Temperatures have exceeded 45°C in parts of the country during the first day of autumn, with the Northern Territory’s autumn record falling as a heatwave continues. 

A severe to extreme heatwave is affecting the northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and western Queensland, while easing over northeast South Australia. As we wrote earlier this week, this heatwave is coming at the start of autumn rather than summer, challenging and breaking seasonal records across these states and territories. 

Image: Heatwave severity forecast for the first three days of next week, according to BoM. 

Yulara, near Uluru, broke the Northern Territory’s record for the hottest autumn day on Saturday, climbing to a stifling 45.3°C. This beat the previous record set in March 2019 at Curtin Springs, when it reached 45.0°C 

Oodnadatta (SA) experienced its hottest March day in the last 75 years of records, with a minimum of 28°C and a maximum of 46.1°C. This makes it the equal second hottest day recorded in autumn across South Australia, only beaten by the 46.5°C in Cook in 1986. 

Some other standouts were Birdsville (Qld) with a minimum of 29.8°C and a maximum of 46.4°C, its hottest autumn day in 10 years. Paraburdoo (WA) recorded 45.2°C yesterday, 8°C above the average for March. 

Another extremely hot day is expected today, with temperatures exceeding 44°C in most of the western and northern areas of Australia. Temperatures between 46-48°C are possible in some parts of northwestern Western Australia. 

Image: Forecast maximum temperature on Sunday, March 2, 2025, according to ECMWF. 

Looking ahead, the extreme to severe heatwave is expected to continue throughout the week. Stay cool, and be sure to check the forecast for your region.