[long_time_gone]

==Well this is the only actual data point it makes reference to==

I don't see anywhere in the article where it makes this reference, it's just in the headline. The article actually says "When it’s above 44C it feels like you’re going to die – I’m not making that up."

==Now it goes above 40C on an average day==

A reference to the consistency of the heat as opposed to the extremes of the heat.