Adelaide set to swelter through first eight days above 30C in three years

Get ready to swelter, South Aussies: Adelaide is on track to record eight consecutive days above 30C – the first long heat spell since 2019.

South Australians have been warned that sweltering temperatures have brought the usual summer fire risks roaring back.

As forecasters revealed Adelaide was on track for one of its longest stretches of sweltering weather in years, Country Fire Service crews were already tackling blazes around the state.

The fires included hay stack fire of about 500 bales on a property at Monarto South that has been burning since Wednesday, with fire crews expecting to break the blaze down and extinguish it overnight.

Police and Emergency Services minister Joe Szakacs said that despite having a wet spring, there was still a normal fire risk this season.

“I don’t want to see people that live in prone areas to be complacent and that’s why taking that time just the five minutes for putting your bushfire plan, working through your bushfire plan is just so important,” he said.

“We’ve seen already this season significant fires across the state that are exceptionally managed by the CFS.

“Our preparedness for bushfires also comes down to the individual preparedness. Individual people that may live in a fire danger area but also those people … that may work in the city but have children in care in bushfire areas.”

Severe #HEATWAVE Watch and Act MESSAGE issued for the North West Pastoral forecast district. You may be at risk. Keep cool. Drink plenty of water. Never leave children in your car. Check on your neighbours and friends. More info: https://t.co/Dwf4lAeLu1 ID:490/2

— SASES (@SA_SES) January 12, 2023

The warnings came after Adelaide was told it was on track to swelter through its longest string of 30 plus temperatures in three years.

The metropolitan area has surpassed 30C since January 7 and is forecast to do the same on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The state hasn’t seen eight days of consecutive warm temperatures since December 2019.

However, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Mark Analack said the weather conditions are nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year.

In the regions, Port Pirie has soared above 30C since January 5, with temperatures set to remain in the 30 plus bracket for the next seven days.

It’s a different story in Ceduna and Mount Gambier, with scattered temperatures from mid 20s to low 30s from January 7.

The SA State Emergency Service issued a heatwave warning in light of the forecast for the north west pastoral district.

The warning zone extends from Port Augusta to the Northern Territory border, slightly north of Ceduna and towards the western border.

The emergency service urged South Australians to take action now to ensure residents stay well during the event.

“A heatwave is more than just hot weather,” the alert said.

“When it is hot during the day and it does not cool down at night, it is hard for your body to cool itself.

“While most people will cope with a low-intensity heatwave, babies, and young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people who are already unwell are at increased risk and can become ill.”

A southerly wind change will bring temperatures down on Sunday.

“It’s a very shallow change,” Mr Analack said.

“As the wind swings around northerly on Monday, temperatures jump back up.”

Mr Analack warned some rain is on the horizon for parts of the state, however the wet weather is unlikely to reach metropolitan areas.

“We will probably have to wait until a more significant change later Tuesday before we might see anything over the coastal fringes of South Australia, including Adelaide,” he said.

Tom, 16, Luke, 15 and Ruby Withers at Railways beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Picture: Fiona Graff

Fiona Graff submitted a photo of her three children lapping up the waves at Railways beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula as part of The Advertiser’s Summer Photo Competition.

Ms Graff said she simply saw Tom, 16, Luke, 15, and Ruby Withers, 11, having fun and pulled out her camera to capture the moment.

“The wave was purely good timing,” she joked.

“I love how Ruby is looking at Luke, cheering him on as he goes into the water.”

Mrs Graff described the trio as “water babies”.

“We live at Moana and they’re involved in surf life saving there,” she said.