Map of areas exceeding 40 °C on 27 December 2018, Australia’s warmest December day on record for maximum temperaturehe 

THE Bureau of Meteorology has released a special climate statment describing the high temperatures that began over much of Australia in early December 2018 and have continued into January 2018 as an unusual extended period of heatwaves.

For nationally averaged mean maximum temperature, Australia had its hottest December day on record (40.19 °C on the 27th) and second-hottest day for any month.

Highest daily maximum temperature on record for December or January for numerous locations including:

Marble Bar, Western Australia; 49.3 °C on 27 December
Thargomindah, Queensland; 47.2 °C on 20 December
Rabbit Flat, Northern Territory; 47.1 °C on 19 December
Ouyen, Victoria; 46.7 °C on 4 January
Woomera, South Australia; 46.2 °C on 28 December
Cobar, New South Wales; 45.5 °C on 20 December

It was Australia’s warmest December on record, with every State and Territory affected by heatwave conditions at some stage during the event.

The BOM notes the event is ongoing, with today’s statement covering the period up until 11 January.

To view the climate statement in full click here