A hot air mass is causing Severe to Extreme fire danger ratings in parts of WA this week, as Perth continues to endure relentless and record-breaking summer heat.

While parts of eastern Australia are on flood watch this week and the tropics are preparing for potential tropical cyclone activity, the country’s west is baking in intense heat.

On Monday, Gascoyne Junction and Mardie both reached 45ºC. This was followed up by 43ºC at Meekatharra and Mount Magnet on Tuesday and another 45ºC at Wiluna Airport on Wednesday.

As the week continues, temperatures are likely to keep hitting 44 to 45ºC in parts of the Pilbara and Gascoyne districts from Friday into the weekend. This heat, combined with dry air and gusty winds, will cause to Severe and Extreme fire danger ratings in some parts of the state.

Image: Forecast fire danger ratings on Thursday, February 24.

While Perth won’t be as hot as the state’s northwest in the coming days, this week is still hot enough to break a record in the city.

After reaching 35.4ºC shortly before 3pm on Thursday, Perth has now had 32 days at or above 35ºC so far this season. This is a new record for summer, beating the city’s previous record of 31 days in the summer of 1977/78.

Perth has also had 13 days at or above 40ºC so far this summer, nearly doubling the old record of seven days from 2015/16.

Image: Observed heat records in Perth so far this season, as of February 24.

Unsurprisingly, Perth is also on track to set a new summer record for the city’s average maximum temperature throughout the season.