Australia sees hottest winter temperature on record, a brutal 107 degrees

It’s the back half of winter in Australia, but blistering heat more typical of summer has overtaken large parts of the country. The southern hemisphere continent observed its highest wintertime temperature ever observed Monday, soaring to 107 degrees (41.6 Celsius) in Yampi Sound on its desolate northwest coast.

The historic temperature came amid a prolonged and extensive winter heat wave which has produced records in both the north and south. Southern Australia endured its highest winter maximum temperature (101.3 degrees or 38.5 C) and its warmest overnight low (74.8 degrees or 23.8 C) over the weekend.

Multiple waves of abnormally warm weather have swept across Australia this month. During the most recent, daily average temperatures climbed to 25 degrees (14 Celsius) above normal in southeast Australia, while most other spots were at least 10 degrees (5 C) warmer than typical.

In northern Australia, at least six major climate sites observed temperatures of 104 degrees (40 C) or higher Monday. Northeast of Yampi Sound, a temperature of 104 degrees (40 C) was observed at the Bradshaw-Angallari Valley weather observing site, the highest on record during winter in Australia’s Northern Territory.

The sprawling and intense heat dome over Australia extended into Indonesia, also setting records across islands in the Timor and Java seas Monday.

Much of the month has been unusually toasty in Australia. Meteorologist Thomas Saunders noted that the forecast should allow Sydney to post an 11-day streak reaching at least 22 C (72 F), the longest on record in winter by three days.

“What’s really interesting about this warm stretch of weather is it is going to last for a long time,” Angus Hines of the Bureau of Meteorology told the Guardian.

Large parts of Australia are expected to remain warmer to much warmer than normal into early September as winter transitions to spring.

Persistent winter warmth has also led to a heightened fire risk in Australia, with high winds accompanying the hot and dry weather.

The latest blast of winter heat fits into a recent trend. The hottest Augusts in Australia have all occurred since 2000. Its previous record winter maximum was set in August 2020, when it reached 106.2 degrees (41.2 C).

Average winter temperatures have rapidly risen over the past century in Australia; spring, now on the doorstep, is the fastest warming season.

The heat in Australia is occurring as the planet has posted 14 consecutive record-warm months, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This year has high odds to be the planet’s warmest on record.

The global warmth is linked to human-caused climate change and a powerful El Niño event, which ended in June.

Other parts of the world are also experiencing extreme heat at the moment, including the eastern half of the United States, the Middle East, Asia and parts of Eastern Europe.