April heat records tumble over southeastern Australia

April records were smashed yesterday over southeastern Australia as a mid-autumn heatwave continues to grip the region.

A lack of frontal activity combined with clear skies is allowing a large pool of heat to sit over the region, with temperatures more typical of summer than autumn.

Sydney's Observatory Hill broke its previous April record of 34.2 reaching 35.4 just after 2pm yesterday afternoon. Sydney Airport also broke its record, eclipsing the previous hottest April day of 35.7 (set in 1986) with 36.8 degrees just after 2pm.

South Australia didn't want to be left out of the action either, with Adelaide falling just shy of its all-time April record of 36.3 degrees yesterday, whilst Port Augusta set a new record of 39.2 degrees, beating the previous record of 38.4.

Some notable records that fell yesterday include:

• Sydney Observatory Hill: 35.4 Previous: 34.2 - 2016
• Sydney Airport: 36.8 Previous: 35.7 - 1986
• Adelaide West Terrace: 36.3 (new site record) Previous: 35.8 - 1938
• Port Augusta: 39.2 Previous: 38.4
• Ceduna SA: 41.3 Previous: 40.8
• Nullarbor SA: 42.2 Previous: 42
• Holsworthy NSW: 35.8 Previous: 33.6
• Canterbury NSW: 35.4 Previous: 34.5

The heat will continue today and tomorrow, with temperatures reaching the mid-to-high 30s across large parts of SA, VIC and NSW. Adelaide registered its third consecutive day of 34 degrees or above today, the first time on record in April. Mildura has already set a new April record today reaching 38.8 degrees, with similarly hot temperatures expected tomorrow.

The hot airmass will finally begin to break down a little by Thursday and Friday, however many areas (including Sydney) will continue to bask in well above April temperatures reaching the low-to-mid 30s into the weekend.

Image: Forecast temperatures from the OCF model on Wednesday 11th April across NSW and VIC