‘Very much above average’ temperatures after hot blast
Written by admin on August 23, 2024
An unseasonal winter heatwave baking Australia will bring “very much above average” temperatures over the weekend, with parts of the outback set to soar to as high as 38C.
The mercury is set to reach a maximum of 26C in Sydney over the weekend, about 5C hotter than at the same time last year, with a 70 per cent chance of up to 3mm of rain.
Despite forecasts of up to 8mm of rain on Sunday, Melbourne is also set to smash last year’s temperatures with forecast highs of up to 23C – 4C higher than this time last year.
Further north, Brisbane city will swelter through temperatures of up to 29C, about 4C higher than in 2023, with sunny conditions and winds of between 15-20k/ph
It comes as hot and dry weather smothering much of the country allows for higher temperatures to build up, according to Bureau of Metrology Meteorologist Jonathon How.
“We are seeing maximum temperatures very much above the August average, all the way from northern NSW into Queensland and the rest of the north of the country,” he said.
Mr How said the heat would persist into next week, despite winds and the chance of severe thunderstorms forecast for parts of northern Victoria and NSW’s busy south coast.
The highest forecast temperatures over the weekend are expected in Oodnadatta, north of Coober Pedy, which is forecast to reach a potential high of 39C over the weekend.
Elsewhere, Adelaide 23C over the weekend with up to 7mm of rain, Hobart will climb to 19C after as much as 15mm of Saturday, while Canberra may reach 20C Sunday.
Darwin will meanwhile stay at a steady 35C, with Perth is forecast 19C with up to 25mm as a cold band brings heavy rains across southwestern Western Australia this week.
