Southwestern parts of Western Australia have sizzled so far this summer and the heat is set to return in the coming days. 

A recent cold front delivered a below average day for much of the region on Saturday. These cooler conditions will be short lived though, with warmth beginning to return on Sunday. A developing heat trough will build in the coming days, drawing a very hot airmass from the interior over the southwest. Even coastal locations will feel the heat with sea breezes being delayed most days, if they develop at all. 

In the next week, maximum temperatures are expected to peak in the high thirties and low forties (mostly seven to nine degrees above the monthly average) across large parts of the southwest. Along the coast of the Central West district in Geraldton, temperatures are set to pass 40 degrees for a least two days, most likely on Wednesday and Thursday. This bout of heat is not likely to be as intense as the previous spell earlier in February when it reached 44.7 degrees. 

Image: Surface temperatures during the afternoon of Saturday February 19th. Source: ECMWF HRES model

The heat will filter further south and Perth is likely warm to at least the high thirties each day next week from Tuesday onwards. Friday currently looks to be hottest day for the states capital with a forecast top of 40 degrees. This would be close to nine degrees above average and the third day to exceed 40 degrees so far this February.  

It will be a long week for those who don't enjoy the heat with no significant cold chance expected until the following week.