Heatwave to scorch Australia: Millions urged to stay indoors

A severe heatwave is set to hit both eastern and western Australia, with residents of one state warned to stay indoors or risk heat stroke.

Parts of central and eastern Queensland have been warned of a heatwave. The Bureau of Meteorology has urged residents to stay in air-conditioned buildings.

“Severe heat waves can be dangerous for many people, especially the elderly, infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, people with medical conditions and those who are unwell,” the report said.

‘Find a place to stay cool, such as your home, a library, community center or shopping centre. Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out.’

Weather Zone meteorologist Tim Woebbeking warned Brisbane will see high temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius all week except Wednesday.

“High humidity and cloud cover ensure that the night does not drop below 23 degrees Celsius, while during the day it becomes oppressively muggy,” he said.

Severe heatwaves are also forecast in parts of western Western Australia, while isolated areas in the Kimberley and the southeast will see a low-intensity heatwave.

The Bureau of Meteorology is monitoring tropical storm activity and warning of severe thunderstorms for the Pilbara, Gascoyne, North Interior, South Interior and Goldfields regions.

Low-intensity heatwave conditions will also affect isolated areas of Cape York Peninsula, the central Northern Territory and northern NSW – including the Mid North Coast and the Northern Tablelands.

Several states will be hit by a severe to low intensity heat wave (photo, temperature forecast for Monday)

Parts of central and eastern Queensland have been warned of a heatwave, with the Bureau of Meteorology urging residents to stay in air-conditioned buildings

Parts of central and eastern Queensland have been warned of a heatwave, with the Bureau of Meteorology urging residents to stay in air-conditioned buildings

Sydney

Tuesday: Sunny day. Small chance of showers in the evening. Light wind, moderate to southwesterly to 15 to 20 km/h in the morning, then trending southerly to southwesterly to 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day. Min. 20C. Maximum 26°C.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Moderate chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. Light winds, east to northeast 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon, then light in the evening. Min. 19C. Maximum 26°C.

Thursday: Sunny. Light wind, east to southeast 15 to 25 km/h during the day and east to northeast 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min. 19C. Maximum 29C.

Melbourne

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers. Light winds becoming southwesterly at 15 to 20 km/h during the middle of the day, becoming southerly to 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon. Min. 14C. Maximum 21C.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers in the morning. In the morning the wind will turn weak to west to southwest, 20 to 30 km/hour. Min. 13C. Maximum 23C.

Thursday: Cloudy. Small chance of showers. Wind west 15 to 20 km/h, turning south 15 to 25 km/h in the afternoon. Min. 14C. Maximum 24°C.

Brisbane

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, probably from late morning. The chance of thunder. Light winds, coming from the north during the day, 15 to 20 km/h, becoming light in the evening. Min. 24C. Maximum 30C.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. The chance of thunder. Light winds, easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day, then light in the afternoon. Min. 23C. Maximum 29C.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Moderate chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. The chance of thunder. Light winds, becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the afternoon, then becoming light in the evening. Min. 22C. Maximum 32°C.

Weatherzone's Tim Woebbeking warned Brisbane will see high temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius all week except Wednesday

Weatherzone’s Tim Woebbeking warned Brisbane will see high temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius all week except Wednesday

The Bureau warned: 'Find a place to stay cool, such as your home, a library, community center or shopping centre'

The Bureau warned: ‘Find a place to stay cool, such as your home, a library, community center or shopping centre’

Perth

Tuesday: Sunny. Wind easterly 30 to 45 km/h. In the morning, gusts of up to 70 km/h are possible in the hills and foothills. Min. 19C. Maximum 36°C.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Small chance of showers in the hills, virtually zero elsewhere. There is a chance of a thunderstorm in the northeast in the afternoon and evening. Wind east 25 to 35 km/h, turning southwest 15 to 20 km/h during the day then light in the evening. In the morning, gusts of up to 60 km/h are possible in the hills and foothills. Min. 24C. Maximum 38°C.

Thursday: Sunny. Light wind, light during the day from 15 to 25 km/h and light in the evening. Min. 24C. Maximum 36°C.

Adelaide

Tuesday: Sunny. Wind southeast 15 to 20 km/h, turning south to southwest 20 to 30 km/h during the middle of the day, then trending south to southeast 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Min. 15C. Maximum 27C.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. The wind will be light from the southwest at 20 to 30 km/h and will trend southerly at 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min. 13C. Maximum 25°C.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Light wind, light during the day from 15 to 25 km/h and light in the evening. Min. 14C. Maximum 27C.

Hobart

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. There is a moderate chance of showers in the morning and afternoon. Wind northwest 15 to 20 km/h, trending northwest to southwest 15 to 25 km/h early morning. Min. 13C. Maximum 18C.

Wednesday: Cloudy. Small chance of showers, probably in the evening. Winds will be northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h, increasing to 25 to 40 km/h during the day and tending to westerly 25 to 35 km/h in the evening. Min. 11C. Maximum 18C.

Thursday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Wind west 20 to 30 km/h, in the evening it tends to northwest 15 to 20 km/h. Min. 12C. Maximum 19C.

Canberra

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Small chance of showers. Light winds, west to northwest, 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day, then light in the late evening. Min. 9C. Maximum 28°C.

Wednesday: Small chance of showers in the morning. Sunny afternoon. Light winds, west to northwest 15 to 25 km/h during the day, then light in the evening. Min. 12C. Maximum 27C.

Thursday: Sunny. Light winds, moderate to 15 to 25 km/h during the day, then light in the evening. Min. 12C. Maximum 30C.

In Sydney there is a small chance of showers and a top temperature of 26 degrees on Monday evening

In Sydney there is a small chance of showers and a top temperature of 26 degrees on Monday evening

Darwin

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. Probably a chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Light winds, east to northeast 15 to 20 km/h in the morning, then light in the early afternoon. Min. 25C. Maximum 32°C.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Moderate chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. The chance of thunder. Light wind, moderate to 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon, then light in the evening. Min. 26C. Maximum 32°C.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Moderate chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. The chance of thunder. Light wind. Min. 26C. Maximum 33°C.