Australia's hottest town describes heat streak

Marble Bar has been on an incredible streak of hot weather since Christmas, including a 26-day stretch of days above 43 degrees.

Transcript

00:00 This time of year, daily temperatures above 40 degrees are pretty much standard.

00:07 The streets are almost empty by 6 in the morning as the sun beats down.

00:11 It's a real different sort of heat. Not for the faint hearted.

00:16 A lot of people don't like it. I kind of find it pleasurable.

00:22 But for Rangi Kutia, who moved here five years ago from New Zealand, every day is a challenge.

00:28 It's too hot. I prefer to just stay in the aircon all day if I had the chance.

00:34 Margaret Kiernan, who runs the town's visitor centre, also came here from cooler climates.

00:40 But after 20 years, knows exactly what to do.

00:43 Stay indoors and don't go out with bare feet and don't walk your dogs in the heat.

00:53 On Saturday, the town marked its 26th day above 43 degrees, edging towards its previous long-standing record of 27 days.

01:03 But it's fallen just short. Sunday's highest maximum came in at 42.5.

01:09 Days in the low to mid 40s have been a bit of a reprieve recently,

01:13 given the town's sweltered through 48 and 49 degree days over the Christmas and New Year period.

01:19 Rangi Kutia's a little relieved they fell just short.

01:23 And then you would have never heard at the end of it. They would have gone, "No, you're a barbara, broke a record."

01:29 The local pub has been providing an escape from the heat for more than 100 years.

01:34 The title of Australia's hottest town clearly a source of pride.

01:38 Ah, it slaps them in the face.

01:42 A lot of people are pretty soft. They've grown up with air conditioning and an easy lifestyle.

01:48 Temperatures are expected to remain around the mid 40s for the rest of the week.

01:53 Quinus Lunell. He's had a good pub.

01:57 (laughing)

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