Aussies welcome summer with simmering heatwave, fire warnings and icy cold blast
It’s an unusual start to summer as some Aussies swelter through a suffocating heatwave, while millions more are in the firing line for lashings of rain and icy temperatures.
Aussies are set to battle a land of extremes as the country welcomes the first week of summer, with scorching conditions smashing the majority and wintry conditions keeping their icy grip across Victoria.
As residents in Perth swelter in the one of the hottest starts to summer, it won’t be bright and sunny for millions in the south as a cold front washes over Victoria.
A trough moving over the west is pushing hot winds over Western Australia, giving Perth residents a very hot start to the summer season.
Temperatures are set to sizzle for residents in the northern region of Wrstern Australia, as a heatwave scorches the Kimberley region.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a heatwave warning for the region, with the mercury forecast to tip into the mid 40s in the first half of the week.
Areas impacted include Fitzroy Crossing, the bureau website reads.
The heat is turning up in the northern region of Queensland, too, with a heatwave warning in place for The Central Coast and Whitsundays, Capricornia, Central Highlands and Coalfields and Wide Bay and Burnett.
Severe heatwave conditions are expected until Tuesday, though the bureau forecast temperatures to drop from the south as a south-westerly change extends north over the state.
Despite the cloudy skies in Sydney, a fire danger warning has been issued for residents in the Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney and North Western regions as hot and dry temperatures combine with fresh and gusty winds to create prime fire danger.
“Action your Bushfire Survival Plan now,” the bureau website warned.
Despite the warm start to summer for the majority of Australia, the forecast is looking a little bit icier in the south, with residents in Victoria and Tasmania kicking off the season with heavy rainfall and chilly temperatures.
Coming off the back of a cooler-than-average spring, puffer jackets were back in action on Monday as blistering winds and rain pummelled commuters in Melbourne, signalling a less-than-warm welcome to summer.
The bureau forecast cloudy skies and showers across the state before contracting to the ranges later, and possible thunderstorms.
Conditions are so wintry in Victoria that snow has been recorded above 1100m.
Looking ahead, Brisbane will see sunny skies and light winds, reaching a maximum of 32C.
In Sydney, conditions will be overcast with a slight chance of a shower in the afternoon, with a top of 26C.
It will be slightly chillier in Canberra, with cloudy skies and a possible shower developing, and the mercury tipping at 17C.
Melbourne will be cold and icy on Monday, with a forecast of showers and a possible thunderstorm, reaching a top of 15C.
Residents in Hobart can expect a cloudy day with a high chance of showers and a maximum temperature of 15C.
There will be cloudy skies in Adelaide as a light chance of a shower threatens in the early afternoon, and temperatures reach a maximum of 20C.
Perth residents will see plenty of sunshine and scorching conditions on Monday as the mercury creeps to a top of 37C.
In Darwin, residents can expect a shoer or two, with a possibly severe thunderstorms with lashings of rain and potential flash flooding, reaching a top of 33C.
