Key Takeaways
- Western Australia was the hottest place on Earth on Christmas Day, with temperatures reaching as high as 44C in some areas.
- The town of Geraldton was the hottest town on Earth on Christmas Day, with a temperature of 44C.
- Other WA towns, such as Roebourne, Bullsbrook, Lancelin, and Marble Bar, also made the top five hottest destinations on Christmas Day.
- The heat wave is expected to subside from Boxing Day onwards, with temperatures set to drop to the high 20s for the rest of the week.
- The weather varied across the rest of Australia, with some areas experiencing mild weather and others experiencing snow.
Introduction to the Heat Wave
Western Australia was officially the hottest place on Earth on Christmas Day, with one corner of the State breaking a 120-year record. The scorching heat led to tens of thousands of West Australians flocking to the beaches in search of relief from the soaring mercury. Temperatures in Perth reached a sizzling high of 42.1C, although this did not beat the previous Christmas Day record of 42.8C set in 2021. Despite this, some WA towns made temperature history, with Cape Leeuwin reaching a high of 39.6C and breaking a 120-year record for the highest maximum temperature in December.
Temperature Records Broken
The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that several WA towns broke temperature records on Christmas Day. Windy Harbour broke a 39-year record for the highest December maximum, with temperatures reaching 38C. Meanwhile, Geraldton won the title of the hottest town on Earth this Christmas, with a scorching temperature of 44C. Other WA towns, such as Roebourne, Bullsbrook, Lancelin, and Marble Bar, also landed spots in the top five hottest destinations, with temperatures reaching between 41.8C and 42.4C. Additionally, towns like Telfer, Gingin, Kariini, and Cunderdin made the global list with temperatures nearing 41C.
Comparison to the Rest of Australia
While Western Australia was experiencing a heat wave, the weather varied across the rest of the nation. Those in Mount Wellington near Hobart, Tasmania, woke up to a white Christmas, with snow falling over the region. In contrast, most of the mainland capital cities enjoyed mild weather, with temperatures in the mid-twenties to early thirties. Melbourne was an exception, with a maximum temperature of just 17C. The diverse weather conditions across Australia highlighted the country’s varied climate and geography.
Relief from the Heat
Fortunately for those in Western Australia, relief from the sweltering temperatures is expected from Boxing Day onwards. Temperatures are set to drop to the high 20s for the rest of the week, providing much-needed respite from the heat. The forecast for Perth shows a significant drop in temperature, with highs ranging from 25C to 35C throughout the week. This will come as a welcome relief to those who endured the blistering heat on Christmas Day.
Perth Forecast
The Perth forecast shows a promising week ahead, with temperatures set to remain mild. On Friday, the temperature is expected to range from 13C to 25C, with possible showers. The weekend is expected to be mostly sunny, with temperatures ranging from 13C to 24C on Saturday and 15C to 29C on Sunday. The rest of the week is expected to be sunny, with temperatures reaching highs of 32C on Monday and Tuesday, and 35C on Wednesday. This forecast will come as a welcome relief to those who endured the heat wave on Christmas Day.
