A burst of heat is set to sweep across Australia, bringing with it potentially the earliest 40C summer days in Adelaide and Melbourne in almost two decades.
The next 48 hours are going to be crucial, with parts of Victoria expected to reach a sizzling 45C on Monday, sparking bushfire fears.
Early Heatwave Hits Adelaide and Melbourne
Adelaide is forecast to reach a scorching 40C on Sunday, a whopping 13C above average. Meanwhile, Melbourne can expect a summery 31C on Sunday, but it’s Monday that will really heat up, with temperatures potentially reaching 41C – a whopping 16C above average for this time of year.
Heatwave Warnings Issued Across the Country
It’s not just South Australia and Victoria that will be feeling the heat. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued heatwave weather warnings for every state and territory except Tasmania. The Top End, including Darwin, is preparing for an extreme heatwave that will continue into early next week, while all of New South Wales will be in a heatwave on Sunday.
The Cause of the Heat Spike
So, what’s behind this sudden heat spike? A high-pressure system has moved from the Great Australian Bight, over the country’s south east, and has pushed into the Tasman. This has dragged down hot, parched air from the interior, resulting in high temperatures this weekend and into the east by Monday.
Bushfire Fears Rise
Fire dangers are set to rise across SA on Sunday and spike on Monday as winds strengthen and temperatures exceed 45C from the state’s east and into western Victoria and NSW. According to the Country Fire Authority, Monday will see extreme fire danger across all of eastern and central Victoria.
Regional Temperatures Soar
Away from the coast, temperatures will only get hotter. Mildura and Swan Hill are looking at 40C on Sunday and then 46C on Monday, their hottest days in five years. Broken Hill could max out at 44C on Monday, while Echuca, Deniliquin, and Griffith are all set to peak at 45C.
Coastal Relief
The coast will offer some relief from the heat, with Sydney experiencing a relatively mild upper twenties on Sunday and Monday, peaking at 32C on Tuesday. Canberra, on the other hand, is in for a scorching run, with temperatures reaching 36C, 37C, and 35C on successive days.
When the Cool Change Will Come
But don’t worry, a cool change is on the way! By Monday, a cool change will move across the south east, dropping temperatures dramatically, and possibly bringing storms. When that change comes will depend on the location, but for Adelaide, it’s likely to bring a possible thunderstorm on Monday, followed by a dramatic drop in temperature to 26C on Tuesday.
The Week Ahead
As we move into the week, temperatures will steadily increase, with Adelaide reaching the low thirties by the end of the week. Melbourne can expect a wet Tuesday, with up to 10mm of rain, but will then rise to 23C on Wednesday. Brisbane is in for a wet and wild ride, with up to 10mm of rain and maximums hovering around 30C.