Antarctica Sets Record High Temperature: 64.9 Degrees

Antarctica, the coldest, windiest and driest continent on Earth, set a record high temperature on Thursday, underscoring the global warming trend, researchers said.

The previous record high temperature for Esperanza, the Argentinian
 research station, was 63 degrees, which was set in March 2015.

Esperanza, Argentina’s research station on the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, reached 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit, or 18.2 degrees Celsius, breaking the previous record of 63.5 degrees set on March 24, 2015, according to Argentina’s National Meteorological Service. The station has been recording temperatures since 1961.

The temperature at Esperanza, where it is summer, was comparable to the weather in Los Angeles and Huntsville, Ala., where the high temperatures were 64 on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

The Weather and Climate Extremes Archive, a committee of the World Meteorological Organization, will verify the temperature, the organization said in a news release.

Read the story from The New York Times by Derrick Bryson Taylor - “Antarctica Sets Record High Temperature: 64.9 Degrees.”

Victoria weather: Severe weather warning issued for damaging, destructive winds

A severe weather warning for damaging and destructive winds has been issued for much of Victoria on Saturday, with the state also expecting unusually warm winter temperatures.

A warning for damaging winds has
been issued for a large part of Victoria.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Saturday would be the windiest day so far this winter, with damaging winds of 60 to 70 kilometres per hour expected for many areas including Melbourne, Hamilton, Stawell, Kyneton, Ballarat, Geelong, Wonthaggi and Falls Creek.

Stephen King from the BoM said peak gusts in those areas could reach 100kph.

"Victoria [is] expecting the windiest day this winter," he said.

"We're expecting winds to strengthen early Saturday morning in the western and central districts, and it'll reach the eastern parts of Victoria by early afternoon.

Read the ABC News story - “Victoria weather: Severe weather warning issued for damaging, destructive winds.”