Temperatures to soar up to 16 degrees Celsius above average in NSW, with catastrophic fire dangers and out-of-control bushfires possible
- Victoria and SA to be hit with gale-force winds, equal in strength to a category 2 tropical cyclone, causing widespread destruction and power outages
- Record October heat to blast south-east Australia, with temperaturespredicted to break all-time records in Sydney, Newcastle, and other cities
A monstrous weather system is about to unleash hell on south-east Australia, bringing with it a trifecta of terror: record-breaking heat, catastrophic storms, and destructive winds that could rival a category 2 tropical cyclone. The next 36 hours will be a nightmare for residents, with temperatures set to soar up to 16 degrees Celsius above average in NSW, sparking catastrophic fire dangers and out-of-control bushfires.
In a dire warning, fire authorities have cautioned that the conditions on Wednesday would support the risk of fast-moving and uncontrollable blazes, with the first extreme fire dangers of the season expected around Sydney, the Hunter, Illawarra, and parts of the central west. “The risk is further exacerbated by dry lightning, which could ignite multiple fires both on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday,” a fire official warned.
Meanwhile, Victoria and SA are bracing for gale-force winds, equal in strength to a category 2 tropical cyclone, which could cause widespread destruction and power outages. The low-pressure system is expected to track south-east across the Bight and strengthen on Wednesday, generating strong-to-gale-force winds along the SA coast.
“The associated low will track south-east across the Bight and by Wednesday morning should be generating strong-to-gale-force winds along the SA coast,” ABC meteorologist Tom Saunders warned. “The central pressure is expected to drop below 985hPa – the equivalent strength of a category 2 tropical cyclone.”
Sydney is also in the firing line, with temperatures predicted to break all-time records on Wednesday. “For Sydney’s Observatory Hill, a temperature exceeding 38.2C will break the city’s October record, with more than 160 years of history,” Mr. Saunders said.
Newcastle could also break a record if the Nobbys Head station exceeds the current October record of 36.7C. And it’s not just NSW – the entire south-east region is expected to swelter in record-breaking heat, with temperatures forecast to reach 43C in north-west NSW and 45C in south-west Queensland and north-east SA.