MEDIA RELEASE

50.5°C - W.A.'s Highest Ever Temperature

Mardie, about 100 km southwest of Karratha, yesterday registered a temperature of 50.5°C (122.9°F)* breaking the record for the highest temperature in Western Australia**. Forrest and Mundrabilla, on the Nullarbor previously held the record at 49.8°C (January 1979). Today's temperature was also the second highest confirmed official temperature ever recorded in Australia, just falling short of the 50.7°C at Oodnadatta in South Australia on 2 January 1960**.

Yesterday's record followed the temperature extremes at Nyang (49.4°C) on Monday, and Port Hedland (48.2°C) and Roebourne (49.1°C) on Wednesday.

Meteorologist Joe Courtney said that the recent extreme temperatures were a result of hot, dry winds from inland Australia continuing for some time.

* Note: Yesterday the maximum was read at 50.4°C. The official reading was recorded at 9 am this morning.
**Note: These temperatures are measured using standard instrumentation. Higher temperatures have been recorded prior to about 1910 using non-standard instrumentation. These included 50.7°C at Eucla (22 January 1906) and 53.1°C at Cloncurry (16 January 1889).

If you have any enquiries contact Joe Courtney in the Climate and Consultancy Section on 08 9263 2222.