Records tumble in Western Australia over the weekend - SA next with catastrophic fire danger

November records were smashed across the weekend as an extremely hot airmass impacted Western Australia, with places such as Perth and Kalgoorlie registering their hottest November day on record.

Very hot conditions have been scorching the state over the past few days, with Perth registering its first four day spell over 35 degrees in November since 1933. On Saturday, a new November record was set as the city reached 40.4 degrees and the airport 41.1 degrees, eclipsing the previous record in 2003.

Other notable records (>40 years of records) to fall on Saturday included Wongan Hills (43.2 degrees) and Mullewa (43.5 degrees).

On Sunday, this heat shifted east across the state, breaking a record that has stood for more than 100 years at Kellerberrin, where it reached 44 degrees. Other notable records included 43.5 degrees at Merredin, 43.4 degrees at Meekatharra, 44.7 degrees at Kalgoorlie (including a record 26 degrees overnight) and 45 degrees at Salmon Gums.

Very hot conditions will persist over the next two days over the state (except the southwest), with temperatures reaching into the low-to-mid 40s, before a cold front flushes the heat out by Wednesday.

This will focus the hottest airmass over South Australia on Wednesday, with Adelaide forecast to break its hottest November day on record with a maximum temperature of 43 degrees. Strong dry and gusty northerly winds have also lead to early forecasts for catatrophic fire danger for the Lower Eyre Peninsula, York Peninsula, Mid North and Mount Lofty Ranges, with Severe to Extreme Fire Danger for the remainder of the state.

Image 1: OCF Forecast temperatures across Western Australia on Monday 18 November, 2019

Image 2: OCF Forecast temperatures across South Australia on Wednesday 20 November, 2019