Aussies brace for stifling heatwave and severe thunderstorms

Millions across the country are being warned to brace for more hot and sweaty nights this summer as temperatures reach 12C above average for parts of the country.

Australians have been warned to brace for more hot and sweaty nights this week, with temperatures up to 12C above the average for parts of the country.

Intense heat and thunderstorms are hitting northeastern NSW, southern inland Queensland and the central district of Australia, which may become severe into Thursday night.

Australians can expect “stifling heat” on Friday, with heat and humidity combining and stretching across the majority of Australia, with some areas of Western Australia tipping 44C and South Australia hitting 42C.

Bureau of Meteorologist senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the intense heat in the centre and southeast of the country was being driven by two factors.

“The first is a high-pressure system from the Tasman Sea, (which) is bringing down the heat from the interior,” he said.

A surface trough in central district of Western Australia is “bringing down humidity from the tropics”.

Australians can expect “stifling heat” on Friday. Picture: BOM

A heatwave warning has been issued for parts of WA and SA, with a low-intensity and severe heatwave travelling through the Pilbara and Gascoyne regions and impacting Meekatharra, Newman, Paraburdoo and Warburton.

It was a hot Thursday afternoon for residents in South Australia, with Ceduna on Murat Bay recording a top of 43.5C, Adelaide’s northern suburbs reaching 40C by 2pm and the CBD reaching a maximum temperature of 39.8C.

Heading into the weekend, NSW residents can expect a “hot and unsettled” Friday with temperatures reaching 38C in Broken Hill and 37C in Bourke.

A three-day severe heatwave warning has been issued for parts of NSW from Thursday, including the Mid North Coast, South Coast and Snowy Mountains Districts.

Victoria will also have a hot and humid end to the week, with temperatures reaching 37C in Mildura and Shepparton.

South Australia will experience “tropical” conditions on Friday as humidity and heat combine and pour down from the north.

Heatwave conditions have been issued for the northern parts of Western Australia, with temperatures expected to hit 44C in Newman and 41C in Exmouth.

Cutting through the heat, widespread rain, storms and showers are expected to develop on Friday afternoon in “quite broad areas” of the country, the southern and eastern parts of Australia, particularly in Queensland, Northern Territory, northern WA, South Australia, Victoria and NSW.

A stifling heatwave is expected over the weekend in parts of the country. Picture: BOM

This comes as the Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast overview has anticipated above-average maximum and minimum temperatures “across almost all of Australia”.

The bureau also warned of a risk of “unusually high maximum temperatures”, including in parts of NSW, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory.

Some of those areas could swelter with more than four times the normal chance of abnormal temperatures, with parts of northern WA facing abnormally low maximums.

Sky News Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe earlier said heat records were likely to remain uncontested for the next few weeks, with records more likely to be broken towards the end of December.

“We’ve seen some pretty significant wet weather … slowed the heating trend a bit for Australia with all this rain and storm activity,” Mr Sharpe said. “It’s more about the rain and the storms this month.”

Chance of exceeding medium minimum temperatures January to March 2025. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

As for rainfall, the bureau warned there was a 60 per cent to 80 per cent chance of above-average rainfall in eastern Australia between December and February.

The highest chance of above-average rainfall is forecast for December when almost all of the country is likely to experience above average rain for that month.

The chance of above-average falls has increased in recent weeks, according to the bureau, but typically drops off as the season progresses.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathon How earlier said December was shaping up to be wetter than average.

“High chance of being wetter than usual across most of the country, especially the east coast,” a bureau spokesperson said.

Chance of exceeding medium rainfall, December, 2024. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

“Same deal goes for Adelaide, Melbourne, and Hobart – a wetter than usual December.

“The main message for this week is it’s going be hot, humid and unsettled.

“There’s a chance of seeing that for the rest of the month, but as we know, all we need is that one good day on Christmas.”

Sydney’s maximum temperature average for this month is 25C, with Melbourne’s 24C, and Brisbane and Perth at 30C.

Adelaide and Canberra are both at 27C, Hobart at 20C and Darwin at 33C.