Australia heatwave: bushfire warning, fire ban as temperatures soar

Australia’s heatwave is set to worsen, with a total fire ban enacted as temperatures are forecast to soar 14 degrees above average into the mid thirties.

The worst of Australia’s “unusual” spring heatwave is yet to come, with temperatures forecast to soar up to 14 degrees above average across huge swathes of the east and north.

A severe heatwave warning has been issued from Monday to Wednesday in New South Wales, south of Sydney.

Maximum temperatures in those areas are set to reach the mid thirties, with overnight minimums not dropping below 18C for all three days.

“These temperatures are around ten to fifteen degrees above average and persist for an unusually prolonged period for this time of year,” the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said.

Sydney itself could peak at 33C on Tuesday and 34C on Wednesday, while Penrith, in the west, will top out at 35C. Temperatures my not dip below 20C early on an uncomfortable Wednesday. But conditions should ease on Thursday.

Weather Update: Here's your update about the heat across Australia over the coming days. Video current at 12:30pm AEST, Monday 18 September 2023. Latest: https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJ or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/iYHiYk41AU

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) September 18, 2023

The BOM warned the heatwave conditions could be dangerous for many people, including older people, babies and children, pregnant and breastfeeding women and people with health conditions.

“Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre,” the BOM advised.

The most affected area will be a strip of coastal NSW from the Victorian border up to the Illawarra, with severe to extreme heatwave conditions in parts.

Extreme fire danger is forecast on NSW’s far south coast for Tuesday, with increasing hot and dry winds stoking the risk of a fire outbreak.

Residents were urged to action bushfire survival plans and monitor the fire and weather situation through their local radio station, the Rural Fire Service website and Bureau of Meteorology.

Wollongong will see 34C on Tuesday with Bega on 35C.

Sky News Weather meteorologist Bradlyn Oakes said the hot conditions were due to a high pressure system stretching from Australia’s northeast to southeast.

“Into Tuesday, the heat really settles in. We’re expecting many areas of NSW, down through areas of the ACT and Victoria are likely to be 8, 10, 12, 14 degrees above average.”

With the extreme fire danger comes Sydney’s first total fire ban for more than three years. The fire ban will apply in Greater Sydney on Tuesday. The RFS also issued a total fire ban on NSW’s far south coast.

Three day heatwave warning for NSW. Picture: BOM

Further inland Canberra will escape the heatwave conditions but it'll still be warm with a high of 28C on Tuesday falling to 23C on Wednesday. The September average high is just 16C.

Other severe weather warnings include damaging winds in parts of the Snowy Mountains and South West Slopes of up to 90 km/h.

Damaging winds are also expected from Tuesday afternoon in parts of Victoria’s Gippsland and alpine areas where gusts of 100 km/h could occur.

A warm 26C in Melbourne for Tuesday and then a big drop to a high of a mere 17C on Wednesday.

Damaging winds are expected to develop on Tuesday across Tasmania’s east coast and the island’s south and west including Hobart.

Strong north-westerly winds averaging 60 to 70km/h are expected, with damaging gusts of around 100km/h.

Wet in Hobart on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday will see a 21C high but it will be just 14C midweek.

Daily maximum temperatures across Australia on Wednesday. Picture: BOM

Australia’s spring heat spike

Brisbane will heat up as the hot weather moves north. for Tuesday, 26C will be the high but the city’s maximum temperature is expected to hit 35C on Thursday before it cools back down to the mid twenties for the rest of the week.

The temperature in Darwin is expected to hover between 33C and 36C, with balmy, sunny days through to next week.

The weather is forecast to remain relatively stable in Perth, with maximum temperatures in the twenties through to next week. The city’s hottest day is expected to be Thursday, when the mercury could reach 27C.

A relatively mild week in Adelaide with 22C on Tuesday falling to an 18C high on Wednesday. It will warm up however with 28C on Sunday and Monday.

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