Australia swelters on its hottest day EVER with 45C highs as killer heatwave strikes – and it’s set to hit 50C – The Sun

AUSTRALIA has endured its hottest day EVER – and temperatures are set to reach a sweltering 50C this week.

The country – which is battling bush fires which have killed at least six people – experienced a new national average temperature of 40.9C (105.6F) yesterday.

That beats the previous record, set on January 7, 2013, of 40.3C.

And the extreme heatwave could blast another record this week with temperatures set to reach 50C in Riverland of South Australia – north east of Adelaide – on Thursday.

That heat could rival the country's current hottest ever temperature of 50.7 C (123.3F) recorded in Oodnadatta, South Australia on January 2, 1960.

However, it's the average maximum temperatures across the country which weather watchers are keeping an eye on.

That is the most accurate measure of a heatwave and the current heat in Australia is leaving everyone hot under the collar.

Cities such as Melbourne will be hit with almost 40C – which is around 20C above average.

Sydney’s west could see 46C on Saturday while the 43C forecast in Canberra could be the capital’s hottest ever temperature.

Sky Weather Channel meteorologist Tom Saunders said: “A record heatwave is developing across southern Australia.

“We’re expecting to break temperature records at dozens of locations across South Australia, the ACT, Victoria and New South Wales.”

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) climatologist Dr Blair Trewin said: “Australia’s warmest day on record occurred in January 2013, when the average maximum temperature across the continent was 40.3C.

“We’re closely monitoring the development and progression of this heat but, based on current forecasts, we could see that record broken this week.”

There are several danger days coming with elevated bushfire fears including in areas close to Sydney where blazes have destroyed homes and flames are licking the city’s fringe, reports News.com.au.

Last night, there were around 103 fires raging across the continent with 56 of them out-of-control.

High pressure systems working in tandem have been blamed for the deadly infernos, said Mr Saunders.

He said: “These three high pressure systems, on the east coast, west coast and South Coast, have created a cradle shape of high pressure that is leading to very hot air in the interior."

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