List of extreme temperatures in Australia

List of extreme temperatures in Australia is located in Australia
Onslow
Onslow
Oodnadatta
Oodnadatta
Charlotte Pass
Charlotte Pass
class=notpageimage|
Map of record temperatures

The highest temperature ever recorded in Australia is 50.7 °C (123.3 °F), which was recorded on 2 January 1960 at Oodnadatta, South Australia, and 13 January 2022 at Onslow, Western Australia. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Australia is −23.0 °C (−9.4 °F), at Charlotte Pass, New South Wales, on 29 June 1994.

Highest temperatures recorded in Australia

Temperature[1] State or territory Location Date recorded
50.7 °C (123.3 °F) South Australia Oodnadatta 2 January 1960
Western Australia Onslow[2] 13 January 2022
50.5 °C (122.9 °F) Western Australia Mardie Station[2] 19 February 1998
13 January 2022
Roebourne[2] 13 January 2022
50.3 °C (122.5 °F) South Australia Oodnadatta 3 January 1960
50.1 °C (122.2 °F) New South Wales Wilcannia 11 January 1939
49.9 °C (121.8 °F) South Australia Nullarbor 19 December 2019
Western Australia Carnarvon 18 February 2024
49.8 °C (121.6 °F) Western Australia Mundrabilla Station 3 January 1979
Forrest 13 January 1979
Emu Creek Station 21 February 1998
Eucla 19 December 2019
Western Australia Shark Bay Airport 18 February 2024
49.7 °C (121.5 °F) New South Wales Menindee 10 January 1939
49.6 °C (121.3 °F) South Australia Moomba 12 January 2013
49.5 °C (121.1 °F) Queensland Birdsville 24 December 1972
South Australia Port Augusta 24 January 2019
Western Australia Forrest 19 December 2019
Roebourne 31 December 2023
49.4 °C (120.9 °F) Queensland Birdsville 25 January 2024
Western Australia Emu Creek Station 16 February 1998
South Australia Marree 2 January 1960
South Australia Whyalla 2 January 1960
49.3 °C (120.7 °F) Queensland Birdsville 24 December 2019
Western Australia Marble Bar 30 December 2023
Western Australia Geraldton Airport 18 February 2024
Western Australia Marble Bar 27 December 2018
South Australia Moomba 2 January 2014


It was previously thought that the highest temperature in Australia was 53.1 °C (127.6 °F) in Cloncurry, Queensland, on 16 January 1889. This record has been removed by the Bureau of Meteorology though as it was measured using a non-standard temperature screen. It is believed that the temperature that day was most likely about 47 °C (117 °F).[3][4][5]

Highest temperatures for each state and territory

Temperature[6] State or territory Location Date recorded
50.7 °C (123.3 °F) South Australia Oodnadatta 2 January 1960
Western Australia Onslow[2] 13 January 2022
50.1 °C (122.2 °F) New South Wales[N 1] Wilcannia 11 January 1939
49.5 °C (121.1 °F) Queensland Birdsville 24 December 1972
48.8 °C (119.8 °F) Victoria Hopetoun 7 February 2009
48.3 °C (118.9 °F) Northern Territory Finke 1 January 1960
2 January 1960
42.2 °C (108.0 °F) Tasmania Scamander 30 January 2009

Lowest temperatures recorded in Australia

Temperature[1] State or territory Location Date recorded
−23.0 °C (−9.4 °F) New South Wales Charlotte Pass 29 June 1994
−20.6 °C (−5.1 °F) 14 August 1968
−19.6 °C (−3.3 °F) 20 July 2010
−19.0 °C (−2.2 °F) 30 June 1994
1 July 1994
16 August 2004
−18.0 °C (−0.4 °F) Perisher Valley 29 June 1994
Charlotte Pass 12 July 1998
−17.8 °C (0.0 °F) Kiandra 8 July 1960
10 August 1965
21 July 1966

Lowest temperatures for each state and territory

Temperature[6] State or territory Location Date recorded
−23.0 °C (−9.4 °F) New South Wales[N 1] Charlotte Pass 29 June 1994
−14.2 °C (6.4 °F) Tasmania Liawenee 7 August 2020
−11.7 °C (10.9 °F) Victoria Falls Creek 3 July 1970
Omeo 15 June 1965
−10.6 °C (12.9 °F) Queensland The Hermitage 12 July 1965
Stanthorpe 23 June 1961
−8.2 °C (17.2 °F) South Australia Yongala 20 July 1976
−7.5 °C (18.5 °F) Northern Territory Alice Springs 17 July 1976
−7.2 °C (19.0 °F) Western Australia Eyre Bird Observatory 17 August 2008

Miscellaneous records

Record Temperature State or territory Location Date recorded
Highest average monthly maximum temperature[7] 41.5 °C (106.7 °F) Western Australia Marble Bar December
Longest hot spell[7] 160 days above 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) 31 October 1923

to 7 April 1924

Greatest diurnal temperature range[7] 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) to 44.2 °C (111.6 °F) Eyre Bird Observatory 5 March 2008
Greatest overall temperature range[7] −8.3 °C (17.1 °F) to 47.8 °C (118.0 °F) New South Wales Richmond
Highest Daily Minimum Temperature[8] 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) New South Wales Wanaaring 26 January 2019

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Source combines New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory into one group.

References

  1. ^ a b "Daily Extremes". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Birch, Laura (13 January 2022). "Onslow in the Pilbara reaches 50.7C, equalling Australia's hottest day on record". ABC News. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  3. ^ Townshend, Ian (24 December 2003). "Queensland to bake on Christmas Day". ABC News. Archived from the original on 4 November 2009.
  4. ^ Trewin, Blair (December 1997). "Another look at Australia's record high temperature" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine. 46 (4): 251–256.
  5. ^ Smith, Bridie (14 September 2012). "Hottest temperature on earth revised". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Rainfall and Temperature Records". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d "Climatic Extremes". Geoscience Australia. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  8. ^ http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/extremes/daily_extremes.cgi?period=%2Fcgi-bin%2Fclimate%2Fextremes%2Fdaily_extremes.cgi&climtab=tmin_high&area=aus&year=2019&mon=1&day=26