Eastern states set to roast with hot weekend weather with temperature tipped to top 40 degrees
Residents in NSW and parts of Queensland have been warned to prepare for a scorcher as the mercury is tipped to reach 40 degrees in parts of the state - breaking another weather record.
Firefighters are bracing for the hot conditions over the weekend, with temperatures set to soar to the mid-30s in Sydney on Saturday and climb above 40 degrees in some parts of the state.
Firefighters across the state are bracing for the heat. Source: AAP/stock
Fire danger ratings could reach extreme levels as a result of abnormally hot conditions, dry vegetation and lack of rainfall.
A total fire ban has been declared for much of NSW but there are still 51 fires burning across the state, down from the nearly 900 one week ago - twice the number for this time of year. the commissioner said.
Surfers and swimmers meanwhile be hitting the waves. Source: AAP/stock
NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimons warned that in addition to the high temperatures there would be strong, dry winds blowing across parts of the state - making conditions ripe for fires.
“We are pretty much looking at right across NSW as being difficult today, and indeed probably tomorrow,” Comm Fitzsimmons said.
'Thor', a Large Air Tanker (LAT) C-130 Hercules, performing a water drop. Bushfire season has started early this year with the unseasonably hot and dry weather. Source: AAP
The state’s fire chief said there were total fire bans across much of the upper half of NSW, from Sydney to the Queensland border.
“A very large geographic area dominated by that heat,” Comm Fitzsimmons said.
“Very dry air and some strong winds out of the centre of Australia, which in western areas will be up to 100km/h.”
NSW is expected to swelter through the weekend and the start of the next week. Source: aap
Soaring temperatures will also lead to a spike in snake activity, with residents in both rural and suburban areas told to look out for slithery behaviour.
Temperatures will ease after the weekend before heating up again mid-week.
In southeast Queensland, damaging winds and large hailstones are likely in the Ipswich, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Moreton Bay council areas on Friday afternoon.
Small hail has already blanketed yards at Crows Nest and Gatton, west of Brisbane.
The storm warning comes ahead of a heatwave that is expected to hit the state's southeast this weekend.
Brisbane is forecast to reach a top of 34 degrees on Sunday and 35 degrees on Monday, more than 8C above average.
NSW beaches open despite whale carcass
The weekend also marks the beginning of the beach season and the return of lifesaver patrols with Surf Life Saving NSW reminding beachgoers to swim at patrolled beaches and between flags.
Beaches on the north coast of NSW have reopened despite an 18-tonne humpback whale carcass decomposing nearby.
Locals furious over stench of rotting whale buried on beach by council
Spring scorcher: Brisbane, Sydney to swelter with temperatures climbing as high as 34C
The 12-metre whale died after being beached on Sunday and its carcass was buried at Nobbys Beach in Port Macquarie on Monday because it was too big to be moved.
Between Sunday and Tuesday, it attracted at least 21 great white shark movements and caused all beaches in the area to be closed.
A whale carcass buried on Nobbys Beach on the NSW Mid North Coast is said to be attracting sharks. Source: National Parks and Wildlife Service, Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie beaches will reopen on Saturday after a NSW shark expert indicated shark activity in the area had returned to normal levels.
The mammal will be moved on Monday after Port Macquarie-Hastings Council copped community backlash over its decision to bury it ahead of beach season.
Authorities said there was no choice but to bury the whale on the beach. Source: National Parks and Wildlife Service, Port Macquarie
An excavator will start digging the whale up along with the contaminated clay and sand.
If needed, chainsaws will break up the whale carcass before it is loaded into skip bins, with a 220-tonne crane helping in the removal to a nearby tip.
It's unknown what will happen to the whale once it reaches landfill, but a decision is expected to be made on Monday.
