Western Australia’s scorching start to summer is set to be felt right across the country, with Victoria to sweat through one of its hottest days in years.
The heat impacting WA will soon move southeast, “building and peaking across South Australia on Sunday”, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
It will then reach Victoria and inland NSW on Monday.
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“Max temps will be up to 14C above average, reaching high-30s to high 40s across some areas,” the bureau said.
Victoria has been tipped to record one of its hottest days in years, with Melbourne forecast to reach 41C, it’s hottest day since 2020, and regional areas hitting 45C.
Wilcannia and Ivanhoe in inland NSW have forecast maximums of 48C, while Moomba in South Australia could top 45C.
Summer swelter
“South Australia’s looking at very hot conditions on Sunday and Sunday night, as northerly winds strengthen ahead of a cooler southerly change on Monday,” 7NEWS weather presenter Amelia Mulcahy said.
“Adelaide’s hottest day this week will be on Sunday with a top of 40C forecast.
“The temperature could hit 42C in Adelaide’s northern suburbs while in the regions conditions will be at their hottest in SA’s east, with Renmark in the Riverland looking at a top of 44C on Monday and Moomba in the state’s north-east is expecting a top of 46C on Monday too.
“But what will make this burst of heat most uncomfortable in SA is that there will be little relief at night.
“Adelaide isn’t likely to drop below a minimum 27C overnight into Monday. To put that in perspective, Adelaide’s average maximum temperature for December is 26.9C.”
Bureau meteorologist Jonathan How said the main story this weekend is “all about the heat”, explaining it is being driven by an “area of high pressure sitting to the south and east of the country”.
“We’ll start to see those winds turn northerly and that will bring some very hot air down towards the centre and southeast of the country so this will drive both heatwave conditions and elevated fire dangers,” How said.
“We’ll see the heat peak across South Australia on Sunday and then across Victoria and inland NSW on Monday.”
Mulcahy said a cool change will eventually be delivered to Adelaide on Monday.
“That change won’t reach Melbourne until night, with the city set to swelter through it’s hottest day since 2020 with a forecast top of 41C on Monday, first.”
Heatwave warnings
Victoria: Maximum temperatures in the mid to high 30s are expected over the weekend. Low to mid-40s are forecast on Monday. “Severe heatwave conditions are expected to ease from Tuesday as a cooler southwesterly change moves across the state on Monday,” the bureau said.
NSW: The bureau says maximum temperatures will range from the mid 30s to mid 40s. Overnight temperatures will range from the low 20s to low 30s. “Severe heatwave conditions will begin to ease during next week,” the bureau said.
South Australia: Maximum temperatures will range from the mid 30s to mid 40s. The bureau says: “Severe heatwave conditions are expected to gradually contract to northeastern parts of SA over the next few days.”
Queensland: From Saturday, extreme heatwave conditions are forecast to impact North West Queensland from Saturday into next week. Conditions are expected pose “a health risk” in Mt Isa, Dajarra and nearby areas. Severe heatwave conditions are expected to extend to much of the remaining western Queensland districts over the coming days.
WA: Severe heatwave conditions which have poured high temperatures over Perth are moving east. Low-intensity and severe heatwave conditions remain for much of the lower third of the state. “Severe heatwave conditions are expected to move eastwards and ease over the weekend,” according to the bureau.
ACT: “Maximum temperatures will range from the high 30 to mid 40,” the bureau said. “Severe heatwave conditions will begin to ease during next week.”
NT: Locals will sweat through highs ranging from the high 30s to mid 40s. “Severe heatwave conditions are expected to extend to remaining northern and eastern parts of the Northern Territory over the next few days,” according to the bureau.