Spring heatwave: Brisbane to sizzle after hot spell in Sydney and Victoria
A spring heatwave that left large parts of South Africa, New South Wales and Victoria in maximum temperatures 10°C to 15°C above the September average is moved north.
Total fire bans that were in force in parts of New South Wales are now in force in parts of Queensland, with doctors warning residents to protect themselves from heatstroke.
“A temperature change has reached Sydney thanks to southerly winds, but Queensland will be very warm on Thursday,” Weatherzone meteorologist Jess Miskelly told Daily Mail Australia.
Temperatures in Sydney yesterday were in the low 30s, but the mercury dropped overnight, with maximum temperatures forecast in the 20s for the next few days.
“The hottest place in Sydney yesterday was around the airport at 35.7C, but across the city we are seeing a temperature drop of around 11C,” Ms Miskelly said.
The heatwave that has gripped New South Wales over the past week is expected to spread to Queensland on Thursday, with doctors warning residents to stay safe from the heat.
Sydneysiders flocked to Bondi this weekend (pictured) as temperatures soared to 10C above the spring average.
The change in cool weather will eventually hit Queensland too, but until then doctors have reminded residents the heat can be dangerous.
“We receive walk-in patients with mild signs of heatstroke, which can be catastrophic. Heatstroke should not be taken lightly,” Gold Coast doctor Jane Wehipeihana told the Courier Mail.
“You stop sweating, your body temperature becomes very high, your skin is dry and red, and you may experience nausea and muscle spasms.
“You may become irritable, delirious and suffer from seizures.
The west of the state will see the hottest temperatures with Mt Isa, Julia Creek, Longreach and Doomadgee approaching highs of 40C.
Brisbane is expected to see the mercury rise into the mid-30s on Thursday.
Sydney’s beaches were crowded this weekend as locals tried to cool off
Australia recorded one of the warmest winters on record and the spring average also appears high.
“The cool change is expected to hit this evening and it will calm down a bit over the weekend with highs in the 20s,” Ms Miskelly said.
“Showers are also expected to hit the NSW coast this afternoon, which will affect Sydney and could move further north over the weekend.”
“There will be a few cloudy mornings and frost around Canberra as it freezes overnight.”
“And in Adelaide and Melbourne it will be cool over the next few days, although Adelaide could warm into the 20s this weekend.”
But Ms Miskelly said the change in coolness over the weekend could be brief, with spring forecast to be more scorching after the country already recorded one of the warmest winters on record.
“Seasonal forecasts are generally well above average, so there is a good chance that there will be further heat waves.”
The Bureau of Meteorology officially declared an El Nino weather event on Tuesday, which brings widespread hot and dry weather and increases the risk of heat exhaustion and bushfires.
The elderly, babies, children, pregnant and lactating women, as well as people with health problems and those who are unwell, should be careful in hot weather and stay away from heat.
Total fire bans were in force in parts of New South Wales on Tuesday and Wednesday and will be in force in parts of Queensland on Thursday.
Temperatures are expected to cool and remain mild for the weekend across most of the country
Queensland’s fire chief said on Wednesday the fire season had started early as parts of the country were “gradually drying out”.
“We will see on Thursday that many areas will be classified as a high fire risk level and some areas will be classified as an extreme fire risk level,” Queensland’s Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner told reporters , Greg Leach.
He added that authorities had not yet decided on a total fire ban.
“It will really depend on the weather conditions on Thursday,” Mr Leach said.
High temperatures and abundant dry vegetation were key factors, but “a lot of these fires we’re seeing right now are wind driven.”
Speaking on Tuesday before the Bureau of Meteorology officially declared an El Niño event, Mr Leach said the decision would not affect bushfire preparedness in Queensland.
Commissioner and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan also said they were confident the state had enough volunteer firefighters following reports that thousands of volunteers had left rural fire services in the state in recent years.
The Bureau of Meteorology has declared an El Nino phenomenon for this summer, which will bring hot and dry weather to much of the country.
Mr Leach said the Rural Fire Service had 26,500 volunteers, up from 35,000 five years ago, but this was due to a “significant refresh of our data”.
The lower figure comes after a study found a number of volunteers were no longer active in their brigades, had moved or died.
He said the 26,500 was “a more accurate reflection of our operational strength” and that he and Mr Ryan were confident it was enough for what was expected to be a difficult season.
Mr Ryan also highlighted the higher number of hazard reduction burns carried out this year by QFES and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.