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Data as of 2026-10-12
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Built 2026-10-14 (14 October 2026)

Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020

Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020: 460 records at 186 stations, peak on 31 January 2020. Closed.

Data as of . Last revised (2026-10-12).

Key Facts

  • Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020 set or tied 460 station records at 186 stations.
  • It ran from 14 January 2020 to 5 February 2020 (23 days) and its peak day was 31 January 2020.
  • Status: closed.
  • Richmond Post Office set a daily record high minimum temperature of 29.7 C (85.5 F) on 21 January 2020.
  • The busiest day was 31 January 2020 with 102 records.
  • The oldest broken record in the ranked list had stood for 117 years.

Footprint

14 January to 5 February 2020
Footprint of Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020 The area covered by Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020 is outlined, with 20 of the stations that set records marked, coloured by record type.
The area covered by Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020 is outlined, with 20 of the stations that set records marked, coloured by record type. Made with Natural Earth.
Footprint of Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020: stations that set records in the event
StationTypeValueDate
Richmond Post OfficeRecord high minimum temperature29.7 C (85.5 F)2020-01-21
East Sale AirportRecord high minimum temperature23.5 C (74.3 F)2020-02-01
Canberra ForestryRecord high minimum temperature25.5 C (77.9 F)2020-02-01
Taralga Post OfficeRecord high minimum temperature25.7 C (78.3 F)2020-02-02
Cabramurra SmheaRecord high minimum temperature22.5 C (72.5 F)2020-01-31
Oberon (Springbank)Record high minimum temperature23.1 C (73.6 F)2020-02-02
Wagga Wagga AMORecord high minimum temperature29.7 C (85.5 F)2020-02-01
Brewarrina HospitalRecord high minimum temperature32.2 C (90.0 F)2020-01-31
Bombala (Therry Street)Record high maximum temperature41.5 C (106.7 F)2020-01-31
Broken Hill Airport AWSRecord high minimum temperature32.1 C (89.8 F)2020-02-01
Bathurst Agricultural StationRecord high minimum temperature24.2 C (75.6 F)2020-02-01
Cairns Post OfficeRecord high maximum temperature37.5 C (99.5 F)2020-01-18
Mount BarkerRecord high minimum temperature27.0 C (80.6 F)2020-01-31
Maatsuyker Island LighthouseRecord high maximum temperature34.1 C (93.4 F)2020-01-31
MeningieRecord high minimum temperature28.2 C (82.8 F)2020-01-31
Grenfell (Quondong Rd)Record high minimum temperature32.1 C (89.8 F)2020-02-01
Trangie Research Station AWSRecord high minimum temperature32.1 C (89.8 F)2020-02-01
Coonabarabran (Namoi Street)Record high minimum temperature26.6 C (79.9 F)2020-02-01
Burrinjuck DamRecord high minimum temperature28.6 C (83.5 F)2020-02-02
Rockhampton AeroRecord high minimum temperature27.4 C (81.3 F)2020-01-21

Records per Day

Peak day 102
Records per day during Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020 Records set or tied each day from 14 January 2020 to 5 February 2020. The most in one day was 102 on 31 January 2020. 0 30 60 90 120 01-1401-1701-2001-2301-2601-2902-0102-04
Records set or tied each day from 14 January 2020 to 5 February 2020. The most in one day was 102 on 31 January 2020.
Records per day during Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020
DateRecords
2020-01-143
2020-01-157
2020-01-1610
2020-01-177
2020-01-1818
2020-01-1915
2020-01-2017
2020-01-2110
2020-01-2213
2020-01-2321
2020-01-2426
2020-01-256
2020-01-263
2020-01-272
2020-01-283
2020-01-2922
2020-01-3042
2020-01-31102
2020-02-0185
2020-02-0228
2020-02-0314
2020-02-043
2020-02-053

Top Records by Margin

Margin over the record replaced
Top records of Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020 ranked by margin
Broken Hill Airport AWS, 02-017.4 C (13.3 F)
Meningie, 01-315.4 C (9.7 F)
Trangie Research Station AWS, 02-015.1 C (9.2 F)
Mount Barker, 01-314.8 C (8.6 F)
Rockhampton Aero, 01-212.4 C (4.3 F)
Grenfell (Quondong Rd), 02-012.0 C (3.6 F)
Richmond Post Office, 01-211.8 C (3.2 F)
Burrinjuck Dam, 02-021.8 C (3.2 F)
Coonabarabran (Namoi Street), 02-011.6 C (2.9 F)
Taralga Post Office, 02-021.5 C (2.7 F)
Oberon (Springbank), 02-021.4 C (2.5 F)
Cabramurra Smhea, 01-311.3 C (2.3 F)
Canberra Forestry, 02-011.2 C (2.2 F)
Bathurst Agricultural Station, 02-011.2 C (2.2 F)
Wagga Wagga AMO, 02-011.1 C (2.0 F)

Margin is how far the new value is beyond the record it replaced. Ties are not shown.

