PERTH HOT, NOWHERE NEAR A RECORD, JUST HOT

It's hot in Perth and the ABC wants to make a big deal out of it:

Perth has recorded its second hottest Australia Day on record.

The mercury climbed to 41.2 degrees (106º F) just after 5pm AWDT.

That is the hottest January day for nine years, and the hottest Australia Day since 1979, when the temperature reached 42.6 degrees.

So, let's look at the record. December 2006's maximum average was a bit above normal. January has, so far, been pretty mild. The highest ever January maximum was 45.8º in 1991. Perth can expect at least one 40º day in January; the last 40º day was 11 January 2004. The record number of 40º days in January is four, occurring in 1961, 1965 and 1968. Looks like we're in the middle of a cool spell.