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Perth braces for 5-day stretch of scorching heat

A severe heatwave is impacting Perth, with daytime temperatures soaring into the mid to high 30s and possibly the longest stretch of hot December nights in decades.

This prolonged period of extreme heat is being caused by a stubborn high-pressure system in the Bight which is directing hot northeasterly winds from central Australia towards the west coast.

Consequently, severe heatwave conditions are forecast for the Lower West, including Perth, Central West, Central Wheatbelt, and Gascoyne districts, with temperatures reaching the mid 30s to low 40s in the coming days.

Image: Heatwave severity for the three days beginning on Tuesday, December 10. Source: BOM.

• Perth will see a run of five days in the mid to high 30s with the heat forecast to peak at 38°C on Wednesday, December 11.
• Night-time temperatures will also be warm for three consecutive nights from Wednesday, with the Bureau forecasting that the temperature won’t drop below 24°C. This would be the longest run of December nights at or above 24°C that the city has seen in 59 years.

Image: Image: Daily forecast on the Weatherzone app for Perth, WA, from Monday, December 9, to Saturday, December 14, 2024.

However, if a pleasant seabreeze, affectionately known by locals as the Fremantle Doctor, flows over the city during these days, the temperature most likely will cool below 24°C just before midnight. If we saw the minimum temperature stay at or above 23°C for three consecutive nights, it would be the longest stretch for December since 1972. 

Fortunately, there will be some relief on the weekend, with temperatures finally dropping into the 20s after a week-long stretch in the 30s.