A week before parts of Yorke Peninsula soared above 40 degrees, the Bureau of Meteorology released its official record of Australia’s climate, water and significant weather events for 2024.

The report, released on February 6, revealed South Australia recorded its second hottest year on record, being on average 1.6 degrees warmer than previous years.

Climatology Specialist Nadine D’Argent said most parts of Australia, including SA, recorded hotter than usual years.

“Nationally, spring was the warmest on record, winter was the second warmest on record and summer 2023-24 was the third warmest on record,” Ms D’Argent said.

The report showed 2024 was South Australia’s hottest second hottest year on record, and the world’s hottest year on record.

There was also three per cent less rainfall than on average (218mm in 2024) across the state.

The report was released a week before areas on YP including Maitland (42.6 degrees), Minlaton (42.7), Kadina (43.6) and Wallaroo (41) all reached more than 40 degrees on Wednesday, February 12.

Photos sent in by YPCT readers show local residents flocked in droves to popular YP beaches including North Beach and Parsons Beach, which attracted big crowds on February 12.

According to the BOM, many SA locations recorded their warmest February day since records began.

Temperatures across much of the state were up to 16 degrees warmer than usual. Almost every weather station recorded a maximum temperature in the 40s, with temperatures higher than 48 degrees in parts of northern SA.

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 18 February 2025.