SA heatwave and weather forecast: Code Red activated, cool shelter provided for rough sleepers

As the state braces for the scorching temperatures expected this week – “the worst heatwave in three years” – rough sleepers are breathing a sigh of relief as centres open their doors.

As the state braces to face “the worst heatwave in three years” this week, a statewide Code Red has been activated to help those sleeping rough, stay cool and hydrated.

The state government declared a Code Red, and will help provide extra services, including shelter option for the homeless and those who may struggle to cool their homes.

The four-day Code Red will start from 1pm on Wednesday, February 22, until 9am on Saturday.

During this time, outreach services facilitated by Toward Home Alliance and Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance, will go around the CBD, the parklands and North Adelaide, to make sure people know where and how to stay cool and hydrated.

The Westcare Centre in Adelaide, will also open their doors from 1pm on Wednesday and stay open overnight, so rough sleepers can stay cool during the warmer nights.

While, Hutt St Centre will open from 7am to 5pm to give people necessary the shelter.

The mercury is set to hit 35C on Tuesday in Adelaide and then high 30s through to Friday, with overnight temperatures failing to fall below the 20s – remaining as high as 27C on Friday night.

Port Augusta is not expected to drop below 28C on Thursday night, followed by a low of 30C on Friday night.

Wudinna and Port Pirie are among other locations where there will be little respite when the sun goes down.

A total fire ban has been put in place for the Mt Lofty Ranges with an extreme rating.

SA Power Networks has been preparing for an increase in power outages due to the hot weather.

There were more than 500 customers affected by outages as of Tuesday 2.20pm, however the power outages may not be related to the hot weather.

Power outages experienced in Kensington and surrounding suburbs from earlier Tuesday morning, have been fully restored.

The cause of the outage is yet to be determined.

“We have seen some outages in recent days due to trees dropping limbs,” SA Power Networks head of corporate affairs Paul Roberts said.

“The trees get heat stressed.”

A SES spokesman said they had responded to 20 call-outs since Monday night, as trees fell down.

The organisation is assessing their resources to plan an adequate response to the rising temperatures.

“We’ll be monitoring the weather conditions over the next few days,” Mr Roberts said.

However, by the weekend, the weather bureau says a cool change will arrive and temperatures will be back to the mid 20s for Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Adelaide.

The State Emergency Service has issued heatwave advice for many parts of the state, listed as severe for the West Coast and North West Pastoral districts.

Lower Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, Mid North and Eastern Eyre Peninsula districts have been listed as low intensity.

More statewide heatwave warnings are likely to be issued in the coming days.

South Australians are being warned to prepare for scorching temperatures across the state in this week’s forecast heatwave. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

SA Health is reminding people of all the basic things they can do to ensure they beat the heat.

They include drinking plenty of water, closing blinds and curtains and placing a damp towel around your neck.

There are also reminders never to leave children or pets alone in cars and to make sure animals have plenty of water and access to shade.

Vulnerable groups who are at a risk of heat-related illness, are being urged to register for a free welfare check offered by Red Cross and the State Government.

Once a participant has registered, trained volunteers will call three-times a day to do a welfare check and call an ambulance on their behalf, if needed.

Simon Timcke, senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, said the state would experience “very hot nights (this week), which will be the hottest run of days since December 2019”.

There would be “uncomfortable conditions overnight, and certainly not the best conditions for getting a good night’s sleep,” he said.

“Mid to late parts of the week (will have) minimum temperatures in the mid to high 20s.”

Josh Hoffman cooling off at Artict Ice Factory at Regency Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

Josh Hoffman, delivery driver for Arctic Ice at Regency Park, said working for such a company had obvious benefits during a heatwave.

The 28-year-old said the refrigerated truck was -5C to -6C, which gave him a nice break from the outside world.

“I sometimes lay in the back of the refrigerated truck on top of the ice,” Mr Hoffman said.

“It’s still hot outside but when you get to go in the freezer, it’s good to cool down.”

The Country Fire Service warned most of the state would be at risk of bushfire in the coming days.

“We’re looking to bring on additional aircraft (and) we will stand up our firefighters, but we need the community to have a plan,” a spokesman said.

“What we saw was a wonderful response from the Port Lincoln community on Thursday, resulting in no injuries and no loss of life because people listened to the warnings and enacted their bushfire plan.”

Fire bans are likely.