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Australia Faces Record Heat and Unprecedented Cold Snap

12/2/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Extreme weather grips Australia as summer begins, with record heat in Western Australia and unprecedented cold in the southeast.
In Western Australia, Perth reached 39°C and Geraldton 42.2°C, the hottest start to summer and the highest since 1924.
A polar air mass drives the cold snap, while New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania stay up to 15°C below average and a bushfire burns in Western Australia.

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Story summary

Extreme weather grips Australia as summer begins, with record heat in Western Australia and unprecedented cold in the southeast.
In Western Australia, Perth reached 39°C and Geraldton 42.2°C, the hottest start to summer and the highest since 1924.
A polar air mass drives the cold snap, while New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania stay up to 15°C below average and a bushfire burns in Western Australia.