Brutal outlook for Australia’s weekend weather as millions forecast to see high 30s temperatures

Millions of Aussies could swelter under punishing temperatures in the high thirties this weekend as weather systems clash.

A brutal heatwave is set to descend over huge areas of Australia’s east and south this weekend, and into early next week, pushing temperatures for millions into the high thirties and even forties.

Yet, at the same time, in Australia’s north up to 300mm of rain could fall in just one day potentially leading to life threatening flooding as the remains of tropical cyclone Kirrily refuse to let up.

Canberra could see 35C on Sunday, Melbourne is looking at 37C and parts of Sydney will top that at 39C. Perth will, for once, be cooler but it’s set to head into the forties next week.

A large area of high pressure is sitting in the Tasman Sea off the south east coast of Australia bringing settled, hot conditions.

But a low pressure system, bringing moisture, is heading towards the east. Temperatures regularly spike ahead of a front.

Sunday could be a scorcher through large parts of Australia’s east and south. Picture: BSCH

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has said a heatwave is set to cover most of New South Wales this weekend and into Monday – aside from the state’s far west. That heatwave will also bleed into northern Victoria and southern Queensland.

Much of the heatwave is classed as “low intensity” but a substantial area of the state including around Sydney, the Central West and the Hunter Valley could all face a “severe” heatwave.

Sydney’s CBD is looking at 27C on a cloudy Saturday, 32C on Sunday and then up to 35C on Monday. But head just a few kilometres inland and it gets ever toastier, with Penrith peaking at 39C on Sunday and 38C on Monday.

Much of NSW will be in heatwave this weekend. Picture: BOM

Newcastle could see a 36C Sunday and 39C Monday, Singleton is facing a 42C Sunday and Monday, Gundagai 41C on Monday, Dubbo should get to 40C on Sunday and Tamworth 39C.

But even where it’s cooler in NSW, expect to see at least 30C on Sunday.

Canberra is forecast to get to 32C on Saturday and then 35C on Sunday.

The low pressure system is due to bring rain to the capital with up to 15mm on Monday and possibly 25mm on Tuesday. Sydney may not see rain levels that high but wet weather could arrive from Tuesday.

On Monday, that cooler streak of air coming is obvious. Picture: BSCH

Melbourne set to peak at 37C

Melbourne is likely to reach 31C on Saturday and then jump to 37C on Sunday before a sharp drop to a 21C high on Monday with some showers.

It’ll be hotter closer to the NSW border with Wangaratta on 40C for Sunday and Mildura 43C.

Hobart will miss the baking conditions but Saturday will be sunny with a very pleasant 27C. Sunday will drop to 22C with perhaps as much as 10mm of rain and then low twenties highs for the week ahead.

It will be hot in Adelaide on a clear weekend with temperatures getting to 33C on Saturday and 36C on Sunday before a Monday fall to a still summery 25C.

Across the Nuallabor and Perth remains hot but unlike recent weeks it’ll actually be relatively reasonable.

Saturday could get up to 31C with an afternoon windy change. Sunday will be partly cloudy and 27C with a 28C maximum on Monday.

It is set to get blistering however with potentially 38C on Thursday and 41C heading into next weekend.

Darwin is forecast to reach 32C both days this weekend with light showers.

The remans of tropical Cyclone Kirrily continues to bring huge amounts of rain down on northern Queensland. Picture: Weatherzone

Queensland: heat and rain

Queensland is all over the place with weather. The south of the state should remain dry and warm. Brisbane is on a rinse and repeat of 32C and dry conditions until at least Tuesday with the Gold Coast a few degrees below that.

Head up to the north of the state, however, and a drenching is due.

A flood watch is in place for parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria and western Queensland, with flood warnings ranging from minor to major for more than 20 rivers and creeks.

Between 150mm and 250mm of rain is expected to fall on some regions in just 24 hours, with isolated totals of 300mm or higher.

Major flooding is expected at Condamine, Warkon and Walkers Bend over the weekend and into early next week.

There is a high chance of showers in Cairns this weekend as the mercury gets to 32C

Some Queensland regions have already seen heavy rains and intense wind.

A staggering 332mm fell at Westmoreland Station, near the Queensland-NT border, in the 24 hours to 9am on Friday, while 150mm fell at Mornington Island Airport.

Meanwhile, yet another potential cyclone is brewing off Australia’s east coast.

A low pressure system formed off the island of K’gari on Thursday, with a chance it could form into a tropical cyclone.

The system is expected to begin moving west across the Coral Sea towards northern Queensland next week, with a low (10-15 per cent) chance it will develop into a cyclone from Wednesday and a moderate (25-35 per cent) chance from Thursday.

However, “at this stage, there is enough uncertainty to take the forecast of a tropical cyclone with a large grain of salt,” the BOM said.

“It’s best to be aware of but not alarmed by this system.”

– with Chloe Whelan.