It’s official. Moree is one of the hottest towns in NSW after breaking the state record for the most number of consecutive days above 35 degrees.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Today, Moree made it to day 51 of top temperatures reaching 35 degrees or higher, breaking Bourke’s record set in 2012-13.
It was touch-and-go for a while, with Moree only just managing to reach 35.1 degrees just after 4pm.
“We just scraped through,” Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Neale Fraser said.
“At eight minutes past 4pm, it got to 35.1 briefly, so we’ve made it 51 days now.”
At the time of going to print, it was uncertain whether Mungindi had also broken the record.
If they have, Moree and Mungindi will be fighting it out to see which town will be the new record-holders.
Walgett was also looking like breaking the record, however was out of the running on Monday when it only reached a top of 33.
Based on the current forecast, Moree and Mungindi may end up sharing the title with temperatures set to remain above 35 until Sunday for both towns.
“It looks like we have three more days of it but finally, on Sunday it’ll be in the low 30s,” Mr Fraser said.
“Sunday and Monday will both be low 30s but then it starts again.”
Thursday is expected to reach 37 degrees, 39 is predicted for Friday and the temperature is set to climb back to the 40s on Saturday before a cool change comes through on Sunday with showers and a top of 33.
Monday is expected to be 34 before the temperature climbs back over the 35-degree mark with a maximum of 36 on Tuesday.
That means the new state record will be 54 days – just short of two months – in a row of maximum temperatures reaching at least 35 degrees.
The last time Moree has had a day below 35 degrees was Boxing Day, December 26, 2016.
Mr Fraser said it’s a big deal for a town to go for this long with temperatures above 35.
“It’s pretty big; it’s broken the record for the whole of NSW,” he said.
While Moree may have entered the record-books, the majority of people in the community have had enough of the endless heat.
“It’s ridiculous, it’s too hot,” local resident Charlie Shearer said.
“It’s been so hot, it’s gross,” Victoria Smith said.