Mega heatwave about to strike Australia as scorching hot air from the desert sweeps across the country bringing 45C days
- A mega heatwave to smash southern parts of Australia in the coming days
- WA, SA, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT to swelter over the weekend
Summer is finally here as authorities issue heatwave warnings for six states and territories with parts of Australia already sweltering through days above 45 degrees.
Western Australia, South Australia, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT are in for significantly hotter than average temperatures during both the day and night across the next week.
Eastern Western Australia, northern South Australia, western NSW and northwest Victoria are all expecting days above 40 degrees with the mercury expected to peak this weekend.
The most extreme heat will hit Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
Meteorologists warned on Friday the heat from the desert Pilbara region of Western Australia is funnelling hot air southeast into South Australia and Victoria bringing sweltering temperatures to the states.
Summer is finally here as authorities issue heatwave warnings for six states and territories with parts of Australia already sweltering through days above 45 degrees
Eastern Western Australia, northern South Australia, western NSW and northwest Victoria are all expecting days above 40 degrees with the mercury expected to peak early next week
The state capitals, however, will be spared from the country’s most extreme heat.
Saturday is set to see ‘very extreme heat’, with temperatures 15 degrees or more above average.
While in Queensland, forecasters are predicting the state could see its heaviest rain in years.
‘It’s going to be a very intense weekend of rain,’ Sky News Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne told news.com.au.
‘January 2023 could shape up to be the wettest single month for pockets of the Queensland coast since February 2021.’
Southern NSW and Victoria is likely to see some showers on Sunday but remain hot.
Saturday is set to see ‘very extreme heat’, with temperatures 15 degrees or more above average. While in Queensland forecasters are predicting the state could see its heaviest rain in years
Despite heavy showers across much of Queensland, Brisbane may not see even a drop of rain and is expected to be spared from the wet weather but still be cooler than southern states with highs of 29 degrees in the city.
Sydney will be spared from NSW’s heatwave with the weekend forecast to be sunny with highs of 29 degrees and lows around 20 degrees.
Sydney has now endured almost a year of sub-30-degree days, breaking a temperature record held for 140 years with the city just a few weeks away from shattering the data altogether.
NSW’s heatwave is set to spare the capital from hitting the 30 degree barrier again although it is in for a sunny weekend with highs of 29 degrees and lows around 20 degrees.
Sydney has now endured almost a year of sub-30-degree days, breaking a temperature record held for 140 years with the city just a few weeks away from shattering the data altogether
Weatherzone meteorologist James Rout told Daily Mail Australia there is a real possibility that the streak will continue for at least another fortnight.
Sydney has failed to see a day above 30-degree since February 21, 2022, and if temperatures don’t reach that mark by January 28, it’ll officially be an all-time record.
Mr Rout believes the barrier will finally be breached at the end of January or at the beginning of February.
‘The long-range outlook shows temperatures will rise at the end of January to the start of February,’ he said.
While Greater Sydney will mostly dodge the heat along its coast, the outer western suburbs can expect to climb to 35 degrees by Sunday.
In the ACT, a storm is anticipated to roll through the capital on Friday before a dry Saturday and another small storm on Sunday.
The 30 degree barrier will, however, be breached in Canberra with 32 degree temperatures across the weekend.
The most extreme heat is reserved for Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. The heat from the Pilbara region of Western Australia will funnel hot air southeast into South Australia and Victoria, bringing tropical temperatures
Perth will be hot and sunny over the next week, with the mercury hitting above 30 degrees each day, with clear skies.
Saturday will be the day of peak heat bringing elevated fire danger to South Australia and Victoria.
In Adelaide, a high of 37 degrees is anticipated on Friday and 38 degrees on Saturday.
In Melbourne Friday will only be 26 degrees but they are in for a scorching weekend. On Saturday the city is anticipated to hit 35 degrees before a boiling 37 degrees on Sunday
The capital will cool down by Sunday, with a maximum of 29 degrees.
Yet by Tuesday it will once again be hot with a high of 39 degrees.
In Melbourne, Friday will only be 26 degrees but they are in for a scorching weekend.
On Saturday the city is anticipated to hit 35 degrees before a boiling 37 degrees on Sunday.
While Hobart will reach 30 degrees on Saturday before cooling down on Sunday to just 19 degrees.
