Adelaide’s mercury reached a record high of 46.6C yesterday, toppling a heat record from 1939.

The Bureau of Meteorology reports that West Terrace recorded the highest temperature in 80 years at 3.36pm.

The previous record was 46.1C.

ADELAIDE RECORD. West Terrace has just cracked 46.2C at 1:42pm, after 130 years of records, beating its previous record of 46.1 on 12 January 1939 #heatwave pic.twitter.com/dDgBLkKCma — Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) January 24, 2019

It wasn’t the only record that toppled as the fierce heat continued throughout South Australia.

Adelaide-based Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecaster Hilary Wilson told news.com.au several regions would see their records obliterated.

“We have very hot temperatures forecast that could see quite a number of records broken,” Ms Wilson predicted.

She wasn’t wrong.

The Advertiser reported twenty-eight suburbs and towns surpassed historic maximums, including Port Augusta, where the barometer reached a scorching 49.5C – the fourth-highest temperature recorded in SA – and Tarcoola, which broke its record for the second time in nine days, with 49.1C.

Other notable milestones for exceeding previous temperature records by more than 1.5C were Port Pirie (48.6C), Roseworthy (48.3C), Port Lincoln (48.3C), Edithburgh (47.9C), Kadina (47.9C), Kent Town (47.7C), Hindmarsh Island (46.8C), Stenhouse Bay (46.7C), Noarlunga (46.2C), Nuriootpa (46C) and Adelaide Airport (45.8C). Mt Lofty recorded its first day above 40C when the temperature reached 41.1C at 1.59pm. Its previous hottest day was 37.9C on January 28 last year.

Yesterday was likely to be the hottest ever across the state, with temperatures as much as 22C higher than average in places.

A cool change was expected to move across Adelaide about midnight last night and drop temperatures back to the high 20s and low 30s over the Australia Day long weekend.

Adelaidehad been forecast to hit 45C on Thursday, but went more than a degree higher just after lunchtime.

A Sky News forecast map shows those areas turning an ominous purple colour as the severe heatwave takes hold.

I could see why there’s less people in the train going to work. I think it’s unfair to work on a 43-45 degree weather in Adelaide. It should be a “no work” in this untolerable heat as I believe people can’t function and work properly when it’s too hot #unfair #shouldbenowork — Joyce Karen Landaos (@JkarenisLove) January 23, 2019

45 degrees today in Adelaide. The weather should never ever be higher than your age once your over 40 otherwise you should be able to stay home on full pay. Stay cool twitter family. 😎 — Paul (@thesidewayseye) January 23, 2019

Weather watchers from the Higgins Storm Chasing group told their 780,000 Facebook followers that conditions today were like a “blast furnace” and that “Black Saturday comes to mind when you think of this kind of heat”.

“While some people may think this is just Summer ... its far from it,” the group wrote.

Took the pup for a cooling bath to escape the #Adelaide heat. Look after all your pets in this weather. Lots of water and keep them inside in the cool if you can. @theTiser @G_Polychronis pic.twitter.com/QG6noLU2wE — Tim Dornin (@TimDornin) January 23, 2019

Don't want to be the jerk that tweets about the weather, but it's going to be 45 degrees celsius in Adelaide today, so..... please keep me in your thoughts. — Meg Eowyn Madden (@megeowyn) January 23, 2019

SA Health chief medical officer Paddy Phillips said the heatwave will be worse than last week’s, when some parts of the state recorded four days above 40C.

“In last week’s heatwave we saw 69 people present to hospitals across the state with heat-related conditions and 31 of those were admitted,” Prof Phillips said.

The South Australian Ambulance Service reported 39 heat-related call-outs between 8am and 2pm. Of those, 16 patients were taken to hospital.

Forecaster Ms Wilson reckons there’s relief in sight.

“For Adelaide, a southwesterly wind change will move through around midnight and temperatures should be cooler [today],” she said.

The Australia Day weekend should see temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s.

Victorians sweated through another hot day yesterday but it will be even hotter today.

Melbourne is forecast to climb past 40C.

Overnight, temperatures won’t drop below 29C, making it the hottest night of the year so far, before a high of 43C tomorrow.

“The overnight minimum temperatures are nothing short of oppressive unfortunately,” the BOM’s Richard Russell said.

Severe #heatwave conditions set to place the state under stress. Maree & Oak Valley set to bake at forecast 47°C, with the majority of the SA population in the 40°C plus range today. #Adelaide expecting 40°C, some regional centres even hotter, Port Augusta 45°C @SA_SES @SAHealth pic.twitter.com/g35xGvSToz — Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) January 23, 2019

A cool change is expected late on Friday but it will bring with it wind gusts upwards of 80km/h and increased risk of fire. Thunderstorms are also expected.

Around Victoria, it will be even hotter. In Mildura, in northwest Victoria, temperatures are expected to reach 44C today and 46C tomorrow.

Around the country, the warm weather is continuing after the hottest December on record.

Hobart can expect a top of 27C ahead of 36C tomorrow.

In Canberra, temperatures will reach 33C today and stay hot for the next week. It will be 38C tomorrow and 39C on Australia Day.

Sydney’shottest day of the week will be Saturday, when the mercury hits 32C. Today will be 25C and tomorrow showers should clear for a top of 29C.

Brisbane’s run of sunny summer days continues with highs of around 33C including on Australia Day and Darwin will reach 33C on the weekend.

Perth is experiencing dreary conditions that will clear for a run of hot weather next week. Australia Day in the west will be a pleasant 31C.

— with AAP

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