Australia Heatwave – Breaking News Updates

Very High to Severe fire danger forecast for a number of areas tomorrow. A Total Fire Ban in place for Far North Coast, North Coast, Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney, North Western, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Central Ranges, New England and Northern Slopes tomorrow Sunday 29 November.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions are expected across much of the south-east and eastern parts of Australia over the coming days as the heat makes its way around the country.

“But the temperatures and duration of what we’re going to see is exceptional,” he said.

It is important that people plan ahead, check in with the local health advice and look after their pets, local wildlife and vulnerable people.

Here is a wrap of how the heat is expected to affect the states and territories.

South Australia

After a scorching day yesterday, South Australian temperatures are forecast to remain high on Saturday with 47 degrees Celsius at Maree and 46C in Renmark and Port Augusta.

Adelaide is forecast to reach 38C today.

All of this heat is expected to up the fire risk across the country, with extreme fire danger forecast again today.

Thankfully, a cool change is expected this afternoon, according to Mr How.

Victoria

Meanwhile, across the border, things are hot in northern Victoria, but according to Mr How, Melbourne and southern Victoria will be protected by a southerly breeze.

“Even though it’s going to be baking hot, up to 45 degrees along the Murray, for southern Victoria it’s going to be fairly cool,” he said.

Melbourne is only forecast to reach 28C Saturday and temperatures are expected to be much more pleasant south of the ranges.

New South Wales and the ACT

Southern Victoria might be missing out but, there is no such luck in New South Wales.

The heat is stretching all the way to the coast with a forecast of 45C in Hay and Deniliquin on Saturday and 40C days forecast for Western Sydney.

Sunday is expected to be the peak heat day for eastern New South Wales, and even Sydney City is forecast to get up to 39C.Be prepared for the heatHeatwaves kill far more people than other natural disasters. ABC Emergency has a checklist of things you can do to be ready.Read more

“Severe fire dangers for the Sydney Metro, and severe fire dangers right along the New South Wales coast with very strong winds ahead of a change on Sunday,” Mr How said.

The change is expected to come in the form of a gusty southerly buster bringing potentially damaging winds, thunderstorms and a rapid drop in temperatures.

“We’re talking 10 to 20 degrees in the space of an hour. It could also bring some thunderstorms in the form of dry lightning.

“So the risk of new ignition on Sunday is there.”

Stay alert and keep an eye out for emergency warnings near you.https://www.youtube.com/embed/q8q1FgYifFk?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.auYOUTUBEHow to prepare for a heatwave: Emergency tips

Canberra is expected to miss the worst of the peak heat this time round with maximums of 33C and 28C on Saturday and Sunday.

Queensland

Up in northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland, there is no cool change in sight until Thursday. Yes, Thursday.

“It’s looking like a five or six-day heatwave for millions of people,” according to Mr How.

Let ABC Emergency helpABC Emergency brings warnings and coverage of emergencies to one place before, during and after times of crisis and disaster.Read more

On Thursday, onshore flow is expected to cool things down around the coast, but it will push the heat back into central and inland parts.

The heat is expected to hang around through western Queensland all the way through until next weekend.

Whether or not the heat then circles back around the following week will depend on whether the rain finally starts falling up north.

Northern Territory and the tropics

For the heat to stop circling the country, we really need the tropical rains to kick in.

“It looks like the second week of December could be another heatwave,” Mr How says.

“It’s a race between that and the increase in the monsoon activity to see which one wins out.”

Despite there being a strong La Niña in the Pacific, the rains have held off for the past few weeks thanks to short-term climate drivers getting in the way.https://www.youtube.com/embed/UsWHHE_jkGE?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.auYOUTUBEUnderstanding the Madden-Julian Oscillation

But with the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) expected to move over early to mid-December, that deluge could be starting soon.

Western Australia

While the east is sweating it out, it is looking like a relatively mild weekend in the south-west.

A high-pressure ridge is expected to form over southern Western Australia today before a surface trough forms on Sunday ahead of the next cold front, expected to graze the south-west on Monday.

Perth is forecast to have two lovely days of 25C with no chance of rain, partly cloudy on Sunday.

Tasmania

I know you hate being left out down there, but in this particular instance it really is a good thing.

Showers are forecast over the weekend, as troughs and lows move through.

Things are expected to clear up on Monday, but Tuesday will likely bring some wet weather as the next front makes its way through.