Australia sizzling in more record threatening heat

This January has been hot - very hot - across Australia so far, and after a brief cooler spell, large parts of the country are going to bake in record challenging heat until at least next weekend.

The northwest Australian 'heat engine' has been in full force this January due to a delayed monsoon, with prolonged clear skies and no cloud cover allowing conditions to become very hot.

Marble Bar equaled its January record today, reaching 49 degrees (only a few weeks after breaking its all time record), and it wasn't just WA's north feeling the heat, with the mercury soaring to 45.6 degrees in Kalgoorie (within a degree of its record), and 46.9 degrees at Laverton, Leinster and Leonora.

Today the heat also begun spilling into the southern states, with large parts of SA, VIC and NSW sweltering in temperatures ranging from the mid 30s to the early 40s.

From tomorrow, and especially around mid-week, temperatures will be stepped up significantly, with records a good chance of being broken in many parts of southeastern Australia, not only on individual days, but also consecutive days.

Albury, which peaked at 42.8 degrees today, is set reach at least 40 degrees through to Friday, including potentially record hot days on Tuesday and Wednesday where the mercury could reach 45-46 degrees (previous record 44.6 degrees).

Mildura could see back-to-back 46 degree days on Tuesday and Wednesday (record 46.9 degrees), whilst Broken Hill will see five consecutive days in the mid 40s between Monday and Friday (record 45.3 degrees at current site).

The capital cities will luckily largely escape any records, however Adelaide will still see back to back 40 degree days on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Melbourne back to back mid 30 degree days on Monday and Tuesday.

Sydney could see five consecutive days above 30 degrees (on the coast), a run which has not occurred since 2011, however western Sydney will be even hotter, with at least five consecutive days reaching the very high 30s or low 40s.

The only areas that will be spared from the heatwave will be parts of the northern tropics, southwest Western Australia, the Queensland coast and Tasmania.

A cold front will flush the heat away somewhat by next weekend, although with no widespread cloud or rain expected across the nation, Australia's 'heat engine' is likely to continue, with this January likely to come in as one of the hottest on record across the country.

Image 1: National Temperature Forecast Map - Australia