South Australia experiences record-breaking winter temperatures two days in a row
Image credit: ECMWF/WeatherBELL
South Australia has set new winter temperature records for two consecutive days, with Oodnadatta reaching an unprecedented 39.4 °C (102.9 °F) on Saturday, August 24, 2024, surpassing the previous record of 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) set Friday, August 23.
South Australia broke its previous winter temperature record for the second consecutive day, with Oodnadatta recording an unprecedented 39.4 °C (102.9 °F) on Saturday. This new record surpassed the previous day’s high of 38.5 °C (101.3 °F), which had already exceeded the former winter temperature record by 2 °C (3.6 °F).
Typically, such records are exceeded by much smaller increments, making this 2 °C (3.6 °F) leap, followed by nearly another degree increase the next day, an extraordinary event.
Other towns in South Australia also experienced record-breaking temperatures during this unusual heatwave. Marree reached 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) on Saturday, surpassing its previous winter high of 34.9 °C (94.8 °F). Similarly, Roxby Downs set a new record at 36.1 °C (97 °F), overtaking its previous winter peak of 34.6 °C (94.3 °F).
These record-breaking temperatures have been attributed to an unusually hot air mass moving over Central Australia and northern South Australia. The heatwave is driven by a stream of northwesterly winds flowing between a low-pressure system centered over the Great Australian Bight and a high-pressure system positioned over Queensland.
While the extreme heat was expected to moderate starting Sunday, August 25, temperatures in Oodnadatta are still forecast to remain significantly above average. Sunday’s expected maximum of 32 °C (89.6 °F) in Oodnadatta, while lower than the record-setting highs, will still be 10 °C (18 °F) above the long-term August average of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F).
Extreme temperatures aren’t rare in Oodnadatta. It shares the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in Australia at 50.7 °C (123.3 °F), along with Onslow in Western Australia.
The heatwave’s impact was not limited to South Australia. On Saturday, minimum temperatures across large parts of the Northern Territory, northern Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland were reported as being 10 – 15 °C (18 – 27 °F) above average for this time of year.
Alice Springs in the Northern Territory recorded a minimum temperature of 20.9 °C (69.6 °F), 15 °C (27 °F) above the August average. Birdsville in Queensland experienced a minimum of 23.2 °C (73.8 °F), 14.4 °C (25.9 °F) above the monthly average, while Coober Pedy in South Australia recorded 19.3 °C (66.7 °F), 11.7 °C (21.1 °F) higher than the usual August minimum.
The hot air mass responsible for these temperatures is expected to persist, with temperatures above 35 °C (95 °F) forecast for the Northern Territory, northern South Australia, western New South Wales, and much of inland Queensland. While a cold front is anticipated to bring cooler conditions to much of South Australia starting Sunday, the heat is likely to continue affecting northern and eastern Australia into the new week.
References:
1 South Australia smashes winter heat record again – weatherzone – August 24, 2024
2 Australia’s unseasonal warmth this weekend – weatherzone – August 24, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules.