Western Australian town Carnarvon hottest place on earth as scorcher melts records

Carnarvon, Western Australia, where the world’s hottest temperature was recorded this year. Photo / 123rf

Residents in parts of Western Australia are expecting another scorching day of heat after recording-breaking temperatures left one town as the hottest place on Earth.

Perth is forecast to reach 43C on Monday and Geraldton in the Mid West is likely to peak at 46C, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Temperatures reached close to 50C in parts of the Gascoyne and the Mid West yesterday, ranking as some of the hottest temperatures recorded in Australia, according to Weatherzone.

Carnarvon, 900km north of the WA capital, soared to 49.9C, which was the world’s hottest temperature recorded this year and Australia’s highest recorded temperature for the summer.

It was the nation’s second-hottest February temperature on record and tied as the eighth-hottest temperature recorded in Australia.

About 100km south, Shark Bay Airport reached a maximum temperature of 49.8C, the third hottest February maximum temperature recorded in the nation.

Geraldton climbed to 49.3C, which was the hottest day on record for the town and the third time this month the weather station at the airport has climbed above 46C.

Perth yesterday reached 42.9C, marking the sixth day at or above 40C in February, which was a new monthly record, according to the bureau.

The previous record was four days in 1933, 1985 and 2016.

It was also Perth’s eighth day at or above 40C for the summer, which was the second-highest summer tally on record, with 13 days at or above 40C recorded during the summer of 2021-2022.

Severe-to-extreme heatwave conditions are expected to continue across much of the state in the coming days, easing mid-week in the south.

It comes as the Climate Council urges Australia to follow Spain’s lead and start naming heatwaves so people grasp how lethal and disruptive they can be.

Heatwaves are Australia’s deadliest natural hazard and climate change means they are now more frequent, more intense and last longer.

Climate Councillor Kate Charlesworth said heatwaves can be lethal and have claimed more Australian lives since 1890 than bushfires, cyclones, earthquakes, floods and severe storms combined.

“That’s often because people underestimate how deadly they can be, or overestimate their own ability to cope in extreme heat,” Charlesworth said.

“Naming heatwaves can raise more public awareness about the dangers, and drive home the urgency of our situation.”