Margin Against Age of the Broken Record

Margin against age of the broken record in Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020 460 records plotted by how far they beat the old record (across) and how many years the old record had stood (up). Long standing records beaten by a wide margin sit in the top right. 0 30 60 90 120 0.02.04.06.08.0 Margin (C) Years the old record stood
460 records plotted by how far they beat the old record (across) and how many years the old record had stood (up). Long standing records beaten by a wide margin sit in the top right.
Margin against age of the broken record in Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020
Margin (C)Years the old record stood
1.8117
0.658
1.246
1.546
1.446
1.351
1.176
0.553
0.851
7.460
1.237
0.884
4.860
0.860
5.452
2.019
5.146
1.646
1.810
2.440
0.280
5.252
2.752
0.776
2.846
1.810
2.538
2.71
0.352
0.958
0.376
1.168
1.260
0.219
1.311
1.613
3.352
4.540
1.30
2.652
0.346
1.33
0.610
3.952
3.350
0.714
0.762
2.221
0.461
0.83
2.946
0.852
1.545
2.552
1.752
0.60
2.328
0.260
3.352
0.62
0.30
2.052
0.60
0.71
2.945
3.152
0.252
0.152
2.728
0.848
2.352
0.21
1.952
0.51
4.436
1.645
0.430
1.640
2.256
1.432
0.261
1.744
0.260
2.246
0.953
4.318
2.340
1.552
1.522
1.052
1.852
2.252
2.452
4.726
1.748
1.352
0.448
2.912
0.940
0.226
1.244
1.442
0.252
1.552
1.652
2.836
4.336
1.745
1.352
5.19
1.152
0.442
1.152
1.246
2.536
0.653
0.653
0.640
2.742
1.346
1.910
0.722
1.152
0.752
1.552
3.332
1.445
2.525
0.849
0.252
0.548
0.540
0.250
3.321
0.450
1.040
0.746
0.846
0.852
4.313
0.946
2.038
1.828
0.546
0.446
0.746
0.646
1.540
0.652
0.152
0.552
3.136
0.150
0.252
0.452
0.449
1.928
0.441
0.540
0.340
2.014
0.152
0.744
2.82
1.928
0.840
1.740
0.252
0.641
2.726
1.930
1.124
0.56
5.38
1.812
1.332
0.336
1.728
1.138
2.532
1.138
0.146
1.810
1.038
0.78
0.541
1.12
0.410
1.111
3.78
0.445
5.026
6.79
1.412
1.028
0.340
0.340
1.725
0.728
0.340

Compared With Other Events

Station records per event
Station records in Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020 compared with similar events
Heat wave in United States and Mexico, 16 January to 14 February 20249,869 records
Heat wave in United States, 28 January to 24 February 20266,528 records
Heat wave in United States and Mexico, 24 May to 19 June 20205,047 records
Heat wave in United States and Mexico, 26 March to 17 April 20213,669 records
Heat wave in Germany and 49 other countries, 18 December 2021 to 15 January 20223,626 records
Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020 (this event)460 records

Every Record Set

20 of 460
Every record set or tied during Heat wave in Australia, 14 January to 5 February 2020, in date order
DateStationRecordValueMarginYears stoodSignificance
2020-01-18Cairns Post OfficeRecord high maximum temperature37.5 C (99.5 F)0.8 C (1.4 F)8438 of 100 (Notable)
2020-01-21Richmond Post OfficeRecord high minimum temperature29.7 C (85.5 F)1.8 C (3.2 F)11747 of 100 (Notable)
2020-01-21Rockhampton AeroRecord high minimum temperature27.4 C (81.3 F)2.4 C (4.3 F)4033 of 100 (Routine)
2020-01-31Cabramurra SmheaRecord high minimum temperature22.5 C (72.5 F)1.3 C (2.3 F)5143 of 100 (Notable)
2020-01-31Brewarrina HospitalRecord high minimum temperature32.2 C (90.0 F)0.5 C (0.9 F)5341 of 100 (Notable)
2020-01-31Bombala (Therry Street)Record high maximum temperature41.5 C (106.7 F)0.8 C (1.4 F)5141 of 100 (Notable)
2020-01-31Mount BarkerRecord high minimum temperature27.0 C (80.6 F)4.8 C (8.6 F)6037 of 100 (Notable)
2020-01-31Maatsuyker Island LighthouseRecord high maximum temperature34.1 C (93.4 F)0.8 C (1.4 F)6036 of 100 (Notable)
2020-01-31MeningieRecord high minimum temperature28.2 C (82.8 F)5.4 C (9.7 F)5235 of 100 (Notable)
2020-02-01East Sale AirportRecord high minimum temperature23.5 C (74.3 F)0.6 C (1.1 F)5845 of 100 (Notable)
2020-02-01Canberra ForestryRecord high minimum temperature25.5 C (77.9 F)1.2 C (2.2 F)4644 of 100 (Notable)
2020-02-01Wagga Wagga AMORecord high minimum temperature29.7 C (85.5 F)1.1 C (2.0 F)7642 of 100 (Notable)
2020-02-01Broken Hill Airport AWSRecord high minimum temperature32.1 C (89.8 F)7.4 C (13.3 F)6040 of 100 (Notable)
2020-02-01Bathurst Agricultural StationRecord high minimum temperature24.2 C (75.6 F)1.2 C (2.2 F)3739 of 100 (Notable)
2020-02-01Grenfell (Quondong Rd)Record high minimum temperature32.1 C (89.8 F)2.0 C (3.6 F)1935 of 100 (Notable)
2020-02-01Trangie Research Station AWSRecord high minimum temperature32.1 C (89.8 F)5.1 C (9.2 F)4634 of 100 (Routine)
2020-02-01Coonabarabran (Namoi Street)Record high minimum temperature26.6 C (79.9 F)1.6 C (2.9 F)4634 of 100 (Routine)
2020-02-02Taralga Post OfficeRecord high minimum temperature25.7 C (78.3 F)1.5 C (2.7 F)4644 of 100 (Notable)
2020-02-02Oberon (Springbank)Record high minimum temperature23.1 C (73.6 F)1.4 C (2.5 F)4643 of 100 (Notable)
2020-02-02Burrinjuck DamRecord high minimum temperature28.6 C (83.5 F)1.8 C (3.2 F)1034 of 100 (Routine)

The daily ledgers keep a limited number of records per day, so this list has 20 of the 460 records the event counts. The counts above use the full total.

Download the Data

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-12. Events are found by this site from station records and are not official designations. Records are provisional until reprocessed.