Perth swelters ... and there's worse to come

as posted here

* Chalpat Sonti
* January 15, 2009 - 12:19PM

Parts of Perth could be headed for their hottest January day in 11 years tomorrow.

As the mercury begins its climb to an expected maximum of 38 degrees today, the maximum temperature tomorrow is predicted to hit 40 degrees for the first time since February last year.

However, weatherzone.com.au forecaster Martin Palmer said inland parts of the city, such as Gosnells and Armadale, could see temperatures hit 42 degrees.

If so, that would be just shy of the 42.6 degrees recorded in January 1998, the highest recorded temperature for the month in the city since a new weather station came into operation in 1992.

The all-time January high for Perth is 46 degrees recorded at the airport in 1991. The old Perth weather station, decommissioned in 1992, recorded 45.8 degrees the same day.

A combination of heat from the north and easterly winds were combining to push up the mercury in the city to levels being experienced further inland, Mr Palmer said.

But there would be relief from the heat on Saturday, with a cool change expected to drop temperatures down to the low 30s.

There was also a small chance of a storm on Sunday, with temperatures expected to remain in the low 30s next week.


as posted here