Extreme Heat Plaguing Western Australia

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

State College, Pa. - AccuWeather.com reports one month away from the official start of summer, much of western Australia is experiencing an early preview of the heat to come.

A strong area of high pressure overhead coupled with warm easterly winds have accelerated temperatures to several degrees above normal for the past few days with more warmth slated for the weekend.

According to data obtained by AccuWeather.com, the industrial port of Dampier reported temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) for each of the past three days and the more populous coastal city of Perth experienced above-average high temperatures for each of the past five days.

The peak of the current heat wave will arrive on Saturday. High pressure to the south will send hot air from the arid desert region of the east toward the coast and bring near-record temperatures to Perth.

AccuWeather.com meteorologists are forecasting a high of 92 degrees F (33 degrees C) for Saturday. Average high temperatures for Perth, even during the peak of summer heat in January and February, do not exceed 89 degrees F (31 degrees C).

By Sunday, the heat will temporarily relax as winds shift around to the southwest, forcing cooler air from the Indian Ocean into the area. Forecast high temperatures Sunday through Tuesday are near seasonal averages.

Unfortunately, computer models hint at an even stronger heat wave for the middle and end of next week as high pressure re-develops to the east and southeast winds return. High temperatures for Wednesday and Thursday of next week are again forecast to climb above 90 degrees F (32 degrees C).

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