Geraldton experienced equal-second hottest summer on record with 10 days above 40C in February alone

Geraldton has emerged from the scorching 2023-24 summer with sky-high electricity bills and faded beach towels to show for the second-warmest season on record. According to Bureau of Meteorology climatologist Yanhui Blockley Geraldton Airport recorded a summer mean maximum temperature of 33.9C this summer, making it the equal-second warmest summer on record alongside 2012-13. Ms Blockley said the warmest summer on record had a mean maximum temperature of 34C in 2021-22, when there were 23 days above 40C over December, January and February. This summer, Geraldton Airport recorded 12 days above 40C, with one in December, one in January and 10 in February. This was the equal second-highest number of 40C days in one month, and the highest since February 2013. The record is 13 days in February 1985. The December average daily maximum was 32.5C, while the mean minimum was 17.9C. In January, the mean maximum temperature was 31.7C, with a mean minimum of 19.3C. The hottest day in December was 40.9C on December 19, while January 31 stepped it up to 45.9C, but February took first place with a searing 49.3C on February 18. That day set a new record high temperature for Geraldton, beating the 47.7C set on January 9, 1954. Amid the sweltering heat, the coolest day Geraldton experienced was a mild 26.8C on February 4. The coldest summer on record in Geraldton was in 1950-51, when the mean maximum temperature was 28.9C. Geraldton wind lived up to its stereotype during summer, with the strongest wind gust recorded in February, measuring 76km/h.