Outback town among world’s hottest in ‘unheard of’ heat
Temperature records could tumble as a brutal heatwave continues – and with the heat sticking around, more records could be under threat.
A string of Australian towns have become some of the hottest places on earth as a brutal heatwave pushes inland temperatures towards 50C.
Thargomindah in the state’s southwest recorded its hottest January day since 2014 on Tuesday, hitting a top temperature of 46.4C.
Today, it’s forecast to soar to 49C – the equal fifth hottest day ever recorded in the state.
The highest ever temperature recorded in Queensland was 49.5C at Birdsville in 1972.
Fierce heat has also been gripping the nation’s southeast for days, pushing temperatures at Renmark, in South Australia’s Riverland region, to 49.6C.
Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said many towns across the nation experienced record-breaking heat, marking their hottest day ever.
“There’s some pretty longstanding records that have fallen,” he said.
The Victorian regional centre of Mildura hit a top of 48.6C, marking its hottest day on record.
It is a dubious honour, with Mildura mayor Ali Cupper describing the forecast conditions as “unheard of”.
“If you’re out in the heat, a couple of degrees can be the difference between life and death,” she said.
But as Queenslanders in western and southern areas are sweltering through a potentially record-breaking heatwave, a tropical low has dropped heavy rain across the north – triggering flash flooding and roof top evacuations.
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About six people requested evacuation from three properties along the Gilbert River in Einasleigh on Wednesday morning, according to the ABC.
Emergency services were also called to three people trapped on flooded cars near the north Queensland town of Greenvale at Expedition Creek.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said flooding caused by the tropical low system was likely to continue for several days.
It has issued several flood warnings across the state, including major flood warnings for the Lower Flinders River and Murray River, and moderate flood warnings for the Upper Flinders River, Herbert River, Cooper Creek and Eyre Creek.
