Yesterday saw another day of record breaking heat across New South Wales and northern Victoria, with little change expected today. Thankfully, relief is on the way as a cooler change sweeps across the country over the weekend.
A record-breaking hot airmass that originated in the northwest of the country more than two weeks ago has been smashing heat records throughout April, with yesterday being one of the standout days across NSW and VIC.
Both minimum and maximum temperature records fell, however some notable records included 36.1 degrees at Merimbula, and 36.4 degrees at Gabo island, breaking its previous record of 35.0 degrees (records since 1910). Sydney reached 34.6 degrees, its second hottest April day on record, falling short of the 35.4 degrees set just several days ago.
Records have already fallen today, with Sydney Airport registering its highest April minimum on record (23.0 degrees), whilst Ulladulla dropped to only 23.6 degrees overnight, its highest minimum temperature on record for any month (26 years of records). Maximum temperatures will again be well above average today, with many areas reaching the low-to-mid 30s across NSW.
Thankfully, relief is spreading across south-eastern Australia as a strong cold front sweeps across the region, bringing with it strong winds, rain and thunderstorms and much cooler temperatures. Melbourne will reach just 19 degrees tomorrow, and Canberra 18 degrees by Sunday. Sydney will cool to the mid 20s by Sunday, before dropping into the low-to-mid 20s by mid next week.
Regardless of what happens for the remainder of the month, this April will challenge strongly for the hottest April on record across the country.