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Extreme heatwave heads for end-of-week peak before cool change overnight


NSW will get hotter before it gets cooler as the peak of its week-long heatwave hits ahead of a southerly overnight change.

Areas inland of the Great Dividing Range are expected to bear temperatures into the 40s on Friday, with Ivanhoe and Menindee in the far west forecast to nudge an extreme 48C.

Sydney’s CBD is likely to reach 34C but in the west, suburban Penrith will endure 45C.

Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman Anita Pyne says it’s possible Friday will be another record-breaking day, following 32 maximum temperature records broken around the state on Wednesday.

Pedestrians in Sydney’s CBD on Thursday during the heatwave. Source: AAP
Pedestrians in Sydney’s CBD on Thursday during the heatwave. Source: AAP

Broken Hill and Canberra are forecast to record four consecutive days above 45C and 40C respectively, neither of which has happened since records began for those regions.

Spare a thought for those at the Tamworth Music Festival, which begins on Friday, where fans will swelter through temperatures in the low 40s during the day and low 20s overnight.

“If you’re camping, it could be quite unpleasant in the tent,” Ms Pyne said.

However, some relief is on the cards for southern and central NSW as a southerly change pushes through on Friday night and into Saturday morning.

“It’s a comparatively cooler change, the air that’s coming through will still be above average temperatures but considering how hot it’s been lately, it will be a cool relief,” Ms Pyne said.

Sydney’s CBD is expected to reach 34C on Friday. Source: AAP
Sydney’s CBD is expected to reach 34C on Friday. Source: AAP

Northern inland NSW won’t benefit much, with temperatures expected to remain in the 40s until early next week, she said.

Total fire bans are in place across much of central NSW, stretching from the Victorian border to Queensland and at 8.30pm on Thursday, NSW Rural Fire Service were battling 69 fires across the state.

A dog cools off at Queens Park, Sydney. Source: AAP
A dog cools off at Queens Park, Sydney. Source: AAP

Victoria set for more heat

The NSW-Victoria border cities of Albury and Wodonga reached their hottest day on record on Thursday, at 45.3C.

The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the statistics for the previous 24 hours, warning there was more hot weather on the way.

“The extreme heatwave across northern Victoria produced a few records yesterday: 45.3 degrees in Albury-Wodonga was its hottest day on record, that record spanning over 30 years,” senior meteorologist Rod Dickson said.

“Hunters Hill just east of Albury also had its hottest day on record with a top of 38.3 degrees.”

A weather map showing temperatures reaching their peak in NSW and parts of South Australia on Friday afternoon. Source: Bureau of Meteorology
A weather map showing temperatures reaching their peak in NSW and parts of South Australia on Friday afternoon. Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Other centres entered the record books, with Mangalore, two hours north of Melbourne, reaching 44.8C, its hottest January day ever. And the northern town of Yarrawonga’s maximum of 45.7C was its equal hottest.

“Broadly speaking across the north yesterday temperatures ranged between 45 and 46 degrees, so some pretty extreme heat,” Mr Dickson said.

Overnight brought only slight relief, as temperatures dipped to about 27C.

“If you’re camping, it could be quite unpleasant in the tent,” BOM’s Anita Pyne said of the heatwave in NSW.

Patchy high cloud across the state kept temperatures lower than expected on Thursday with

Mildura recording 42.5C, shy of its forecast 47C.

Melbourne fell short of its forecast high of 37C as a change swept through in the afternoon to bring the city to a more bearable top of 32.5C, while Avalon and Essendon hit 37C.

Spectators at the Australian Open seek shade during a break in play on Thursday. Source: AAP
Spectators at the Australian Open seek shade during a break in play on Thursday. Source: AAP

Dry lightning struck parts of the state as winds of up to 75km/h swept through with a severe fire danger warning for the Mallee, Wimmera and northern country still in place.

A southerly change is due to reach Melbourne between 8-11am on Friday and extend through to northern Victoria later in the day but continued humidity will make for sticky conditions.

Western Australia set for hot weekend as Queensland cools

It will be a hot weekend in Perth too with 39C forecast for Saturday and 40C on Sunday before dropping down to 29C to start the working week.

North of Perth and Mount Augustus is forecast for temperatures in the low 40s until Wednesday.

Broome will have some light showers as temperatures sit in the low 30s going into next week.

Warburton in the state’s east was the hottest part of Western Australia on Thursday as it reached 43C, according to Weatherzone.

Beachgoers at Hillarys Boat Harbour, Perth. Source: Getty Images (file pic)
Beachgoers at Hillarys Boat Harbour, Perth. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

Temperatures in Queensland will sit in the low 30s for residents in Brisbane.

In Central Queensland, Rockhampton will hit as high as 31C on Friday and remain the same across the weekend through until Wednesday.

The same weather is forecast for Proserpine in the Whitsundays, except with the possibility of showers.

Townsville and Cairns also have temperatures sitting around 31C with showers also possible across the weekend.

Reprieve for South Australia but hot week ahead

In South Australia, Adelaide will have some reprieve from the recent heatwave across the weekend with 28C forecast for Friday, 30C for Saturday and 32C for Sunday.

However, it won’t last though with Monday set for 36C before reaching 39C on Wednesday.

Sixteen people were treated for heat-related health problems in the state this week as the town’s regional centres faced temperatures as high as 50C

Temperatures across South Australia are running 10 to 12 degrees Celsius above average, fuelled by a pool of hot air that has been circulating over inland Australia since November.

On Tuesday, Port Augusta posted a top temperature of 48.9, the highest recorded in the mid-north town.

In Tarcoola, further north, the mercury hit 49C, also beating the town’s previous record of 48.9C.

The town is set for 31C on Friday, 34C on Saturday and 36C on Sunday.

It will then heat up on Monday at 40C before reaching 44C on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Residents cool off at Adelaide’s Henley Beach. Source: AAP
Residents cool off at Adelaide’s Henley Beach. Source: AAP

Port Augusta will also get some welcome relief with a shower or two forecast for Friday at 32C, 34C forecast for Saturday and 36C for Sunday.

Like Tarcoola, Port Augusta will then heat up at the start of the working week with 41C for Monday, 44C for Tuesday and 45C and Wednesday.

Darwin residents can expect showers and late storms but temperatures aren’t expected to rise past 33C.

In Tasmania, Lanceston’s Friday will reach 28C before clearing throughout the weekend with 27C on Saturday and 30C on Sunday.

Hobart will also have showers but slightly cooler at 26C. Residents will have a cloudy Saturday at 23C and 27C on Sunday.

With AAP

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Bronte Beach in Sydney’s east on Wednesday. Source: AAP
Bronte Beach in Sydney’s east on Wednesday. Source: AAP