Perth heatwave: Weekend scorcher cancels Ascot horseraces
A weekend racing event has been canned as a heatwave threatens to push the mercury to 41C, with concerns for horses in the extreme heat.
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A sweltering weekend heatwave that’s set to push temperatures to 41C has caused the cancellation of a horseracing event, as organisers fear for the safety of the animals and their jockeys.
A widespread heatwave that consumed much of northern and central WA earlier this week has since migrated south.
It’s expected to consume the Perth area from Saturday, with pockets of extreme heat that are forecast to drive a high of 41C in the city centre.
‘No chance’: Horse races cancelled
The heatwave has forced organisers to abandon races at Ascot Racecourse in central Perth on Saturday.
Initially, Racing and Wagering WA planned to push the event into the afternoon or evening, but forecasters now predict high temperatures will linger well into the night.
“The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting Saturday’s 41C will continue into the evening,” Perth Racing chief executive James Oldring said on Thursday.
“This ruled out hopes we could change to a twilight timeslot.
“There was no chance we would consider racing in 41C because welfare of horses and people are given absolute priority.”
Future race programs will be amended to include the cancelled Ascot events.
Balmy week for capitals
After the high of 41C on Saturday, the heat is forecast to linger in Perth for several more days. Maximum temperatures of between 36C and 38C are forecast through to next week.
Though Perth will be worst affected, it’s expected to be a balmy weekend in most of Australia’s major cities.
The WA heatwave warning will spread into SA from Friday, with almost the entire state consumed by a low-intensity heatwave through the weekend. Severe conditions are expected in the state’s west and extreme heat around the WA-SA border.
For Adelaide, that means a balmy Saturday with a high of 32C. The SA capital is forecast to stay sunny right through to next week.
It’s a similar situation in the NT, where a low-intensity heatwave is expected to impact the southernmost third of the territory, with pockets of extreme heat.
Darwin is likely to be impacted by one of two wet weather systems that may become a pair of cyclones over the weekend.
Stormy weather and a high of 31C is forecast on Saturday, before possible heavy falls arrive from Sunday. Parts of the city may receive weekend rainfall totals of up to 300mm.
It’s set to be a beautiful Saturday in Sydney, where temperatures are forecast to climb to 30C with a light breeze and just a small chance of rain. The city is forecast to become wet again from Sunday, with showers forecast right through to next week, though temperatures are forecast to stay in the high-20s.
Brisbane residents ought to prepare for a muggy weekend, with rain forecast every day through to next week. It’ll still be hot, with highs of between 29C and 31C each day.
Melbourne won’t be quite as balmy, with a high of 23C and cloudy conditions forecast on Saturday. Melbourne’s warm weather isn’t expected to come until next week, when temperatures are set to reach 28C and 30C on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
It’s a similar situation in Hobart, where 21C is forecast on Saturday. Mornings are still chilly down south — between 9C and 11C next week.
Originally published as Perth heatwave: Weekend scorcher cancels Ascot horseraces
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