Millions of Australians are being urged to exercise extreme caution this weekend as a severe heatwave is set to push temperatures into the 40s across several states. The dangerous conditions coincide with a number of out-of-control bushfires, creating a dual threat for communities.
Widespread Heatwave Warnings Issued
On Thursday, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) escalated its alerts, issuing a series of extreme and severe heatwave warnings for vast areas. In New South Wales, severe warnings cover the Sydney metropolitan area, the Hunter, Illawarra, southern tablelands and Snowy Mountains. The peak of the heat is forecast for Saturday, with an extreme warning active for the state's south coast. Parts of western Sydney and the Hunter are predicted to reach the low 40s Celsius.
The heat is not confined to the east. In Western Australia, severe warnings are in place for the Kimberley, Pilbara and north interior regions, where temperatures will range from the high 30s to mid 40s. The Northern Territory's Daly, Tiwi and Gregory regions are also under severe warnings, with the oppressive heat expected to persist well into next week. Alice Springs is forecast to hit the low 40s on Saturday.
BoM experts have starkly warned that any bushfires which ignite within the designated warning zones will be exceptionally difficult for emergency services to contain.
Health Risks and Safety Advice
Senior meteorologist Christie Johnson emphasised the serious health implications of the extreme weather event. She stated that pregnant women, infants, and people with pre-existing medical conditions are at the highest risk. "Extreme means that it's dangerous for everyone, even for healthy people, if you don't take precautions," Ms Johnson cautioned.
She highlighted the cumulative effect of heatwaves on the body, noting that the third day of such conditions is often the most perilous. Her advice for the public is clear:
- Keep blinds down and windows shut early in the day to block out heat.
- Use fans or air conditioning to stay cool.
- Seek out cool environments, such as shopping centres, libraries, or community centres, if home cooling is insufficient.
Authorities in Queensland are monitoring the situation closely, with heatwave warnings likely for the Gulf Country and North West regions in the coming days.
Bushfire Crisis in Tasmania
While the heatwave builds, Tasmania continues to battle multiple out-of-control bushfires. There is some hope that a change in weather conditions may assist fire crews, but significant damage has already occurred.
Crews are fighting a major blaze in the rural east coast town of Dolphin Sands. The Tasmania Fire Service has confirmed that properties and structures have been lost, though the full extent of the damage is not yet known. An evacuation centre remains open at the Swansea Town Hall for affected residents.
Regional fire commander Simon Pilkington described the operating conditions as "challenging and unpredictable." He confirmed that rapid impact assessments would be conducted to determine the scale of the property losses. Aerial resources, which were grounded on Thursday afternoon due to high winds gusting up to 85km/h in Hobart, are now being deployed to support ground crews.
A watch and act warning is still active for Glenlusk, north-west of Hobart, though warnings for other fires have been downgraded following an overnight improvement in conditions.
As the nation endures this severe weather event, the public is reminded to follow official advice, check on vulnerable neighbours, and have a bushfire survival plan ready if living in high-risk areas.
