Parts of the Pilbara have sweltered through their hottest day on record with the temperature hitting 50C.
The mercury in Roebourne soared to its new high just before 12.30pm on Thursday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The previous record for the town was 49.4C in December 2011.
Karratha reached 48.4C to exceed its previous high of 48.2C.
WA’s highest temperature on record is 50.5C, posted in February 1998 in the tiny Pilbara outpost of Mardie. On Thursday, the mercury there climbed to 48.4C.
Karratha local and mum-of-four Karen Hancock told 96FM she was “literally living the floor is lava.”
“It’s aircon house to aircon car, to aircon shops to aircon everywhere,” she said.
“It’s dark, the blinds are down. The kids are chuffed as no one is being asked to switch off their games and play outside.
“Gin o’clock will be sooner than later.”
The scorching heat is expected to somewhat ease in Roebourne and Karratha on Friday but another 49C day is forecast further down the coast in Onslow.
Temperatures were also well into the 40s in parts of the Goldfields and Gascoyne regions.
Meanwhile, Perth was 26C.
A severe weather warning has meanwhile been issued for people in parts of the far-north Kimberley region, including Kununurra and Wyndham.
The bureau said a deep tropical low was set to move across the border from the Northern Territory, bringing heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding.
Damaging wind gusts up to 100km/h are anticipated from Thursday afternoon.
