Hot Christmas on the cards
Perth is expected to have temperatures in the 30s for the next seven days with a top of 35C forecast for Christmas Day.
Today, the first day of summer holidays, is set to be a scorcher with the temperature at midday already at 35.9C and expected to climb to 39C.
It will be unsettled in the north on Christmas Day, possibly thundery in the east and cool and damp in the south-east.
“Christmas Day doesn’t look anything too exceptional or to extreme at this stage,” national operations centre senior meteorologist Craig Burke said.
Mr Burke said showers and storms are possible with unsettled weather from the Kimberley, the Top End and the Gulf of Carpentaria, and may spread south into NSW.
The south-east can expect a near-perfect day to enjoy the traditional Christmas roast, with cool southerlies and a shower or two for Melbourne and Hobart and a partly cloudy top of 24C in Adelaide.
In Perth, it might be wiser to barbecue the seasonal feast.
“Perth is headed for 35C. They will have hot easterlies on Christmas Day,” Mr Burke said.
“We’re seeing a low pressure trough extend from the Northern Territory through western Queensland and into NSW, and this is likely to bring some showers and thunderstorms on the day,” he said.
The exact position of the trough is uncertain but will become clearer as Christmas Day draws closer.
“Some models suggest that it might be a little bit further north and might only affect northern NSW,” Mr Burke said.
CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE CAPITALS
Adelaide - partly cloudy, 24C
Brisbane - partly cloudy, 30C
Canberra - possible shower or thunderstorm, 29C
Darwin - shower or two, possible thunderstorm, 32C
Hobart - shower or two, 19C
Melbourne - possible afternoon shower, 22C
Perth - sunny, 35C
Sydney - shower or two, possible storm, 26C
