Bureau of Meteorology predicts another severe heatwave to descend on South Australia around the start of the new year
The heat might have eased but there could be an equally or more severe heatwave just around the corner. The Bureau of Meteorology is warning the new year will bring new threats.
SA News
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Weather conditions will ease for firefighters battling blazes across the state in the coming days but a repeat of this weeks heatwave and catastrophic conditions could be just around the corner.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s until Tuesday or Wednesday, giving the state a reprieve from record breaking heat this week.
However, coming into new years day the mercury is set to soar again as an equally or more severe heatwave descends on the state.
Bureau state manager John Nairn said the heat has been unusual for this time of the year and was linked to weather events in western and Northern Australia.
“The heat building in north and northwestern Australia is only going to build in strength as we head towards the new year,” he said.
“We would anticipate that there is every likelihood of another heatwave of similar or larger proportions.
“We know that things are getting better with the arrival of the monsoon in Western Australia. “There is no sign of the monsoon forming at this point in time which means that without cloud and rain across Northern Australia the heat will continue to build.”
The unprecedented hot weather has left the state primed for further destructive fires.
“We are well on track to South Australia’s driest year on record so all our terrain is tinder dry and ready to burn,” Mr Nairn said.
“We had next to no rainfall yesterday when the sever thunderstorms rolled through, so the bush is ready to burn and all we need is similar circumstances to come around again and our communities will be under attack.”
Premier Steven Marshall said he was monitoring the weather outlook.
“We are concerned about the longer range forecast, especially around December 30 and onwards from that date,” he said.
“We will be vigilant on those forecasts as they come in but our primary focus is ensuring that we contain the Cudlee Creek and Kangaroo Island fires.”
Mr Nairn said conditions would ease for firefighters over the coming days.
“I think the conditions are reasonably benign for firefighters, the southerly winds will be relatively cool and moist,” he said.
“The period tomorrow when winds turn the east could put pressure on a new side of the fire but it will then return to the southerly.
“In terms of the conditions we have seen, these are going to be really nice to be able to get on top of the fire.”
Temperatures are forecast to hover around the 30C for the rest of the week with relatively cool evenings in the low to mid teens.