Australia has recorded temperatures of 50°C just seven times previously, but this week could add one or more readings to that list, and possibly across two different days.

Extreme heat is forecast to impact northwestern parts of WA this Monday, February 3, and again this coming Friday, February 7. At this stage, Monday looks likeliest to produce a reading in the vicinity of 50 degrees.

The map below shows where the heat is likely to build up this afternoon, with the largest area of intense heat spanning an area including both the Gascoyne and Pilbara forecast districts.

Image: Heat map for Western Australia this Monday, February 3, 2025, with purple patches equating to areas where temps of 48°C or higher are predicted.

Then on Friday, the most intense area of heat is situated a little further north, located mainly within the Pilbara as well as parts of the Kimberley.

Image: Predicted WA maximum temperatures for Friday, February 7. Temps will likely reach 48°C along parts of the Pilbara coastline but there is always the chance of slightly hotter readings.

It was of course the Pilbara coastline that in January 2022 equalled Australia’s longstanding heat record, when Onslow matched the record of 50.7°C held by the SA outback town of Oodnadatta.

In descending order, the seven historical readings of 50°C or higher in Australia were:

• 50.7°C Onslow Airport (WA), January 2022
• 50.7°C Oodnadatta Airport (SA), January 1960
• 50.5°C Roebourne Aero (WA), January 2022
• 50.5°C Mardie (WA), January 2022
• 50.5°C Mardie (WA), February 1998
• 50.3°C Oodnadatta Airport (SA), January 1960
• 50.1°C Wilcannia Post Office (NSW), January 1939

What's causing this week extreme heat?

• A combination of relatively stagnant or slow-moving weather systems is allowing heat to build up.
• To the southwest of WA lies a strong high pressure system, which has been directing furnace-like air from Australia’s interior towards the WA coast for several days and will continue to do so.
• In waters off northwest WA, Tropical Cyclone Taliah (currently Category 2) is also playing a part by warming nearby areas of the atmosphere as it releases latent heat energy.

We'll keep you updated if any heat records are broken this Monday and throughout the week. Bear in mind that weather stations are few and far between in the areas where the hottest temps are expected, so it's possible that the 50-degree barrier will be exceeded without being recorded.

Meanwhile Australia’s hottest recorded maximum for 2025 currently stands at 49.3°C in Geraldton, which was the WA Central West city’s equal-hottest day on record, and an extreme temperature for somewhere just over 400km north of Perth.

Geraldton is heading for a much milder top of 33°C today, while Perth should reach 32°C – illustrating how this week's heat is concentrated in what traditionally is Australia’s hottest corner.