Parts of the Kimberely reached as hot as 39 degrees yesterday afternoon whilst much of Tasmania struggled into double digits. In this land of extreme size, it's hardly surprising that the weather can bring equally massive temperature differences across the continent, particularly at this time of year. Yesterday afternoon was the hottest in just over a month for most coastal parts of the Kimberley, with Bidyadanga reaching seven degrees above the May average to 39 degrees. Broome and Derby managed to get five degrees above average topping the afternoon at 37 and 38 degrees respectively. These temperatures in the high thirties during May are not particularly out of the ordinary for northern WA since Bidyadanga has reached 39 degrees in six of the last ten Mays. The reason for the lingering heat is largely due to a shift in seasons. Once the monsoon trough, present across northern Australia during the wet season, has shifted north, skies become especially clear of cloud and the air across the interior is able to heat under prolonged sunny days. At the same time of year the polar jet frequently pushes further north over southeastern Australia, directing cold fronts and air that originated closer to the pole across the south. The combination of heating in the north and active cold fronts across the south bring about these large temperature differences.