Perth is set to be the hottest capital city in the nation on Christmas Day, with a maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius forecast.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BOM) first predictions for December 25, much of WA, including Perth is set to bake under very hot and sunny conditions.
Perth will be feeling that heat in the lead-up to Christmas with temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday tipped to reach the high 30s.
Meteorologist Jessica Lingard the said the heat will be driven by a new west coast trough, pushing warm north-easterly winds over western and southern parts of the state.
While it’s too early to call it a heatwave, Ms Lingard said there were signs of a low intensity heatwave creeping down the west coast early next week.
Perth’s beaches will be busy this festive season. (ABC News: Kenith Png)
“Folks in western and southern parts of the state know what these west coast troughs bring, it’s the hot weather and unfortunately it looks like that trough is going to be hanging around for Christmas Day as well,” she said.
Christmas Day forecast
With 39 degrees forecast, Perth looks set to be the warmest capital city in Australia on Christmas Day.
If it does reach the forecast maximum, it will be the hottest Christmas since 2021, when a record 42.8C was recorded.
“It looks like we probably won’t be breaking the record, but it’s definitely going to be up there in terms of hot Christmas days,” Ms Lingard said.
“And that’s for the metro site at Mount Lawley so that does mean that for folks in those more northern and eastern suburbs — Midland, Armadale, Ellenbrook — they’re likely to see top temperatures around 40 degrees.”
Ms Lingard does not think any temperature records will be broken. (ABC News: Tabarak Al Jrood)
Last Christmas was significantly cooler, with the mercury reaching only 22.9C.
But this summer is shaping up to be sizzler, with Perth recording it hottest ever start to the season at 39C on December 1, and temperatures already topping 40C in the first two weeks.
If a beach trip is on the cards, you may want to plan it after lunch when a westerly sea breeze could pick up.
“It will definitely be a hot morning with those north-easterly winds bringing down that heat, so likely to hit the hot temperatures fairly early on in the day and then fingers crossed that Freo Doctor (breeze) does its work through the afternoon,” she said.
Around the state
If you’re planning to escape the heat in the metro area, popular holiday destinations in the state’s south won’t be offering much reprieve.
In Perth’s closest regional city of Bunbury, Christmas Day is forecast to be sunny and 34C, while Busselton is predicted to peak at 36C.
Even the south coast isn’t looking any friendlier, with Pemberton tipped to reach a very hot 37C and Denmark getting to 35C.
“If I was to give you some advice of some cooler spots to go, perhaps Kalgoorlie-Boulder might be a choice for you with a top temperature [next] Thursday of just 34 degrees,” Ms Lingard said.
Pemberton is expecting a hot Christmas Day. (Supplied: Australia’s South West)
The Midwest and Central Wheatbelt districts are also set to sizzle under temperatures close to 40C.
Geraldton will see a big jump in temperatures in the lead up to Christmas Day, going from a top of 34C on Monday to a scorching 41C for Christmas Eve.
Rain offers little relief
Wet season conditions over the state’s north won’t offer relief from the heat.
“We are looking at some really hot temperatures in parts of the Gascoyne and Pilbara district, with temperatures for inland areas around 42 or 43 degrees,” Ms Lingard said.
“Unfortunately, that heat will be pushed all the way to the Pilbara coastline so it’s likely to be a really hot day for the folks in Karratha with a top temperature on Thursday of 39 degrees, while it could hit 40 degrees in Port Hedland.”
However, it will be cooler across parts of the Kimberley than it will in the metro area thanks to thunderstorm activity over the region.
The mercury is set to reach a mild 32C in Wyndham and Kununurra on Thursday with afternoon showers and storms predicted.
Broome is expecting a hot Christmas Day of 36 degrees. (ABC News: Erin Parke)
“There is a slightly warmer day on the forecast for Broome with a top of 36 degrees, but there is a chance of a shower and a thunderstorm through the afternoon and the evening, which might just help to make things feel a little bit better,” she said.
While the seven-day forecast gives a reasonable idea of the weather on the day, Ms Lingard says there is a still time for a change.
“It’s all going to come down to that west coast trough,” she said.
“If it decides to move inland a little earlier, we’ll be granted some reprieve with some slightly cooler temperatures, however, if it decides hang around the coast a little bit longer, there is even a chance it could go a little warmer for those on the western southern coastline.”
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