WEATHER records could be smashed in some parts of the Central West this month with another heatwave expected to hit the region on Friday.
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Just when you thought the ‘average’ summer temperatures had returned to the region, forecasters say the heatwaves will return.
Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain said while the mercury in Forbes and Wellington was already in the early 40s, from Friday it will get hotter for others in the Central West.
Areas around Dubbo, Parkes and Young will reach the early 40s from Friday, while it will hover in the mid to high 30s for Bathurst, Lithgow, Mudgee and Orange.
“We could see one of the hottest January’s on record, given what we’ve seen already it’s a possibility,” Mr Brittain said.
“The amount of hot days in a row is unusual.
“In terms of recent years, there hasn’t been that type and length and intensity across the region.”
Mr Brittain said a number of factors had lead to such a long spell of very hot weather across the Central West so far during 2019.
These include, hot air masses over the centre of Australia that had not been moved on by cooler air currents, and the lack of storms and surrounding cloud cover in the tropics.
Mr Brittian said Dubbo was definitely on track to break records with maximum temperatures every day this month reaching above the long-term average of 33.3 degrees.
“The number of days that Dubbo had over 40 degrees was quite exceptional,” he said.
“They had eight days over 40 degrees, between January 13 and 20.
“It is unusual, but in 1939 there was a longer stretch of hot days with 10 days.”
During last week’s heatwave, we received a gallery of reader photos of pets beating the heat, while some Central West workers spoke about the best and worst jobs to have during a heatwave.