As temperatures soared to a blistering 42.1°C, tens of thousands of West Australians made their way to the beaches on Christmas Day, seeking relief from the sweltering heat. Clad in festive attire, families and friends gathered by the water, narrowly avoiding breaking the record set in 2021 when Perth reached a scorching 42.8°C.
The city’s high was recorded around 3:30 p.m., while the lowest temperature dipped to just 24.8°C at 5 a.m., dodging the record for the highest minimum temperature. City Beach was packed early Thursday morning, with families in matching shirts and friends sharing food and drinks.
Beach Celebrations Amidst the Heat
Nick Slattery, who spent the morning at the beach with his family, shared their strategy for staying cool. “We will have a water pistol fight at the end of the day to really cool ourselves down,” he said. “We’ll have the water pistols but end up just having the hose on and then just a lot of ice and the air conditioning on full blast.”
Slattery’s family planned a traditional Christmas meal, starting with seafood and culminating in a homemade Christmas pudding. “It’s full scale,” he noted, highlighting his mother’s efforts in preparing the pudding since November.
Gráinne Arkins, spending her first summer Christmas in Perth with friends from Ireland and the UK, expressed her excitement. “It’s a bit different from a Christmas at home but yeah, it’ll be unreal,” she said. Despite the heat, she planned to enjoy a mix of Irish and Australian cuisine, including a big Irish breakfast followed by a barbecue dinner.
Alternative Spots for Cooling Off
While beaches were a popular choice, Matilda Bay also attracted families seeking shade and a chance to cool off in the Swan River. Russell Boulden and his family enjoyed the water as his children tested out a new paddleboard. “After the hot weather we’ve had, it’s bloody brilliant down here,” he remarked.
Elsewhere in Perth, temperatures exceeded 40°C, with Gooseberry Hill, Perth Airport, and the Swan Valley recording highs of 43°C, 42.8°C, and 41.4°C respectively. Meanwhile, other parts of Australia experienced varied weather conditions.
National Weather Variations
In stark contrast, Mount Wellington near Hobart, Tasmania, awoke to snow, delivering a white Christmas. The Central Midlands also received a dusting. Most mainland capitals enjoyed milder temperatures in the mid-twenties to early thirties, though Melbourne faced a cooler maximum of just 17°C.
For some regions, weather conditions were more extreme. The Cocos Islands experienced strong winds and heavy rain from Tropical Cyclone Grant, but conditions eased as the storm passed. In Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered a Christmas message after volunteering at a homelessness charity, emphasizing hope and unity in the face of recent tragedies.
“Christmas is a time of hope, hope over fear is what we need, bravery over cowardice, kindness over violence and togetherness over antisemitism and hate,” Albanese stated.
Looking Ahead: A Break from the Heat
Perth residents can anticipate some relief as temperatures are expected to drop to the high 20s for the remainder of the week, thanks to a cold front moving through the state’s south coast. The forecast for the coming days is as follows:
- Boxing Day: Shower or two clearing, 21°C – 25°C
- December 27: Mostly sunny, 13°C – 25°C
- December 28: Sunny, 15°C – 29°C
- December 29: Sunny, 16°C – 31°C
- December 30: Sunny, 15°C – 32°C
As Perth recovers from the heatwave, residents look forward to cooler days ahead, offering a respite from the extreme temperatures that marked this year’s Christmas celebrations.
