Perth is set to swelter through a record-breaking Christmas Day, with forecasters predicting the city's warmest Christmas morning in more than a century. While a top of 41C will make it the hottest Christmas Day since 2001, an even more significant milestone is looming overnight.
A Century-Old Record Set to Fall
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a minimum temperature of 26 degrees Celsius for Christmas morning. If confirmed, this will officially break the existing record of 25.9C set way back in Christmas 1915 – a record that has stood for 110 years.
Bureau forecaster Jonathon Howe told 6PR radio that the city is in for an exceptionally hot start to the festive day. "That will challenge the current record set back in 1915," Mr Howe said. "So at this stage we are pretty much forecasting a record warm morning and the temperatures rising up above 40C."
Scorching Temperatures Across the State
The heat will build rapidly after dawn. By 9am, temperatures are expected to hit around 35C, soaring to approximately 40C by lunchtime. The mercury is tipped to peak at 41C in Perth, making it a day for staying cool indoors or seeking refuge at the beach.
Residents living inland will face even more intense conditions. Midland and Armadale are forecast to reach a scorching 43C, while coastal suburbs like Joondalup, Cottesloe, and Fremantle might see slightly milder temperatures between 38C and 39C.
The heatwave is not confined to Perth. Severe conditions are already impacting Western Australia's North West coast and are extending into the South West. Geraldton is expecting a blistering 43C on Christmas Day, though it will fall short of its record December high of 47.3C set on Christmas Day in 2021.
Heatwave Timeline and Relief in Sight
The festive heatwave begins on Tuesday, December 23rd, with a top of 36C. Christmas Eve will see temperatures climb to 39C, revised down from an earlier prediction of 40C.
Thankfully, a significant cooldown is expected on Boxing Day. The maximum temperature is forecast to drop to a much more comfortable 27C, offering welcome respite. The following days will see temperatures return to the early 30s.
It's worth noting that while the Christmas morning minimum is record-breaking for December 25th, it does not come close to Perth's all-time hottest night. That record is shared by two nights in February 1898 and February 1933, when the minimum temperature was a stifling 29.3C.
Perth Weather Forecast at a Glance:
- Tuesday: Sunny, 18-36C
- Christmas Eve: Sunny, 21-39C
- Christmas Day: Partly cloudy, 26-41C
- Boxing Day: Slight chance of rain, 21-27C
- Saturday: Sunny, 14-31C
Authorities are urging residents to take the extreme heat seriously, stay hydrated, check on vulnerable neighbours, and limit outdoor activity during the peak of the day.
