Australia's southern states are set to experience the most significant heatwave since the 2019-20 black summer, with temperatures expected to soar well into the 40s Celsius. Heatwave warnings have been issued for large parts of Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory as a band of severe to extreme heat moves from west to east.
According to Dean Narramore, senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, Wednesday will mark the start of a three-day period of extreme conditions for south-eastern Australia. Temperatures are likely to be 8 to 16 degrees Celsius above average through parts of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, translating to mid-to-high 40s inland and low 40s near the coast.
Initially, the heat will be dry with little wind, but as winds pick up from Thursday, high to extreme fire danger is expected for much of South Australia and Victoria. By midweek, Adelaide and Melbourne could see temperatures peak in the 40s, with inland areas even hotter. On Thursday, parts of north-west Victoria and eastern South Australia could reach highs of 46 or 47 degrees Celsius.
The heat is expected to linger across the south-east, with many places anticipating consecutive days of mid-40s temperatures. A cool change moving into South Australia on Friday will push the heat into New South Wales, with Sydney temperatures peaking at 39 degrees Celsius on Saturday.
Narramore reminded people to take precautions: “Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay indoors, and also just be more aware of the elderly, the young, and also your pets as well.” Meanwhile, rain and storms continue in north Queensland, with multiple flood warnings in place, including major flood warnings for the Flinders and Western rivers.
The Bureau of Meteorology notes that Australia's national annual average temperature is about 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than in 1910, and the climate crisis has increased the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves and bushfires.
