List of extreme temperatures in Australia
Onslow
Oodnadatta
Charlotte Pass
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.
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 |
| 50.0 °C (122.0 °F) | South Australia | Andamooka[3] | 29 January 2026 |
| Port Augusta[4] | 30 January 2026 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Shark Bay Airport | 18 February 2024 | ||
| South Australia | Marree Airport | 29 January 2026 | |
| 49.7 °C (121.5 °F) | New South Wales | Menindee | 10 January 1939 |
| Pooncarie[5] | 27 January 2026 | ||
| South Australia | Tarcoola | 30 January 2026 | |
| 49.6 °C (121.3 °F) | Moomba | 12 January 2013 | |
| Renmark Airport[6] | 27 January 2026 | ||
| Roxby Downs | 29 January 2026 | ||
| Woomera | 30 January 2026 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Geraldton | 20 January 2025 | ||
| South Australia | Ceduna[7] | 26 January 2026 | |
| Marree Airport | 30 January 2026 | ||
| 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 | |
| Whyalla | 2 January 1960 | ||
| Roxby Downs | 30 January 2026 | ||
| 49.3 °C (120.7 °F) | Western Australia | Moomba | 2 January 2014 |
| Marble Bar | 27 December 2018 | ||
| Queensland | Birdsville | 24 December 2019 | |
| Western Australia | Onslow | 14 January 2023 | |
| Marble Bar | 30 December 2023 | ||
| Geraldton Airport | 18 February 2024 | ||
| 20 January 2025 |
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).[8][9][10]
Highest temperatures for each state and territory
| Temperature[11] | 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 |
| 48.9 °C (120.0 °F) | Victoria | Hopetoun | 27 January 2026[12] |
| Walpeup | |||
| 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[11] | 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 |
Extreme temperatures for major Australian states and territories
| State | Highest maximum | Date | Location | Lowest minimum | Date | Location | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 50.1 °C (122.2 °F) | 11 January 1939 | Wilcannia | −23.0 °C (−9.4 °F) | 29 June 1994 | Charlotte Pass | 73.1 °C (131.6 °F) |
| Northern Territory | 48.3 °C (118.9 °F) | 1 January 1960 | Finke | −7.5 °C (18.5 °F) | 17 July 1976 | Alice Springs | 55.8 °C (100.4 °F) |
| 2 January 1960 | |||||||
| Queensland | 49.5 °C (121.1 °F) | 24 December 1972 | Birdsville | −10.6 °C (12.9 °F) | 23 June 1961 | Stanthorpe | 60.1 °C (108.2 °F) |
| 12 July 1965 | The Hermitage | ||||||
| South Australia | 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) | 2 January 1960 | Oodnadatta | −8.2 °C (17.2 °F) | 20 July 1976 | Yongala | 58.9 °C (106.0 °F) |
| Tasmania | 42.2 °C (108.0 °F) | 30 January 2009 | Scamander | −14.2 °C (6.4 °F) | 7 August 2020 | Liawenee | 56.4 °C (101.5 °F) |
| Victoria | 48.9 °C (120.0 °F) | 27 January 2026[12] | Hopetoun | −11.7 °C (10.9 °F) | 15 June 1965 | Omeo | 60.6 °C (109.1 °F) |
| Walpeup | 3 July 1970 | Falls Creek | |||||
| Western Australia | 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) | 13 January 2022 | Onslow[2] | −7.2 °C (19.0 °F) | 17 August 2008 | Eyre Bird Observatory | 57.9 °C (104.2 °F) |
Miscellaneous records
| Record | Temperature | State or territory | Location | Date recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest average monthly maximum temperature[13] | 41.5 °C (106.7 °F) | Western Australia | Marble Bar | December |
| Longest hot spell[13] | 160 days above 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) | 31 October 1923
to 7 April 1924 | ||
| Greatest diurnal temperature range[13] | 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) to 44.2 °C (111.6 °F) | Eyre Bird Observatory | 5 March 2008 | |
| Greatest overall temperature range[14] | −9.4 °C (15.1 °F) to 46.8 °C (116.2 °F) | Queensland | Mitchell | High: 19 January 1980
Low: 15 August 1979 |
| Highest Daily Minimum Temperature[15] | 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) | New South Wales | Wanaaring | 26 January 2019 |
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Source combines New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory into one group.
References
- ^ a b "Daily Extremes". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Birch, Laura (13 January 2022). "Onslow in the Pilbara reaches 50.7C, equalling Australia's hottest day on record". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Australia records first 50°C in four years". Weatherzone. 2026-01-29.
- ^ Meteorology, corporateName=Bureau of. "South Australia weather and warnings information". reg.bom.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2026-01-30. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
- ^ "Australia records first 50°C in four years". Weatherzone. 2026-01-29.
- ^ "Riverland town rises above 49C as SA premier aids boys who fainted in the heat". ABC News. 2026-01-27. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "'Heat dome' to shatter records as south-east soars to nearly 50C". ABC News. 2026-01-26. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ Townshend, Ian (24 December 2003). "Queensland to bake on Christmas Day". United States: ABC News. Archived from the original on 4 November 2009.
- ^ Trewin, Blair (December 1997). "Another look at Australia's record high temperature" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine. 46 (4): 251–256.
- ^ Smith, Bridie (14 September 2012). "Hottest temperature on earth revised". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Rainfall and Temperature Records". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ a b Miles, Daniel. "Victorian maximum temperature record broken as heatwave engulfs Australia". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "Climatic Extremes". Geoscience Australia. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Climate statistics for Australian locations". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ^ "Australian Daily Extremes Tables". Archived from the original on 2021-08-14. Retrieved 2025-09-14.