A record heatwave in the west has seen records tumble as Perth endured its fifth straight day of temperatures of 40C or more, while floods, bushfires and storms ravage other parts of the country.
The blistering Western Australia heatwave is set to go into a sixth day with a forecast maximum of 39 in the state capital - but weathermen admit it could easily break through the 40C yet again.
Previously the city had only ever had four days of the intense 40C heat in a row - and the latest run of soaring mercury is rewriting the history books.
Saturday was the 10th day this summer where the heat has broken through the 40C mark, which is also a record.
A record heatwave in the west has seen records tumble as Perth endured its fifth straight day of temperatures of 40C or more (pictured, beachgoers shelter from the sun at Perth's Cottesloe Beach and cool down with an ice cream)
The blistering Western Australia heatwave is set to go into a sixth day with a forecast maximum of 39 in the state capital - but weathermen admit it could easily break through the 40C yet again (pictured, sun worshippers play bocce on the beach at Cottesloe in Perth)
And it comes after the tiny WA outback town of Onslow recorded Australia's highest ever temperature when it hit 50.7C last week.
Locals flocked to the beaches to try and cool off, with ambulances parked at the ready in the case of heat stroke.
The intense heat and strong winds have been fuelling a bushfire in neighbouring South Australia which claimed the life of female firefighter Louise Hincks on Friday.
She was killed when a burning tree fell on her as she fought the out of control fire near Lucindale, 347km southeast of Adelaide.
A colleague in his 60s was also seriously injured in the tragedy but survived.
Senior firefighter Louise Hincks (pictured) was killed in an intense bushfire in South Australia after a burning tree fell on top of her on Friday
Ms Hincks had been serving in South Australia's Country Fire Service for 28 years when she went to help at the fire near Lucindale, 347km southeast of Adelaide (pictured)
The fire (pictured) has been burning since Wednesday and has destroyed 4,000 hectares of blue gum plantations, scrub, and grassland
Since Wednesday the bushfire has burnt through more than 4,000 hectares of blue gum plantations, scrub, and grassland.
More than 200 firefighters are still at the scene fighting the blaze which was fnally contained on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile tropical rainfalls have led to severe flooding in western and northern parts of SA.
The manager at Spud's Roadhouse at Pimba, 483km north of Adelaide, reported 160mm of rain on Saturday which lead to the road to Woomera and Roxby Downs breaking in half.
Several other roads have been closed due to flooding in the Eyre
