Western Australia's west coast, including Perth, is sweltering through the fourth day of a heatwave that could break the city's hot-weather-streak record.
Perth has experienced temperatures of above 40 degrees since Tuesday, with hot nights providing little relief.
Both Friday and Saturday were also forecast to reach 40 degrees, before dropping slightly to 37 on Sunday.
The heatwave could break a record for the most consecutive days over 40 degrees.
The record for consecutive days over 40 is four, reached only a few weeks ago in December 2021 and also in January 2016 and 1933.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has forecast heatwave conditions grading from low to extreme for an area from Carnarvon, through to Perth and Albany, until the end of the week.
It marks what has been an usual frequency of hot weather so far this summer, with eight individual days on or over 40 degrees in the city in the space of just seven weeks.
The previous record for an entire summer was seven days on or over 40 degrees in the summer of 2015/16.
The heat has not been isolated to Perth.
Last month, Geraldton recorded six consecutive days with maximum temperatures at 40 degrees or above, which was its longest such run in December.
What is causing it?
A heatwave is defined as three or more days with both maximum and minimum temperatures well above average.
BOM senior forecaster Dean Narramore said the conditions were being driven by persistent easterly winds, that have been baking in the desert heat.
"We're seeing a continuous of these really hot and gusty east-north-easterly winds, thanks to a pretty strong high pressure system in the Great Australian Bight," he said.
"And those easterlies are strong enough to keep the trough off-shore [of the west coast] allowing for no cool and relieving sea breezes."
Mr Narramore said the very hot weather, which generally lasted two-to-three days, was unusually long lasting.
"This high pressure system is strong, but also large and slow moving," he said.
"Usually it would moves quickly through southern Australia toward New Zealand.
"But because it's sitting south of the country for a number of days, it's leading to a prolonged event of easterlies."
Temperatures were set to ease from Monday.
Heatwaves can be deadly
Heatwaves are Australia's deadliest natural hazard, killing more people than bushfires, cyclones and floods.
According to the Department of Health, the main risks are dehydration, overheating and heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
This summer has already seen several severe-to-extreme heatwaves through the state, particularly in the Pilbara, where the town of Onslow last week equalled the Australian temperature record of 50.7 degrees.
Perth also sweltered through a heatwave during Christmas, which led to power blackouts across the metropolitan area.
Mr Narramore said heatwave conditions had been unusually prolonged so far this summer for WA.
