Perth to swelter through blistering summer heat as mercury nears records

Temperatures across WA have soared on Monday with the mercury in Geraldton exceeding an eye-watering 49C.

Temperatures have reached more than 45C in parts of the Perth metropolitan area while Geraldton Airport reached 49.3C just after 2pm.

That means it was the Mid West city’s equal hottest day on record, with 49.3C also recorded in February last year.

In Perth the temperature hit 42C at 1.20pm and Pearce recorded a temperature of 45.4C just before 3pm.

If Perth CBD’s temperature nudges the now forecast 44C, it could give the city’s hottest January day in a decade a run for its money.

The mercury reached a scorching 44.4C on January 5, 2015.

The only other time the temperature has surpassed the 44C mark this century was on Boxing Day 2007.

In other parts of the metro area, Swanbourne reached 43C just before 1.30pm and Gooseberry Hill reached 43.2C just before 3pm.

While Monday is set to be the hottest day of the week, the sweltering conditions will continue.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts temperatures between 38C and 41C through to Friday.

Minimum temperatures are also set to remain high throughout the week, with Monday night to possibly set the record for the highest minimum temperature on record, currently 29.7C set in 2014.

A heatwave warning has been called for more than half of the State, with the metropolitan area told to expect severe conditions.

There is also a high fire warning for much of the lower half of the State.

The bureau said the high temperatures were the result of a deepening west coast trough.

Bureau meteorologist Jessica Lingard said temperatures would remain high through this week with little reprieve over the nights.

“Usually what happens is they (the trough) form up, we have a hot day and then they move eastwards as our next ridge of high pressure arrives from the west and so you ride this roller coaster of temperatures of hotter days and then cooler days,” she said.

“But this week we are seeing this west coast trough getting stuck on the west coast — which does happen from time to time — and it is the reason that we tend to see most of our heat wave occurrences around Perth and the south-west of WA.”

Premier Roger Cook encouraged residents to lookout for each other and to stay in cool areas.

“Look, we’re all used to living in a hot environment here in Perth, but today is particularly hot, and it will continue to be hot over the course of the week,” he said.

“Please, everyone take the opportunity to keep yourself cool, to look after your vulnerable friends or relatives — check in on them, just make sure you’re doing everything you can.

“If you can, you know, get along to your local public library or your local shopping centre, take advantage of the air conditioning there.”

As the hot weather has ramped up this summer, so have the number of incidents of pets being locked in cars outside.

According to the RSPCA, 123 heat-related cruelty complaints have been made to the organisation since the beginning of December, including an incident of two dogs left in a car in 41C heat.

RSPCA inspector team leader Genna Haines said that it did not take long to cause irreversible harm to pets.

“Dog owners need to remember that regardless of whether you’re gone for just a short time of if the car is in the shade, the situation can turn deadly in a matter of minutes,” she said.

“Clearly, people are listening to the dangers but now it’s up to everyone to follow the advice and not bring their dogs to shopping centres, otherwise I’m afraid of what we might have to attend this week.

“Even on a mild day the temperature inside a parked car can climb to 60C in a very short space of time.”

Despite the hot weather gripping Perth, the State’s north has been dealt record rain due to lingering tropical cyclone Sean.

The category three cyclone brought more than 274mm of rain to Karratha in 24 hours.

The total surpassed the record by more than 60mm set in the town in 2006.

Ms Lingard said the cyclone was predicted to remain off the coast but could potentially intensify, before weakening as it moves south into cooler waters.

Mr Cook said that he understood there was still a high flood risk.

“We haven’t had reports of significant damage, but all our emergency services crews are on standby to assist anyone that does come into trouble,” he said.

“So today our focus will be on that on that point between Barrow Island, Onslow and Exmouth. They’re the danger spots today, but we’re not anticipating that cyclone to make to make landfall.

“Now we know cyclones are unpredictable, sometimes they do what they like, not what the Bureau of Meteorology predicts.

“So please, everyone, stay tuned to your emergency services outlets and make sure that you are doing everything you can to keep yourself safe.”