Australia is once again experiencing temperature records.
It was over 50°C on Thursday in the northwest of the state of Western Australia.
This threshold was crossed at Onslow and constitutes a record for several reasons, as explained by Etienne Kapikian, forecaster at Météo France.
With 50.7°C precisely, this locality equals the level reached in 1960 in Oodnadatta, in the State of South Australia.
This is a record for all of Australia and therefore for the State of Western Australia.
But this is also the highest temperature recorded in the southern hemisphere as well as a world record for the month of January.
🔥🥵Absolute Australian national heat record🇦🇺 + absolute southern hemispheric record + January world record **matched** this Jan 13, 2022!
3 #WesternAustralia stations >50°C
🌡️50.7°C Onslow (=50.7°, 2 Jan 1960, Oodnadatta, South Australia)
🌡️50.5° Tuesday
🌡️50.5° Roebourne https://t.co/tOUWhD3jGB pic. twitter.com/hwV6fyHDOq
— Etienne Kapikian (@EKMeteo) January 13, 2022
Etienne Kapikian also notes that two other weather stations recorded more than 50°C on Thursday, while this time of year corresponds to summer in the southern hemisphere.
These are Mardie and Roebourne, where it was 50.5°C in both cases.
Argentina also concerned
Australia is not the only country in the south of the Earth currently experiencing sweltering heat that can become dangerous for humans.
In South America, Argentina is particularly concerned.
In a large part of the country it has been over 40°C for several days.
More than 42°C are expected this Friday in Buenos Aires, the capital, while some regions could experience temperatures above 45°C.
The heat wave continues in #Argentina and will increase again tomorrow Friday in the Buenos Aires region with more than 42°C possible.
More than 45°C possible a little further south according to ARW.
pic.twitter.com/S24z9xfNY2
— Keraunos (@KeraunosObs) January 13, 2022
Regarding these extreme heat waves, Climate Council director Martin Rice told AFP that the Australian record is part of a long-term trend of global warming induced by the burning of coal, oil and gas.
According to him, these extreme temperatures are already having “deadly catastrophic consequences”.
“Heat waves kill silently, they cause more deaths than any other extreme weather event.
»
