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South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland are currently experiencing a dramatic spike in temperatures, attributed to the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Luna combined with a high-pressure system over the Tasman Sea.
Adelaide endured its hottest night on record, with temperatures not falling below 34.1 degrees Celsius. Today, the heatwave is predicted to push temperatures dangerously close to 50 degrees in several states, potentially setting new records for maximum heat.
Let’s take a look at the standing record high temperatures across each state and territory.
New South Wales experienced its hottest day on January 11, 1939, when the mercury soared to 50.1 degrees at the Wilcannia Post Office.
This historical site is situated in Wilcannia, approximately a two-hour drive east of Broken Hill.
The ACT reported its hottest day on January 4, 2020, when Canberra recorded temperatures of almost 44 degrees.
Queensland’s hottest day on record was Christmas Eve in 1972, when Birdsville Police Station hit 49.5 degrees.
Located in the state’s deep south-west, right by the SA and NT borders, it sits near the edge of the Simpson Desert.
On February 7, 2009, Victoria sweltered through a record-breaking heatwave, with the highest temperature of 48.8 reported at Hopetoun Airport.
The airport is situated about four and a half hours north-west of Melbourne.
Tasmania has the coolest hottest day on record, which was reported at Scamander on January 30, 2009.
The small town is nestled on the state’s north-east coast, about a three-hour drive from Hobart.
On January 2, 1960, SA recorded its hottest day on record at Oodnadatta Airport, where temperatures surged to 50.7 degrees.
The airport is located south-west of the Simpson Desert, and just a few hours south of the NT border.
Onslow Airport also hit a record-breaking 50.7 degrees on January 13, 2022.
The airport is about 14 hours north of Perth and 11.5 hours south-west of Broome.
The NT has technically had two hottest days on record on January 1 and 2, 1960, when Finke Post Office sweltered through back-to-back 48.3 degree days.
The post office is about a four-hour drive south of Alice Springs and sits on the edge of the Simpson Desert.
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