Latest BoM stats show hottest January on record in Karratha

It’s been a hot start to the year for parts of the Pilbara which experienced record-breaking temperatures in January. The latest statistics from the Bureau of Meterology found Karratha, Pardoo Station and Thevenard Island all broke heat records with the highest January average daily maximum temperatures in their recorded history. The average daily maximum temperature in Karratha was 38.2C, breaking the previous record of 37.9C set in 2003. Pardoo Station just beat its previous record of 39.6C set in 2005, with an average daily maximum of 39.7. Thevenard Island also had a slight increase with a record of 35.5C beating its previous record of 35.4C set in 2013. Roebourne experienced the hottest day in WA during January, with a steamy 47.1C on the 14th. Karratha and Paraburdoo also had some of the warmest night- time temperatures for January. BoM noted several factors contributed to the heat, including a break in the monsoon period during much of January which led to less thunderstorm and rain activity and reduced cloud cover over northern areas, as well as the ocean near the Pilbara coast being around 2 to 3 degrees warmer than average, measuring up to 32C at the surface.