Temperatures set to spike as southeast braces for record-breaking heat
Parts of southeastern Australia are heading for their hottest October day in years as spring temperatures soar well above average on Thursday.
State capitals Adelaide and Melbourne will reach 37 degrees and 35 respectively as millions look set to swelter in heat more aligned to the summer forecast some five weeks away.
The temperature at Adelaide airport had already reached 30 degrees by 9am.
“Central southern South Australia right through to western Victoria we are expecting to see temperatures between 10 and 16 degrees higher than average,” meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology Dean Sgarbossa told Yahoo News Australia.
He said the temperatures were “pretty unusual” for this time of year and records were expected to fall in the town of Mount Gambier for October.
It is predicted to be 35 in the town in SA’s southeast – a full 2.3 degrees higher than the previous record for October.
Several South Australian towns will breach the 40-degree mark, with Tarcoola set for an eye-watering 42.
“These north-westerlies will be dragging the heat before a south-westerly change. When the winds hit, it’ll be quite windy on the hottest days in each city,” Weatherzone meteorologist Craig McIntosh told Yahoo News Australia.
Such temperatures across the state paired with strong winds has prompted a total fire ban in 10 districts for 24 hours.
Residents of the Northwest Pastoral, West Coast, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, Mid North, Mount Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and Lower South East districts fall under the ban.
CFS state duty commander Yvette Dowling said the public should be mindful of the potentially dangerous conditions.
"For those areas of the state with total fire bans, we are asking the community to cease any risky activities, such as angle grinding," Ms Dowling said on Wednesday.
Victoria’s high will come in the northern town of Ouyen where residents will cop 39 degree heat. Nearby Mildura on the NSW border will reach 38.
A FIRE WEATHER WARNING has been issued for numerous districts across #SouthAustralia for Thursday. Hot, dry and gusty north to northwesterly winds are forecast ahead of a cooler change. See the warning at: https://t.co/taxPlvz26o pic.twitter.com/jReHdjU75R
— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) October 23, 2019
Sydney and NSW to cop the heat on Friday
With north-westerly winds bringing heat from the western interior, Sydney will escape the heat on Thursday but can expect blistering temperatures on Friday.
The city can expect temperatures of up to 35, while Penrith in Sydney’s west will reach 37.
On Thursday, the city will experience temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s are forecast in the west.
Central parts of NSW will hover around 35 on Thursday while the west of the state, including Broken Hill, will reach 36.
While nowhere near the scorching temperatures of the mainland, Hobart will also experience a spike with temperatures at a pleasant 27 degrees.
The heat follows on from near record temperatures in the Northern Territory on Monday when Darwin recorded its second highest temperature on record at 38.2 – just 0.7C shy of the record temperatures.
Relief from heat quick to follow
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Mika Peace said relief was in sight for the southeast, with a cool change due to sweep through late on Thursday and temperatures to drop by about 20 degrees on Friday.
Mr Sgarbossa told Yahoo News Australia a “vigorous” cold front late on Thursday will bring much-needed relief for South Australians with temperatures dropping an impressive 18 degrees to highs of just 19 for Adelaide on Friday.
Melbourne will reach 24 on Friday with a chance of showers across the city. The rain will continue on Saturday and Sunday with temperatures peaking at 17. Mildura will drop 11 degrees to 27.
Sydney’s temperatures will drop into the low 20s on Sunday, with highs in the city of 35 and 31 on Friday and Saturday respectively.
While relatively unaffected by the north-westerly, Brisbane will be warm through to the weekend with maximum temperatures ranging from 28 to 31 until Monday.
Perth is also in for some hot days. It will begin to warm up on Saturday with a high of 28 and peak on Sunday at 33 before dropping back to 27 on Monday.
With AAP
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter, download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.
