April temperatures break records in central and western NSW

Higher than normal temperatures have been experienced in central and western NSW, with temperatures remaining in the low 30s until the weekend, despite it being the second month of autumn. 

Cowra’s highest temperature for the month of 35.1 degrees on April 9 broke the previous record of 33.9 degrees set in 2016.

The average high temperature for the month up until the weekend’s cool change was 32.6 degrees a whopping 8.9 degrees above the long term average of 23.7 degrees.

Weatherzone states a subtropical ridge has been deflecting cold fronts to the south of the country over the last couple of weeks, while a trough of low pressure over western and southern Australia has helped to transport the hot air to the southern states. 

The weather pattern is strange for this time of year, when we typically see cold fronts moving further north. 

In many towns in the central west Anzac Day is looked upon as the first day for a frost and colder weather. 

However, with Anzac Day less than a week away, we are not sure if that will occur this year. 

The start of the month for the region has seen Dubbo record its longest stretch of days above 30 degrees for April, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The stretch almost doubled the previous record of six days for the month set back in 1922. 

A new hottest April temperature record has also been broken in Orange this year with 29 degrees recorded on Monday, March 9. The previous highest temperature was 28.1 degrees in 2016. 

Farmers are being forced to adapt.

"The only reason we're not seeing lower yields is because of the adaptations farmers have made to cope with those changes,” CSIRO Agriculture and Food’s Dr Zvi Hochman said.