<span style="color: #222222;">Australia yesterday experienced its hottest day on record with the national average temperature reaching a high of 40.9 centigrade. The Country's Bureau of Meteorology said extensive heat exceeded the previous record of 40.3C set on 7th January, 2013.<br />'' <br />'' The record comes as the nation battles a severe drought and bushfire crisis.<br />'' <br />''<br />''Forecasters had predicted the most intense heat would come later in the week, meaning the record could be broken again.</span><br />