Temperature records tumbled at the Mudgee Airport Weather Station throughout 2017, a year which was the equal hottest at the location.
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A total of 15 benchmarks were passed or equalled, 13 of which at the higher end of the thermometer.
2017 had the equal-highest average maximum temperature recorded at the weather station, with 24.1°C matching the figure of 2006.
Three new monthly records were set, with Mudgee experiencing their hottest average top temps for January (33.7°C), February (33.8°C) and July (15.9°C).
January didn’t have much relief from the heat overnight, with the average minimum temp for the month a new record at 18.7°C. New records were also set for March (16.2°C) and December (16.3°C).
January and March also had the hottest single night recorded at the location with 24.4°C and 20.3°C respectively.
On February 11 the mercury hit 43.9°C, which made it not only the hottest February day recorded at the location but the highest temp ever there.
The year also saw the hottest July day on record (23.6°C on the 30th) and September (32.5°C on the 23rd).
However, despite heat records falling throughout 2017 there were two set for cold weather.
The long strings of cloudless days responsible for the hot July days also caused cold nights and the lowest ever average minimum for the month at -2.2°C.
And, somewhat bizarrely, before February began breaking heat records the night of the 1st was the coldest for the second month of the year when it dipped to 4.8°C.
The Bureau of Meteorology this week released its Annual Climate Statement, which revealed that it was Australia's third-warmest year on record. Head of Climate Monitoring, Dr Karl Braganza, said with a national mean temperature 0.95°C warmer than the 1961–1990 average, 2017 continued the trend of warmer than average temperatures.
