Heatwave to scorch parts of Australia on New Year's Eve
Australia’s south should get ready for blistering heat in the coming days, as an extreme heatwave is forecast for parts of NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and northern Western Australia.
The heatwave is expected to hit NSW and the ACT tomorrow and continue into the new year, and neither of those states can expect some relief at night.
“It’s not just the hot daytime temperatures, it’s also the very warm night-time temperatures,” BoM meteorologist Rob Taggart told Yahoo News Australia.
And with intense heat comes bad fire conditions.
No relief for NSW and the ACT
Mr Taggart said NSW and the ACT is “walking into” another period of intense heat, with sweltering temperatures lingering in some parts until Thursday next week.
“Tomorrow we’re looking at temperatures in the low 40s over the southern inland,” Mr Taggart said.
“And high 30s for much of the remainder of the inland.”
The worst for most inland parts of the state will be Monday, Mr Taggart said, however Monday is also the day the heat is expected to start creeping east.
Come Monday, places north of Sydney, like the Hunter Region, will start hitting the 40s in the lead up to the new year.
Over the next week in Sydney, the mercury will slowly rise, with temperatures rising to 33 degrees on the last two days of 2019 – Monday and Tuesday.
For the next week, the night-time temperature is not forecast to drop below 20 degrees, offering little relief from the string of hot days.
Western Sydney should brace for even more intense temperatures. Penrith is set to hit over 40 degrees on December 29 and hover around the low 40s until January 1.
Canberra too will be copping it – from now and until the new year, Australia’s capital city will endure heat around 37 to 38 degrees.
Monday is forecast to be the hottest day for Canberra during this heatwave, reaching 40 degrees, and will drop down a mere two degrees to finish off 2019 in a sweat.
'50-degree days possible' as week of extreme heat hits Australia
'Cooking alive': The desperate fight to save Australian wildlife from collapse
Mr Taggart said the ‘peak’ bushfire day in terms of conditions would be Tuesday in most areas of NSW and the ACT, with the heat making it harder for the firefighters to contain the blazes.
However he did also say some of the ‘big fire grounds’ can expect a cool change on Tuesday, citing places near the greater Sydney area – like the Green Wattle blaze.
More than 1700 firefighters were on the frontline on Christmas Day, slogging away to strengthen containment lines before the dangerous weather arrives.
Fire danger ratings are very high on Thursday for the ACT, the greater Hunter, the central and southern ranges, the northern and southern slopes and northwestern NSW.
There is a high fire danger rating from the far south coast up to Sydney, with a low-moderate danger rating in western parts of the state.
Fires rage ahead of heatwave in South Australia
A heatwave bringing severe to extreme conditions will start moving towards the Australian east coast on Thursday, affecting the northern parts of South Australia.
Adelaide will be spared with a top of 33C forecast before soaring to 39C on Friday.
The capital will remain around 38 degrees until Tuesday before heat subsides and drops to 25 degrees.
Like NSW, firefighters have been working around the clock to tackle out-of-control blazes across Adelaide Hills.
A watch and act warning has been issued on Boxing Day for Cudlee Creek, Gumeracha, Lobethal, Charleston, Woodside, Mount Torrens, Chain of Ponds, Inglewood, Castambul, Paracombe, Millbrook, Montacute, Harrogate, Kenton Valley, Birdwood, Tungkillo and Mount Beevor in the Mount Lofty Ranges.
To the east of South Australia, Melbourne will only have one day where it will be over 40 degrees – on Monday December 30.
The temperature in Melbourne over the coming week will go from low 20s to mid 30s. However places in the northwest part of Victoria will reach 46 degrees on Monday.
Take care during a heatwave
Mr Taggart urges people to keep an eye on those who are vulnerable over the coming days.
“Check on the elderly neighbours and if people aren’t well, check up on them,” he says.
During period of extensive heat, people are more prone to suffering from dehydration or for bodies to overheat.
“Exposure to high temperatures can lead to life-threatening heat-related illness such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion,” NSW Health advises, also saying heat can exacerbate chronic illnesses.
Older adults, pregnant woman, children and infants are all at risk from the heat, as are people who have chronic or acute illnesses, people who take certain medications and people who work in hot environments.
It is best for people to try and stay cool, avoid the sun and keep drinking water – not alcohol, hot or sugary drinks which can make dehydration worse.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
