Built 2026-10-19 (19 October 2026)

Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021

Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021: 270 records at 126 stations, peak on 1 August 2021. Closed.

Data as of . Last revised (2026-10-17).

Key Facts

  • Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021 set or tied 270 station records at 126 stations.
  • It ran from 26 July 2021 to 4 August 2021 (10 days) and its peak day was 1 August 2021.
  • Status: closed.
  • Charleville Aero set a monthly record high maximum temperature of 30.7 C (87.3 F) on 31 July 2021.
  • The busiest day was 1 August 2021 with 71 records.
  • The oldest broken record in the ranked list had stood for 120 years.

Footprint

26 July to 4 August 2021
Footprint of Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021 The area covered by Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021 is outlined, with 18 of the stations that set records marked, coloured by record type.
The area covered by Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021 is outlined, with 18 of the stations that set records marked, coloured by record type. Made with Natural Earth.
Footprint of Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021: stations that set records in the event
StationTypeValueDate
Charleville AeroRecord high maximum temperature30.7 C (87.3 F)2021-07-31
PalmervilleRecord high maximum temperature33.2 C (91.8 F)2021-08-01
Mackay AeroRecord high maximum temperature28.8 C (83.8 F)2021-07-29
Cunnamulla Post OfficeRecord high maximum temperature31.8 C (89.2 F)2021-07-31
Coffs Harbour MoRecord high maximum temperature27.1 C (80.8 F)2021-07-28
Oodnadatta AirportRecord high minimum temperature16.6 C (61.9 F)2021-07-28
Richmond RaafRecord high maximum temperature26.5 C (79.7 F)2021-07-28
Amberley AMORecord high minimum temperature15.4 C (59.7 F)2021-08-03
Mackay M.ORecord high maximum temperature27.2 C (81.0 F)2021-08-01
Archerfield AirportRecord high minimum temperature12.7 C (54.9 F)2021-08-02
Yamba Pilot StationRecord high minimum temperature18.4 C (65.1 F)2021-08-02
Cobar MoRecord high maximum temperature26.3 C (79.3 F)2021-07-31
Yarras (Mount Seaview)Record high maximum temperature29.7 C (85.5 F)2021-08-01
Sydney Airport AMORecord high maximum temperature26.1 C (79.0 F)2021-07-28
Ayr Dpi Research STNRecord high maximum temperature29.9 C (85.8 F)2021-07-29
Bollon Mary StRecord high maximum temperature31.1 C (88.0 F)2021-07-31
Isisford Post OfficeRecord high maximum temperature34.0 C (93.2 F)2021-08-02
Injune Post OfficeRecord high minimum temperature17.3 C (63.1 F)2021-08-03

Records per Day

Peak day 71
Records per day during Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021 Records set or tied each day from 26 July 2021 to 4 August 2021. The most in one day was 71 on 1 August 2021. 0 20 40 60 80 07-2607-2707-2807-2907-3007-3108-0108-0208-0308-04
Records set or tied each day from 26 July 2021 to 4 August 2021. The most in one day was 71 on 1 August 2021.
Records per day during Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021
DateRecords
2021-07-261
2021-07-2717
2021-07-2848
2021-07-2916
2021-07-3011
2021-07-3148
2021-08-0171
2021-08-0228
2021-08-0328
2021-08-042

Top Records by Margin

Margin over the record replaced
Top records of Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021 ranked by margin
Charleville Aero, 08-024.2 C (7.6 F)
Yarras (Mount Seaview), 08-013.6 C (6.5 F)
Isisford Post Office, 08-023.4 C (6.1 F)
Yamba Pilot Station, 08-023.1 C (5.6 F)
Bollon Mary St, 08-012.8 C (5.0 F)
Mackay Aero, 07-292.4 C (4.3 F)
Cunnamulla Post Office, 07-312.4 C (4.3 F)
Sydney Airport AMO, 07-282.4 C (4.3 F)
Coffs Harbour Mo, 07-282.3 C (4.1 F)
Amberley AMO, 08-031.9 C (3.4 F)
Mackay M.O, 08-011.9 C (3.4 F)
Richmond Raaf, 07-281.7 C (3.1 F)
Oodnadatta Airport, 07-281.6 C (2.9 F)
Bollon Mary St, 07-311.4 C (2.5 F)
Ayr Dpi Research STN, 07-291.1 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, 26 July to 4 August 2021 270 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 0.01.32.53.85.0 Margin (C) Years the old record stood
270 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, 26 July to 4 August 2021
Margin (C)Years the old record stood
0.678
0.2120
4.270
2.463
2.447
2.363
1.676
1.970
1.763
1.960
0.182
3.146
0.646
3.651
1.163
3.451
0.252
1.436
2.860
2.446
2.851
4.648
4.246
0.563
0.563
3.646
2.944
3.047
2.151
4.546
0.563
2.748
0.263
2.051
2.746
0.663
0.951
0.860
3.446
1.946
3.228
1.254
2.351
0.359
0.458
0.725
0.260
2.546
1.751
2.746
1.846
0.360
1.548
3.211
1.646
0.747
0.823
4.24
0.251
3.128
1.744
0.351
2.334
1.348
0.951
1.446
1.546
0.751
0.156
0.712
0.652
0.448
1.834
3.816
1.843
1.446
4.116
1.246
0.351
1.346
0.848
0.451
0.746
0.846
0.840
1.740
0.148
0.419
0.247
0.347
2.424
2.728
0.247
0.843
4.514
4.314
2.028
0.646
2.826
0.246
1.040
2.236
0.147
1.134
2.028
3.416
0.340
2.116
1.04
0.546
2.77
3.516
2.020
2.030
0.340
0.440
1.028
4.416
0.146
2.314
0.540
0.638
2.110
2.716
0.823
0.140
1.026
1.024
3.03
1.524
0.436
3.216
2.824
2.716
0.638
2.014
2.220
1.428
2.028
2.67
0.434
0.828
0.628
0.124
0.424
1.511
0.828
2.612
1.712
1.810
2.116
2.212
2.112
2.910
2.612
0.819
0.236
0.64
2.03
0.328
1.011
0.616
0.528
2.116
1.612
0.823
1.37
0.716
0.723
2.815
0.911
0.124
0.524
2.012
0.623
0.724
2.17
1.53
1.916
0.128
0.728
1.610
1.210
0.920
0.524
0.619
1.312
1.37
2.08
1.219
3.37
0.520
1.53
1.17
1.60
3.10
1.119
0.710
1.24
1.44

