This WA town just topped 50℃ – a dangerous temperature many Australians will have to get used to

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 05:42:00 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/this-wa-town-just-topped-50-a-dangerous-temperature-many-australians-will-have-to-get-used-to-174909>

"While Australians are used to summer heat, most of us only have to endure the
occasional day over 40℃.

Yesterday though, the temperature peaked at 50.7℃ in Onslow, a small Western
Australian town around 100km from Exmouth.

Remarkably, the town sits right next to the ocean, which usually provides
cooling. By contrast, the infamously hot WA town of Marble Bar has only reached
49.6℃ this summer, despite its inland location.

If confirmed, the Onslow temperature would equal Australia’s hottest on record
set in Oodnadatta, South Australia, in January 1960. It would also mark only
the fourth day over 50℃ for an Australian location since reliable observations
began.

Unfortunately, this extreme heat is becoming more common as the world heats up.
The number of days over 50℃ has doubled since the 1980s. These dangerous
temperatures are now being recorded more often – not just in Australia but in
cities in Pakistan, India and the Persian Gulf. This poses real threats to the
health of people enduring them."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

Comment via email

Home E-Mail Sponsors Index Search About Us