Weather News

Record warmth arrives in tropics

Winter heat which affected the interior earlier this week, has made its way to the tropics and has broken records in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Gladstone and Rockhampton, in Queensland's Capricornia district, both reached 30 degrees on Thursday. This was Gladstone's warmest July day in 49 years of records and Rockhampton's warmest July day in 63 years.

Further north dry, gusty southwesterly winds also also led to Charters Towers having its warmest July day in 16 years of records, hitting 32 degrees. Nearby, Mingela also broke a July record with a 30-degree day, eight above average and four higher than the previous record in the site's 11 year history.

In the NT, a July record was broken at Centre Island, in the Gulf Country, where it got to 32 in gusty southerly winds.

In the WA Kimberley, maximum temperatures like in tropical Queensland and the NT, were generally three-to-eight above average. Kuri Bay reached 37, a July record.

During the next few days, dry southerlies will gradually cool down and bring day-time temperatures closer to average. However, nights will become cooler and drop below the norm.

- Weatherzone

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