Temperatures are about to soar over northwestern Australia, and we should see the continent’s first 45ºC of the season by early next week.

A broad and stagnant area of low pressure over the northern inland of WA will allow hot air to build and intensify over the next several days.

Most forecast models suggest that temperatures will climb into the low-to-mid forties from this weekend, before possibly exceeding 45ºC this Sunday and on most days next week. The impending heat has prompted a Severe to Extreme heatwave warning for parts of WA’s north and Interior.

Image: Three-day heatwave outlook starting from this Sunday. Source: Bureau of Meteorology

This early-summer heatwave is expected to bring Australia’s first 45ºC temperature of the season after the country experienced an unusually mild spring.

The highest temperature in Australia during spring 2022 was 44.5ºC at Wyndham Airport on October 24. This was the lowest spring maximum temperature in Australia since 2011.

Image: Forecast daily maximum temperature on Monday, December 5, according to the ECMWF-HRES model.

Based on current forecasts, 45ºC is not likely to occur in Australia until December 4 or later this year. This would be Australia’s latest first 45ºC of the season since 1999, when it took until December 8 to first hit the mark.

Australia’s highest December temperature on record was 49.9ºC at Nullarbor in 2019. This record is unlikely to be challenged during this heatwave.