WA weather: Heatwave grips Perth as hazy conditions continue, temperature inversion and 40C days loom

Perth is bracing for another scorching stretch of weather as a stubborn heatwave prepares to hit, while bushfire smoke and a temperature inversion have led to hazy conditions expected to linger overnight.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Jess Lingard said an overnight inversion — where warmer air sits above cooler air near the surface — is acting “like a lid”, preventing air from mixing and allowing smoke to build.

Two bushfires burning on WA’s south coast are producing significant smoke, which is expected to be pushed north and spread across Perth overnight due to regional winds.

“Any smoke or pollution becomes trapped beneath that lid and spreads out,” Ms Lingard said.

“It’s not until the sun comes up in the morning that the inversion breaks down and conditions begin to clear.”

Residents with asthma or respiratory conditions are being urged to keep doors and windows closed overnight and into the early morning, with clearer conditions expected after about 8am on Tuesday morning.

The Bureau of Meterology has issued a severe heatwave warning for the South Interior, Central West and Lower West parts of WA.

Residents in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne and North Interior areas have also been issued an extreme heatwave warning.

Temperatures are forecast to soar across the metropolitan area, with sharp contrast between inland and coastal suburbs on Tuesday before conditions become more uniform mid-week.

Ellenbrook and Midland are set for 40-41C on Tuesday with Perth metropolitan areas expecting 39C.

“Fremantle, Scarborough, Cottesloe will be around 37C with the ocean helping bring a slight amount of relief,” Ms Lingard said.

“There is definitely an extreme difference for inland and coastal temperatures.”

More heat will continue across the metro on Wednesday with inland areas still experiencing intense heat.

“Inland areas will remain the hottest on Wednesday, with Ellenbrook reaching 38C.”

“Coastal suburbs will hover around 37C with similar conditions to Tuesday,” Ms Lingard added.

On Thursday hot conditions will persist across inland hot spots including Armadale, Kalamunda, Ellenbrook and Midland.

Relief is finally in sight by Friday, when a trough is forecast to move inland, dragging temperatures down into the high 20s and marking the official end of the heatwave.

PERTH WEATHER FORECAST

Monday: Sunny, 19-33 ☀️

Tuesday: Sunny, 22-37☀️

Wednesday: Sunny, 23-37 ☀️

Thursday: Sunny 22-24☀️

Friday: Sunny 18-27 ☀️

Saturday: Sunny 18-27 ☀️

Sunday: 17-26 ☀️