Any grey nomad travelling up in the Pilbara at the moment better be prepared to crank up the air conditioning as temperatures in some parts near the 50-degree batter.
If the intense heat trough hovering over the north-west does push the mercury through 50 degrees, it will be the first time it has done so in 17 years.
An area inland of Shark Bay in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia is showing up on Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) charts as having reached the high-40s on Monday, according to Shane Hicks, a bureau meteorologist in Perth.
“It looks like we might get some 49s but with the observational network pretty sparse out there, it’s probably unlikely that we’ll actually observe a 50,” Mr Hicks said.
According to Queensland Country Life newspaper, current modelling suggests the heat will linger in the region, extending the area of potential 50-degree condition to the Pilbara by Friday.
“The longer the air sits over the land, the more it heats up,” Mr Hicks said. “It just sits there and just bakes … those poor buggers living out there tend to swelter for quite a few days in a row.”
Australia has recorded just three days of 50-degree heat since instruments were standardised nationally with the BoM’s formation in 1910. The most recent was on February 20, 1998, when the mercury hit 50.5 degrees in the Pilbara town of Mardie.
Climate experts say heat records are expected to continue to tumble as global warming pushes up background conditions.
Yep, Its pretty warm up here. But also expected. Perfect temp is around 28′. Its Australia folks. Diverse, exciting, interesting ,offering everything from hot summer days to freezing cold nights depending on location. We have the most beautiful beaches in the world, abundant fauna and flora, and a diverse range of landscapes from rain forests to deserts. Ya gotta love it.