Australia Weather News

Authorities are urging residents and visitors to ensure they are properly prepared for heatwave conditions and travelling in isolated regions, following the death of an interstate tourist in remote WA.

The 77-year-old woman had come from Queensland to visit Mount Augustus, about 1,000 kilometres north of Perth.

Her body was located near a remote access road at the monolith on Sunday.

Temperatures in the area were in the high 40s over the weekend, with trails up to the summit closed during summer months following the death of four hikers.

WA Police Mid West Gascoyne District Inspector Scott Morrissey described the woman's death as a tragic incident.

"At some point she appears to have bogged her vehicle on the access road that circles Mount Augustus," he said.

"We surmise from there she has left her vehicle and tried to return to the tourist park.

"Due to the extreme heatwave that's being experienced out there, it's clearly taken its toll on her."

The alarm was raised after she failed to return to her accommodation, and police search began Sunday morning.

Inspector Morrissey said there were important steps people should take when visiting remote areas, including letting someone know their plans.

"If you are travelling remotely and your vehicle does become stuck, always stay with your vehicle," he said.

"You should carry plenty of food and water, at least enough for a couple days."

Heatwave warning

The Department of Health has issued a warning for inland parts of the Pilbara, Mid West, Gascoyne and northern Goldfields as extreme and severe heatwave conditions continue across the areas.

The elderly and very young are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of heatwaves.

WA Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson said there tended to be an increase of hospital presentations after day three of a heatwave.

"Some of them are heat effects like heat exhaustion, but some are exacerbations of chronic disease," Dr Robertson said.

"They often present at day three or day four of that because they are exhausted, they are dehydrated and their chronic disease is becoming more acute."

Health authorities advise delaying travel, exercise and outdoor work to avoid the hottest part of the day.

They also recommend drinking water frequently and checking in regularly with elderly neighbours and other vulnerable people.

Hot temperatures

At Gascoyne Junction, temperatures were forecast to reach 48 degrees on Monday.

Resident Ainsley Hardie said it had been a gradual climb to those high temperatures now being experienced.

"We've been having temperatures in the 40s on regular basis since sort of October, so it's only going a degree or two for us," she said.

"It doesn't change the fact that it's hot, but it's not like last week we were 30 degrees and suddenly this week we're in the high 40s."

Last February, the town recorded three days consecutive above 48 degrees.

Ms Hardie said the heat could be challenging, including for visiting workers.

"When they're coming out, once a month they are always like, 'Woah'," she said.

"It's certainly a different type of heat from the coast, it's a lot drier out here."

The highest daytime temperature on record for the town was 48.8 degrees on February 6, 1991.