Sydney Airport Hits Record Heat of 38.2°C Amid Spring Heatwave

On Wednesday, Sydney Airport reached a scorching 38.2°C, briefly making it the hottest place on the planet at 12:15 PM.

The city and surrounding regions in eastern New South Wales are currently enduring a severe spring heatwave, prompting power alerts urging residents to “turn off their dishwashers” to conserve energy.

By 10 AM, temperatures in Sydney’s suburbs had already soared past 30°C, with Richmond recording 34.7°C, Sydney Airport at 34.5°C, and Penrith at 34.2°C. The heat intensified as Penrith climbed to 36.5°C by 11 AM, leading to the record temperature at the airport just after noon.

Meteorologists attribute this extreme heat to a low-pressure trough over eastern Australia that is channeling warm air into the region. Additionally, the urban heat island effect, combined with the foehn effect, has contributed to the Sydney Basin’s elevated temperatures compared to central eastern NSW.