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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Environment
Lisa Cox, Petra Stock and Stephanie Convery

Heat records tumble in Victoria as authorities warn against complacency amid significant blazes

The sun rises over the Mallee town of Ouyen, Victoria. The Bureau of Meteorology will assess whether the town has set a state-wide heat record, after initial readings of 48.9C were recorded in nearby Hopetoun and Walpeup on Tuesday.
The sun rises over the Mallee town of Ouyen, Victoria. The Bureau of Meteorology will assess whether the town has set a state-wide heat record, after initial readings of 48.9C were recorded in nearby Hopetoun and Walpeup on Tuesday. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

Victoria may have sweltered through its hottest temperatures on record, with preliminary readings of 48.9C at two locations in the state’s north-west both higher than that recorded during 2009’s Black Saturday.

According to initial data recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology, the Mallee towns of Hopetoun and Walpeup reached 48.9C on Tuesday afternoon. This would exceed the previous highest temperature of 48.8C, recorded at Hopetoun on 7 February 2009.

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