Penrith, NSW, Australia was the world's hottest place on 7 January 2018 (47.3C). But the most above average was the Arctic north of Finland, which really shouldn't be above -- or anywhere near -- 0C at this time of year. Graphic: Andrew B. Watkins / ClimateReanalyzer
Penrith, NSW, Australia was the world’s hottest place on 7 January 2018 (47.3C). But the most above average was the Arctic north of Finland, which really shouldn’t be above — or anywhere near — 0C at this time of year. Graphic: Andrew B. Watkins / ClimateReanalyzer

By Lisa Cox
15 January 2019

(The Guardian) – Port Augusta in South Australia has reached 48.9C on Tuesday, as a heatwave sets in across much of Australia threatening more record hot days.

All-time highest minimum temperatures have also been broken in three places. Meekatharra in Western Australia and Fowlers Gap and White Cliffs in New South Wales all registered an overnight minimum of 33C on Monday.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions extending from the interior of WA across South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, the ACT and NSW will bring maximum temperatures of 8C to 12C above average, and in some places up to 16C above average before the end of the week.

From Tuesday through to Friday, parts of South Australia, Victoria and NSW may break January heat records, with daytime maximums extending up to the mid-40s.

“It’s quite a significant heatwave because we are expecting a number of records to fall across those areas for both minimum and maximum temperatures,” said Dean Sgarbossa, a senior meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology.

On Tuesday, Port Augusta in South Australia reached 48.9C, an all-time high since records began in 1962.

Port Augusta Hay in NSW had reached a high of 47.2C by Tuesday afternoon and several locations in Victoria reached temperatures in the mid-40s, with Walpeup in the state’s north-west recording 45.6C.South Australia is forecast to have three days of severe to extreme heat.

The South Australian housing authority has issued a “code red” until 16 January 2019 for greater metropolitan Adelaide. [more]

Screenshot of an iPhone that has shut down in the record-breaking Sydney heat wave, 7 January 2018. Photo: Ammy Kwong / Twitter
Screenshot of an iPhone that has shut down in the record-breaking Sydney heat wave, 7 January 2018. Photo: Ammy Kwong / Twitter

Australia extreme heatwave: ‘code red’ issued as Port Augusta hits 48.9C

By William McInnes
8 January 2018

(The Sydney Morning Herald) – High temperatures, combined with high humidity, made it an unpleasant sleep for some in Sydney overnight.

The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed on Monday that Penrith had reached the highest temperature on earth in the past 24 hours when it reached 47.3 degrees on Sunday afternoon.

“It looks like it’s the highest temperature recorded in the Sydney area in 80 years,” Jacob Cronje, a senior meteorologist with Weatherzone, said.

“It was certainly the hottest place in Australia,” he said.

A map published by the University of Maine’s Climate Change Institute shows Australia was the hottest continent globally. […]

Penrith’s record-breaking day didn’t cool off quickly with temperatures above 30 degrees still being recorded at 7.30pm and humidity as high as 91 per cent overnight. [more]

Sydney clocks the hottest place on Earth as hot weather continues