of your favorite celebrities, Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article, Unlimited access to 5,000+ magazines and newspapers; flat 50% off, Up to 70% off on apparel, and 15% more on your first order! ABC Emergency has a checklist of things you can do to be ready. But the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has warned that as a cool change sweeps in on Monday, the blistering heat will travel interstate. [6][7] According to climatologist David Jones, the hot weather began in September 2012. Nine of Australia's top 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 2005. The warmer waters cause higher-than-average rains in the western Indian Ocean region, leading to flooding, and drier conditions across South East Asia and Australia. Australia's conservative government has been criticised both at home and internationally for what's seen as an inadequate climate record and a reliance on coal. Perth is enduring an unprecedented heatwave for December, with the city expected to hover close to 40 degrees Celsius for four consecutive days until Sunday.

Australia could experience its hottest day on record next week as a hot air mass building in Western Australia makes its way east. The difference between the two temperatures is currently the strongest in 60 years. [3] A monsoon trough which usually allows conditions to cool did not eventuate.