SES warns heatwave to hit across South Australia this weekend

The first weekend of 2025 will be hot, hot, hot … with a heatwave warning from the SES extending across the entire state.

South Australians across the board will be hit with a summer heatwave for the first weekend of 2025, meaning some local events could be cancelled.

The State Emergency Services has issued hot-weather warnings from Friday to Sunday, with different parts of the state forecast to be hit by low-intensity heatwaves.

The first warning, for Friday, is for the Northern Pastoral regions of Adelaide.

Temperatures on Friday in the northern suburbs of Adelaide are set to hit 37C, with Port Pirie expecting a top of 37C.

A heatwave warning has been issued for the first weekend of 2025. Picture: iStock

The heatwave on Saturday set to amp up and spread across the Adelaide metropolitan area, the Flinders, Kangaroo Island, the Lower Eyre Peninsula, Mid-North, Mount Lofty Ranges and West Coast.

Metropolitan Adelaide is expected to hit 36C with a low of 24C, Elizabeth will hit 38C, while Noarlunga and Mount Gambier will be cooler at 35C and 33C respectively.

Port Pirie will reach a top of 41C and a low of 19C, while Port Lincoln will reach 34C and a low of 19C.

The SES said by Sunday, the heatwave warning would apply all areas of the state – temperatures are forecast to drop leading into Monday.

Eliza Richardson, from Tooorak Gardens, Cassie Netz, Glengowry and Emily Dobson, from Norwood, at Glenelg beach in 2023 during hot weather. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Adelaide is forecast to reach 33C on Sunday, Elizabeth drops to 35C, Noarlunga will top 32C, Port Pirie reach 36C and a low of 25C while Port Lincoln is set to reach 26C with a low of 19C.

The SES describe low-intensity heatwaves as “common” in SA summers, and warned the very young, older people and those suffering medical conditions could be negatively affected and should take care.

Racing SA posted to its official Facebook page a meeting will be held regarding Saturday’s Murray Bridge race due to heat concerns.

“Racing SA is working through contingencies, including the possibility of an earlier commencement of the race meeting, to have the majority of races on the program run on Saturday morning,” the post read.