Perth swelters through Christmas Day heatwave but falls short of record

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Perth sweltered through one of its hottest Christmases on record as the mercury hit 42 degrees, but fell just short of a new benchmark for the highest temperature on December 25.

Cape Leeuwin recorded a record high of 39.6C on Christmas Day.

According to figures from the Bureau of Meteorology, temperatures in Perth reached a maximum of 42.1C, just 0.7 degrees shy of the record 42.8C set in 2021.

A BOM spokeswoman said the Perth metropolitan area recorded its second-hottest Christmas Day on record.

“On 25 December 2025, maximum temperature anomalies were more than 2C above average across most of WA away from Kimberley,” she said.

“However, maximum temperature anomalies were up to 10C above average for parts of south-western WA, with coastal areas more than 12C above average.

“A west coast trough directing hot and dry easterly winds towards the coast resulting in high temperatures across south-western WA on Christmas Day.”

Despite not quite reaching the heat set four years ago, several December records were broken in parts of WA.

According to BOM data, Cape Leeuwin recorded 39.6C on Christmas Day which is the highest daily maximum temperature record for December at this station since records began 119 years ago. The previous December record was 38.4C on December 25, 1968.

Windy Harbour reached 38C and is also the highest daily maximum temperature record for December at this station. The previous December record was 37C on December 9, 2021.

North Walpole reached a peak temperature of 37.3C on Christmas Day this year and equalled its highest daily maximum temperature record for December since 2019.

The majority of the state recorded a cool change this morning, with several areas in the southern suburbs copping a small amount of rain around 8am on Boxing Day.

A top of 25C is expected throughout the day on Friday before cooling to 24C on Saturday.

The forecast shows a slight increase to a maximum of 29C on Sunday before rising into the low-30s on Monday and Tuesday next week.