The mercury nudged 50 degrees yesterday over parts of Gascoyne and the Central West, smashing heat records in towns over the region, and ranking in some of Australia’s hottest temperatures, reports Weatherzone.

The 49.9 degrees recorded at Carnarvon Airport yesterday was the world’s hottest day for this year and the warmest day in the country this summer.

It was also Australia’s second-hottest February day and the town’s warmest since records began in 1883.

About 100km to the south, Shark Bay Airport, which services the town of Denham, reached a maximum temperature of 49.8 degrees, making it a record for the community.

And the town of Geraldton in WA’s Central West was the third location in Australia yesterday to reach the 49-degree mark, with temperatures peaking at 49.3 degrees.

The heatwave has been caused by a west coast trough combining with easterly winds, which has brought hot air from central Australia.

Australia’s highest official temperature on record is 50.7 degrees which occurred in Onslow on January 13, 2022, and Oodnadatta on January 2, 1960.

WA is waking to more searing heat today. Perth can expect a top temperature of 43 degrees, with the city setting a new record for most 40-degree days in a month.

There is a warning of extreme fire danger for the region today.

Most other parts of the state will continue to swelter as the mercury rises to the high thirties or low forties.

Relief can be expected later in the week when temperatures are forecast to dip to the more tolerable low thirties.