Geraldton set to see a repeat of 2021-22’s record breaking summer with high temperatures and heatwaves

Geraldton should prepare for another scorcher of a summer similar to last year’s sweltering season, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. It has reminded residents to take care this summer as it expects a hot summer similar to last year’s record breaking season, which included several heatwaves. According to the BOM’s climate outlook for the December-February period, Geraldton is 85 per cent likely to see the average temperature exceed the historical median of 30.3C. The chance of an unusually warm summer exceeding 31.6C is 39 per cent, while an unusually cool summer, less than 29.7C, has only a 2 per cent chance. Duty forecaster Jessica Lingard said the patterns coming into this summer were similar to what was seen last year, which was the hottest summer on record in Geraldton with an average heat of 34C between December and February, and 47.3C on Christmas Day — Geraldton’s second hottest day on record. Ms Lingard said she expected to see wind being blown from the Southern Ocean warming and drying up as it flows further north along the west coast, forming troughs which will be pushed inland by hotter winds from the northeast. The troughs are likely to be pushed over into the Geraldton area and sit over the region, which can lead to heatwaves when the warm air hangs around for days on end. “When that trough is there, it blocks sea breeze, you don’t get that cooling influence in the afternoon, you don’t get the evenings cooling down, you don’t get it cooling down over night either,” Ms Lingard said. When facing the heat, Ms Lingard said it was important to follow the Department of Health’s advice, such as drinking lots of water and staying indoors with a fan or air-con if possible, and to look out for others. “Heatwaves are one of the biggest natural disaster killers in Australia,” she said. “A lot of us are very lucky and have air-conditioners, but there are many who can’t afford them or don’t have them, who are sleeping rough on the streets, or are pregnant, old or are very young and just can’t handle the heat like the rest of us, so take care of each other and look out for your neighbours.”