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A massive heat wave is sweeping through Australia, while a monsoon trough is bringing the “heaviest rain in years” and possible flash flooding in Queensland.
The eastern parts of Western Australia, northern South Australia, western New South Wales and north-western Victoria will experience sweltering days in excess of 40C this weekend.
Temperatures are expected to reach 35°C in Melbourne, 38°C in Adelaide, while Brisbane and Sydney will reach 30°C.
The heatwave comes as heavy rain lashes parts of Queensland with 300mm expected to fall along a 630km stretch of coastline between Cardwell and Carmila.
Cleanup efforts continue months later in Victoria after heavy rains triggered record flooding in the rural city of Rochester in October.
A massive heat wave is sweeping through Australia, while a monsoon trough is bringing the “heaviest rain in years” and possible flash flooding in Queensland.
The eastern parts of Western Australia, northern South Australia, western New South Wales and north-western Victoria will experience sweltering days in excess of 40C this weekend.
Meteorologists warned on Friday that heat from the Pilbara desert region of Western Australia is funneling hot air southeast into southern Australia and Victoria, bringing sweltering temperatures to the states.
State capitals, however, will be spared from the country’s most extreme heat.
Southern NSW and Victoria are likely to see some showers on Sunday but will still be hot.
Despite heavy rain across much of Queensland, Brisbane may not see a drop of rain and is expected to be spared from wet weather, but still cooler than the southern states with highs of 29° C in the city
Sydney will be spared from the NSW heat wave and the weekend is forecast to be sunny with highs in the 80s and lows around 20°C.
The Met Office has warned Queenslanders to stay vigilant and prepare for the worst.
“Locally heavy rainfall that can lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is also possible in small portions of the warning area during this period,” the office said.
Flood watch notices have been issued for Charters Towers, Bowen, Townsville, Palm Island, Ingham, Innisfail, Ayr, Cardwell, Giru, Abergowrie, Clare and Lucinda.
A large swath of inland central and north Queensland could also experience moderate to major flooding with 17 basins under flood watches.
The dynamic trough of the monsoon has made it difficult for forecasters to know exactly which towns and settlements might be at risk of flooding.
“At this stage, there is some uncertainty about the location of the heaviest rainfall and therefore which basins are most at risk of flooding,” the office said on Friday.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services warned residents to keep up with warnings and alerts and not attempt to drive through the floodwaters.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed the warning on Saturday morning.
The Met Office forecasts 300mm of fall along a 630km stretch of coastline between Cardwell and Carmila in the sunny state on Saturday and Sunday.
This weekend, temperatures will reach 35°C in Melbourne, 38°C in Adelaide, while Brisbane and Sydney will hit 30°C.
“Follow the advice of the authorities,” he told reporters.
‘Don’t risk driving through floodwaters if they are present. Make sure you stay safe because that’s the most important thing.
Police told motorists not to ignore the advice as “extraordinary weather” sets in over the next few days.
“Trying to navigate these hazards, whether by vehicle or on foot, can be treacherous, as water levels rise and fall rapidly and very often with little or no warning,” police said in a statement.
A police 4×4 with an officer inside was swept off the roadway at Pump Creek, near Almaden in far north Queensland, on Friday afternoon.
The officer managed to get out of the vehicle as it was washed into Pump Creek and swam a short distance to the creek bank. He was not injured.
The office also said a tropical low could develop near the northeast coast over the weekend or early next week.
Meteorologists warned on Friday that heat from the Pilbara desert region of Western Australia is funneling hot air southeast into southern Australia and Victoria, bringing sweltering temperatures to the states.
Around 1,000 homes and local businesses in Rochester – population around 3,100 and about 180km north of Melbourne – were inundated when water inundated the banks of the Campaspe River in October before peaking at 115.7 metres. above mean sea level.
A shortage of merchants and materials means that Lorraine and hundreds of others have no idea when they will be able to return home.
“Without exaggeration, there will probably be 150 to 200 caravans at people’s driveways,” Wilson said.
On Saturday, Wilson and his wife counted 250 trailers parked in Rochester driveways.
Mental health services, builders, shopkeepers and laborers were already in short supply before the floods.
“Now we need them more than ever,” Mr. Wilson said.
“If people want a little work on vacation and have the right business skills, there’s a lot of work to be done.”