Most of Western Australia is being belted by a heatwave with temperatures rising well into the 30s, hotter than the summer average and rare for mid autumn. In the first 11 days of this month the west and south of the state has been running about seven degrees hotter than the April average. The most extreme heat has been in the Great Southern and Central Wheat Belt. Corrigin, Merredin and Narrogin have all been running eight degrees above the long-term average, averaging maximum temperatures in the low-to-mid thirties, hotter than an average summer week. It is also their hottest April week in half a century. Narrogin has had its hottest April week since 1928, averaging 31 degrees. Today was a fair bit hotter than predicted for parts of WA due to the low pressure trough moving just off the west and south coasts to keep sea breezes out. It will come as no surprise that many places are setting new daily heat records. Today was Merredin's hottest April day in 58 years of records, reaching 38 degrees, 13 above average. Today was the hottest April day in 70 years of records for Geraldton, reaching 40 degrees, 12 degrees above the April average. It was also the hottest April day in more than 15 years for Esperance (36 degrees) and Cunderdin (38 degrees). Perth reached 36 degrees for the second day in a row and has now hit 36 degrees four times this month, three more than the previous April record. The city has had its hottest start to April on record, averaging a maximum of 33 degrees for the first 11 days. Skies have been clearer-than-normal over the inland, offshore waters have been warmer-than-normal, and there have been a lack of strong cold fronts. The next few days will be cloudier with some rain thanks to moisture from Tropical Cyclone Victoria linking up with a front. As a result, Perth and much of the Southwest Land Division will become much cooler during the next few days. However, the front looks like being too weak to bring much rain or cooling to areas as far north as Geraldton. It is likely to keep heating up to the thirties each day until about this time next week.