Compared With Other Events

Station records per event
Station records in Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021 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, 26 July to 4 August 2021 (this event)270 records

Every Record Set

20 of 270
Every record set or tied during Heat wave in Australia, 26 July to 4 August 2021, in date order
DateStationRecordValueMarginYears stoodSignificance
2021-07-28Coffs Harbour MoRecord high maximum temperature27.1 C (80.8 F)2.3 C (4.1 F)6336 of 100 (Notable)
2021-07-28Oodnadatta AirportRecord high minimum temperature16.6 C (61.9 F)1.6 C (2.9 F)7634 of 100 (Routine)
2021-07-28Richmond RaafRecord high maximum temperature26.5 C (79.7 F)1.7 C (3.1 F)6333 of 100 (Routine)
2021-07-28Sydney Airport AMORecord high maximum temperature26.1 C (79.0 F)2.4 C (4.3 F)4630 of 100 (Routine)
2021-07-29Mackay AeroRecord high maximum temperature28.8 C (83.8 F)2.4 C (4.3 F)6337 of 100 (Notable)
2021-07-29Ayr Dpi Research STNRecord high maximum temperature29.9 C (85.8 F)1.1 C (2.0 F)6330 of 100 (Routine)
2021-07-31Charleville AeroRecord high maximum temperature30.7 C (87.3 F)0.6 C (1.1 F)7842 of 100 (Notable)
2021-07-31Cunnamulla Post OfficeRecord high maximum temperature31.8 C (89.2 F)2.4 C (4.3 F)4737 of 100 (Notable)
2021-07-31Cobar MoRecord high maximum temperature26.3 C (79.3 F)0.6 C (1.1 F)4631 of 100 (Routine)
2021-07-31Bollon Mary StRecord high maximum temperature31.1 C (88.0 F)1.4 C (2.5 F)3630 of 100 (Routine)
2021-08-01PalmervilleRecord high maximum temperature33.2 C (91.8 F)0.2 C (0.4 F)12041 of 100 (Notable)
2021-08-01Mackay M.ORecord high maximum temperature27.2 C (81.0 F)1.9 C (3.4 F)6032 of 100 (Routine)
2021-08-01Yarras (Mount Seaview)Record high maximum temperature29.7 C (85.5 F)3.6 C (6.5 F)5131 of 100 (Routine)
2021-08-01Bollon Mary StRecord high minimum temperature16.1 C (61.0 F)2.8 C (5.0 F)6030 of 100 (Routine)
2021-08-02Charleville AeroRecord high maximum temperature32.2 C (90.0 F)4.2 C (7.6 F)7039 of 100 (Notable)
2021-08-02Archerfield AirportRecord high minimum temperature12.7 C (54.9 F)0.1 C (0.2 F)8232 of 100 (Routine)
2021-08-02Yamba Pilot StationRecord high minimum temperature18.4 C (65.1 F)3.1 C (5.6 F)4632 of 100 (Routine)
2021-08-02Isisford Post OfficeRecord high maximum temperature34.0 C (93.2 F)3.4 C (6.1 F)5130 of 100 (Routine)
2021-08-03Amberley AMORecord high minimum temperature15.4 C (59.7 F)1.9 C (3.4 F)7033 of 100 (Routine)
2021-08-03Injune Post OfficeRecord high minimum temperature17.3 C (63.1 F)0.2 C (0.4 F)5230 of 100 (Routine)

The daily ledgers keep a limited number of records per day, so this list has 20 of the 270 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 2026-10-17. Events are found by this site from station records and are not official designations. Records are provisional until reprocessed.