The Tamworth region has already smashed through one heat record this year, and is certain to set at least two more as we look to farewell the hottest month on record.
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Since Christmas Day the region has seen only one day below 35 degrees, while also registering a record streak of 26 days straight, six more than the previous record set in 2006, and then matched in 2013 and 2017.
We have also sweltered through six days of the mercury reaching the 40 degree mark this month, and are certain to mark a new January average maximum, which sits at 38.1 with three days remaining.
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That is up 2.2 degrees on the current record, set last year, and 5.4 degrees on the long-term average, although it is the average minimum temperatures that have really hurt residents, and tourists, as sleepless nights continue to mount up.
On Saturday night the region only dropped to 26.8, while the overall average is 21.7 in a month where the temperature has only fallen below 19 once, and only 29.6 mm of rain recorded.
Weatherzone meteorologist Scott Morris said that only a miracle could stop the average minimum and maximum temperatures reaching new heights for January.
“There has been a trough hanging over the region bringing hot winds in from the north west,” he said.
“There has been a blocking high pressure system off the east coast which has kept that trough sitting there for a long time, and allowed that heat to keep building.
“It looks like it is going to continue for a while too – maybe not above 40 but definitely hot summer heat.”
Those hot days are forecast to continue through to the weekend, with Wednesday and Thursday both to hit 37 before dropping to 33 on Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately the heat is expected to build again into next week and continue throughout February.
