Australia equals hottest day on record as temperature soars to 50.7C
It matches record temperature set more than 60 years ago
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Temperatures in Australia have soared to the same level as the hottest day ever recorded.
Onslow, a coastal town in Western Australia, reached 50.7C on Thursday, matching the previous national record set more than 60 years ago.
The Bureau of Metereology said this was also the state’s hottest temperature to date.
Other towns in the Pilbara region of Western Australia also surpassed 50C on Thursday to record some of the highest temperatures Australia has even seen, with both Mardie and Roebourne reaching 50.5C.
The Onslow temperature matched Australia’s 50.7C record, which was set in the outback town of Oodnadatta in South Australia in 1960.
Forecasters said the data was provisional until it had been quality controlled.
“The Pilbara region has had persistent hot temperatures over the last few months and there has been no rainfall to really take away the hot air that has built up,” Luke Huntington, a meteorologist from the Bureau of Metereology, was reported as saying in local media.
“Over the next few months there is a high chance that temperatures on a day-to-day basis will be above average, at least until the wet season rains hit properly.”
The Bureau of Metereology had warned the state would see a “severe to extreme heatwave conditions” in some of its regions this week.
It also issued a weather warning for heavy rain and gusts in a northern region on Thursday, as ex-tropical cyclone Tiffany was expected to pass through.
Last year was the world’s fifth-hottest year on record, scientists revealed earlier this week. The seven hottest were in the last seven years, they also said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments