Half of Australia to be sizzled in a heatwave this week – with some areas to hit temperatures around 45C

Some parts of Australia will see their “hottest weather” in years as authorities warn of a scorching heatwave that will sear half the country.

Some parts of Australia will see their ‘hottest weather’ in years as authorities warn of a scorching heatwave that will sear half the country. Picture: Sky News Weather

Half of Australia is set to be sweltering through scorching temperatures this week, as the Bureau of Meteorology issues a three-day heatwave warning from Wednesday onwards.

The Bureau has warned Australians across the country — from Broome in Western Australia’s northwest, to North Queensland and central NSW — to brace for severe heatwave conditions this week.

Forecast temperatures across Australia are set to reach the high-30s – some as high as mid-40s – this week as a heatwave bears down. Picture: Sky News Weather

Some parts of central Australia have already got a taste of the sizzling conditions, with Tarcoola, Roxby Downs and Woomera in outback South Australia hitting 45C on Tuesday.

Sky Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe said there was “proper heat” hitting the country, particularly over Western Australia, central Australia, far-west Queensland and NSW.

“We could even see 47 degrees on Thursday or Friday in parts of South Australia,” he said.
Mr Sharpe said that heat will build in NSW, targeting “northern inland parts” from Thursday to Saturday.

But senior meteorologist at the bureau, Dean Narramore, told the ABC that was “just a taste” of the heat to come, particularly for inland areas, this week.

He said despite “not many” temperature records being broken, the first hit of over-40 degree days “is always a shock to the system”.

The most extreme temperatures, he added, would be through inland South Australia as well as western and central NSW – likely “12 to 14 degrees above average” – with the capital cities spared from the worst of it.

Forecasts predict Australia’s capital cities will be spared the worst of the heat. Picture: Sky News Weather

Darwin and Brisbane are expected to have their hottest days on Wednesday, reaching 35C and 32C, respectively. Temperatures throughout the week will sit in the mid-30s for Darwin, and around 30C for Brisbane.

Adelaide’s hottest days will be Thursday and Friday, with an expected top of 33C, followed by a mild week.

Melbourne can expect its hottest day on Friday, with a maximum of 30C – with the chance of showers and temperatures in the early 20s for most of the week.

Canberra is set to be the hottest capital, expecting a top of 36C on Saturday, with temperatures sitting around the mid-30s throughout the week.

Sydney is also expected to reach its hottest temperatures of 35C on Saturday – with temperatures sitting in the mid-to-high 20s before and afterwards.

Meanwhile Perth can expect its hottest day on Sunday, with a balmy 34C, with temperatures to stay in the early-30s leading up to and after the peak.

The heat will cover most of the country through the middle of the week. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

It will move toward the southeast of the country toward the weekend. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

Mr Sharpe said the temperatures are expected to make this, “comfortably … the hottest weather we have seen in three years”.

“Bourke, Dubbo, western Sydney [are] all heading into the 40s for their hottest weather in three years, ahead of a little southerly change that will start marching up the coast during Sunday,” Mr Sharpe added.

“That will also keep the lid on those temperatures further south as well.”

Forecasts show the heatwave, which are a backflip on the wet and wild conditions that kicked off Summer last week, will be flip again and be followed by a cool change and decent rainfall across southern parts of the mainland this week.

Meteorologists say a low pressure system developing off the Great Australian Bight could bring heavy falls to some parts of South Australia, Victoria and the eastern states through the weekend and into next week.

“It’s also going to shift the temperature quite a bit from what we’ll see to start the weekend compared to the end of the weekend, especially with all of that heat that pulls in across the country,” Sky Weather meteorologist Bradlyn Oakes said.

“So hot conditions to start [the week] and then a bit of a change as we head toward the end of the week. But throughout the work week, most of the country are going to see hot conditions.”

Tropical cyclone Jasper is building off the Queensland coast, and may make landfall next week. Picture: Sky News Australia

The heatwave is one in a trifecta of tumultuous weather events hitting Australia at once this week, alongside a tropical cyclone building off the coast of north Queensland and high pressure system.

This is thanks to a little known concept called an omega block: a pattern in which an area of high pressure is straddled on either side by areas of low pressure.

According to Weatherzone, omega blocks tend to cause extreme weather because “they slow of block the passage of weather systems that are tyring to move from west to east across Earth’s surface”.

Aussies have been warned to look after each other, their loved ones – including pets – and neighbours during the heatwave, with the risk of fire and heat-related illnesses increasing as the temperatures do.

If you are concerned for your health, about heat exhaustion, call your doctor or healthdirect on 1800 022 222; or if you are concerned about heat, immediately call triple-0 (000).