Heat reprieve for some but others set to swelter again
While coastal cities get a brief reprieve from record-breaking temperatures, heatwave conditions will continue in inland parts of south-eastern Australia.
Residents of Renmark in South Australia’s Riverland experienced their hottest day on record on Tuesday, with temperatures reaching 49.6C, while Victoria broke its own temperature record, with Walpeup in the state’s north reaching 48.9C.
Cooler conditions are expected across much of Victoria on Wednesday, although the inland heatwave is far from over.
Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told AAP hot weather was heading towards north-west NSW and Queensland, bringing another day of extreme fire danger and scorching conditions.
Mildura in Victoria’s Mallee region will see no relief from the heat, with the regional city set to remain at 40C until at least Sunday.
“We expect four more days of temperatures above 40 degrees and overnight temperatures in the mid-20s in the northern part of the state,” Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said.
A heatwave warning remains in place for many areas on Wednesday, including the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and North Central regions.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Caroline McElnay said severe heatwave conditions were dangerous for many vulnerable people in the community.
“It can cause potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, but it can also trigger events such as heart attack or stroke,” Dr McElnay told reporters on Tuesday.
“Please take steps to protect yourself and others by staying cool. Stay hydrated. Plan ahead and check in with others to avoid the heat.”
Melburnians will see a maximum temperature of 24 degrees on Wednesday, while those living in Adelaide will see a maximum temperature of 30 degrees.
This is very different from the conditions experienced just 24 hours ago; Melbourne recorded a peak of 42C, a few degrees shy of the record high of 46.4C set on 7 February 2009.
Mildura had its hottest day on record, reaching 48.6C, while the nearby towns of Hopetoun and Ouyen also climbed to 48.9C.
Records were broken in Adelaide on Monday, when temperatures reached 44.7 degrees, surpassing the city’s previous Australia Day temperature record set in 2006.
Ceduna, northwest of the SA capital, surpassed its previous record to climb to 49°C, while the NSW town of Dubbo recorded its hottest January day, reaching 46.1°C.
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