Heat warning issued as temperatures set to soar across Top End

HEALTH officials have issued a warning as high temperatures and increased heat conditions are forecast for the Top End in coming days

Health officials have issued a warning as high temperatures and increased heat conditions are forecast for the Top End in coming days

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HEALTH officials have issued a warning as high temperatures and increased heat conditions are forecast for the Top End in coming days.

NT Health has issued a warning, urging all residents and visitors to take appropriate precautions to avoid heat stroke and dehydration.

Chief Health Officer Dr Hugh Heggie encouraged people to spend as much time as possible indoors in airconditioning, avoid strenuous activities and drink at least three litres of water a day.

“Even short periods of exposure to extreme heat can lead to heat stress, with an increase in body temperature, which can be a very serious or even fatal,” Dr Heggie said.

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“Heat stress is not the same as dehydration. If you experience heat stress, the best way of reducing body temperature is cold or iced water and reducing physical activity.”

Symptoms of heat stress include: tiredness and lethargy, headache, dizziness or fainting, confusion leading to poor decision making, muscle cramps, feeling thirsty and urinating less often.

Please seek medical advice if you feel unwell. If your symptoms are serious, call triple-0 (000) immediately.

The Bureau of Meteorology are forecasting a top of 33C for Darwin today with a ridge of high pressure over Central Australia maintaining hot, dry and windy conditions across the northwest Top End.

“Those strong winds are expected to begin to ease off on Saturday, as well as some humidity returning as well, ”duty forecaster Moses Raico said.

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“There will still be enough dry air about to keep our fire danger ratings up in severe for the Darwin and Adelaide River districts.”

It comes after catastrophic fire conditions were briefly met at Batchelor on Thursday. This is the first time catastrophic conditions have been recorded since 2012.

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