Aussies brace for scorching week, heatwaves in multiple states after wild 50C temperature range for first week of summer revealed
Millions of Australians are bracing for scorching conditions, increased fire danger and even possible thunderstorms in the coming days, with temperatures soaring as high as 50C across the country in the first week of summer.
Multiple heatwave warnings are in place for Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and parts of Queensland until Friday as the mercury rises above 45 degrees in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Maximum temperatures in NSW on Tuesday were 4-10 degrees above average for December.
Temperatures ranged from 50C across Australia in the first week of summer, according to Weatherzone.
Temperatures ranged from -4C at Thredbo in NSW on 2 December to 46C at Moomba in SA and Birdsville, Queensland, on 6 December.
There is a widespread high fire danger in central and regional parts of the state, including the Hunter, Illawarra and Sydney metropolitan forecast areas, the Bureau of Meteorology said in its update on Tuesday afternoon.
Meteorologist Christie Johnson said the metro area is in “extreme” fire danger.
Temperatures in Sydney rose to 30C on Tuesday and 39C in Penrith.
“We do not expect to see the widespread extreme fire danger we saw over the weekend,” Ms. Johnson said in the bureau’s update.
“The winds are not as strong as they were on Saturday, but we still face high fire danger for much of the state.”
Ms Johnson said a continuing trough in north-east NSW would increase the risk of storms on Wednesday and Thursday, which could cause damaging winds and large hail.
There were numerous fire alerts across NSW on Tuesday evening, including an alert for the village of Bogee, north of Lithgow.
“Firefighters remain on scene to ensure property protection where necessary,” an alert from the NSW Rural Fire Service says.
“If you are between Marsden Rd and Home Hills Rd and the Capertree River on Marsden Rd, follow the advice of emergency personnel at the scene.
“The fire is burning rapidly and may affect properties between Marsden Rd and Home Hills Rd and the Capertree River on Marsden Rd.”
Fires last weekend destroyed at least 20 houses.
Firefighters were called to battle the massive blaze, which burned the Koolewong, Phegans Bay and Woy Woy Bay areas and destroyed more than 129 hectares of land.
An experienced firefighter, identified as John Lohan, died after being crushed under a tree at a property in Nerong at around 10.45pm on Sunday.
Temperatures are expected to drop below 25 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday.
But Sky News Weather meteorologist Tamsin Green said some conditions in the country’s interior would worsen.
“We can see that the main focus by the end of the week is really inland,” Ms Green said, pointing to a forecast model showing temperatures were likely to exceed 45 degrees in some central areas on Friday.
“So the focus is really across the center and also parts of the west rather than the east towards the weekend.”
Heat wave warnings will continue Wednesday into Friday in multiple states.
In WA, a severe heatwave warning is in place for the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, North Interior and South Interior forecast areas.
“Maximum temperatures range from the mid-thirties to the mid-forties, and overnight minimum temperatures range from the mid-to-high twenties,” the bureau’s warning states. “Severe heatwave conditions are expected to gradually taper and ease southwards over the next few days. Locations likely to be affected include Fitzroy Crossing, Karratha, Newman, Paraburdoo and Warburton.”
Maximum temperatures are expected to peak at 46C on Wednesday in the iron ore mining town of Pannawonica.
There is a similar warning for the Gulf State in Queensland; Maximum temperatures are predicted to be in the low thirties to the low forties, and overnight minimum temperatures are forecast to be in the mid to high twenties.
