Perth weather: 110-year-old record set to tumble in sweltering Christmas Day morning, heatwave starts

While everyone is talking about the sizzling 41C the mercury is tipped to peak at on Christmas Day in Perth, another milestone — be it an uncomfortable one — is also set to be achieved.

If the maximum reaches 41C, it will be the hottest Christmas Day in Perth since 2021, which was the city’s warmest ever at 42.8C.

However, another weather record is also set to tumble — if the minimum does not get below the forecast 26C, it will be the warmest Christmas morning on record.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathon Howe said it would beat a record set 110 years ago.

“That will challenge the current record set back in 1915 when Perth only dropped to 25.9C,” he told 6PR.

“So at this stage we are pretty much forecasting a record warm morning and the temperatures rising up above 40C ... It’ll be very much above average for Christmas Day.

“By 9am, it will be about 35C and by lunchtime we are expecting temperatures to be sitting around that 40C mark.”

But even an overnight 26C on Christmas Day would not beat the hottest night ever in Perth.

That record belongs to two nights — in February 1898 and February 1933 — when the minimum dipped to just 29.3C.

If you live inland, Christmas Day is expected to be even warmer.

“We’re expecting 43C from Midland and Armadale, a little bit cooler if you’re on the beach with Joondalup, Cottesloe and also Fremantle all looking at around 38C or 39C,” Mr Howe said.

“It will be a very, very hot day.”

Mr Howe said the heatwave conditions would also be felt in WA’s north and south.

“We’re already seeing severe heatwave conditions across parts of North West coast and are now extending down into the South West of the State,” he said.

Geraldton is expected to hit a scorching 43C on Christmas Day.

Geraldton’s hottest ever Christmas Day — and the record-holder for hottest December day — was set on December 25, 2021, when the mercury soared to a furnace-like 47.3C.

The heatwave starts on Tuesday with the temperature to reach 36C before hitting 39C on Christmas Eve, down from an earlier forecast of 40C.

Thankfully, there is relief on Boxing Day when the mercury tops out at 27C before it warms up again, with temperatures hovering in the early 30s.

PERTH WEATHER FORECAST

Tuesday: Sunny, 18-36

Christmas Eve: Sunny, 21-39

Christmas Day: Partly cloudy, 26-41

Boxing Day: Slight chance of rain, 21-27

Saturday: Sunny, 14-31

Sunday: Sunny, 15-31

Monday: Sunny, 16-32