Temperatures set to soar on Christmas Day

Mid West locals are bracing to swelter through Christmas Day, with an updated forecast predicting the mercury will soar past 40C in most areas.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology on Tuesday, Geraldton can expect one of the hottest Christmas Days ever with a scorching maximum of 43C on Saturday, followed by another 43C day on Boxing Day. The record of 44C came on Christmas Day 1915, while most years have seen comparatively mild temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s.

Gascoyne Junction will be hottest of the Mid West-Gascoyne, forecast to reach 47C on Christmas Day, while four towns along the coast — Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Denham and Exmouth — will remain in the mid 30s.

Inland centres won’t be so lucky. Mullewa, Murchison and Morawa are expected to reach 45C, with temperatures dropping slightly the further east you go — Yalgoo with 44C, Mount Magnet 43C, and Meekatharra 42C.

Those heading down to Perth won’t find any reprieve, with the city expecting a top of 42C.