Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth weather: How hot it will get today

Millions of Australians are being urged to brace for temperatures of around 40 degrees as a severe heatwave sweeps across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Bureau of Meteorology chief meteorologist Lincoln Trainor said Victoria and Tasmania were likely to break heat records for March, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 degrees in some districts on Sunday and Monday.

“We will see very hot temperatures reaching into the high 30s and low 40s,” he said.

Melbourne is forecast to be warm over the next two days with a high of 39 degrees, bringing the city close to record highs.

“We’ve only seen three consecutive days above 38 degrees in Melbourne in the last 100 years, three times in March,” Mr Trainor said.

‘It happened in 1934, 1940 and 1942 and in 1940 it was the only day after March 9 when it was above 38 degrees for three consecutive days.’

Forecasters say the heatwave could give Melbourne the hottest day of the summer, even though it is technically autumn.

The weather bureau also expects temperatures to rise above 40 degrees in Victoria’s southern districts, including 41 degrees in Avalon near Geelong and 41 degrees in Warrnambool in the south-west.

“The Mallee will see temperatures between 39 and 40 degrees,” he said.

There are also extreme fire hazard conditions, meaning all of Victoria is now at risk.

“The South West and Central District currently have the highest fire danger, with an extreme fire danger rating, followed by high fire danger rates in all other Victorian districts,” he said.

The Country Fire Authority has issued a total fire ban for the Wimmera, South West, North Central, Central and West and South Gippsland districts.

“So essentially a total fire ban for all of Victoria’s southern districts, plus the Wimmera and north central districts,” he said.

“To the south-west, maximum temperatures in that district today will be 14 to 16 degrees above the March average.”

Most of Victoria is sweltering with record high temperatures. Image: BOM

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said communities should be aware of the fire risk in the areas they traveled to this long weekend and stay informed.

“We expect northwesterly winds of 40 km/h south-west in the morning, with gusts of 50 km/h in the afternoon, before a south-westerly change later in the day,” Heffernan said.

“The central district will see northerly winds of up to 45 km/h and gusts of up to 80 km/h in the central areas.”

The rest of Victoria is under high fire danger ratings, with widespread wind gusts of up to 60km/h expected to reach the western part of the state in the afternoon.

“We ask people to follow the strict terms of the TFB statement and think about the activities they want to undertake this long weekend,” he said.

‘Understand how the increased fire risk will affect you and ensure your bushfire survival plan covers all possible contingencies, and stay informed via the VicEmergency app.’

South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania can expect the extreme heat to continue

Tasmanians will also suffer unusual heat conditions, with Hobart set to reach record temperatures in the mid-30s.

Mr Trainor said Launceston was likely to record temperatures in the low 30s on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

There is also an increased fire danger in most districts of the state on Saturday.

Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said temperatures would remain high throughout the weekend but would start to cool on Monday.

“(There will be) 25 degrees plus across much of South Australia and Victoria, while all parts of Tasmania will remain above 20 degrees through the night,” Mr Hines said.

Millions of residents will have to endure two more days of high temperatures before the heat wave begins to subside.

“The heat will start to hit for Victoria and Tasmania on Tuesday as the wind turns southerly,” Mr Trainor noted.

Heat wave forces cancellations

A popular festival event in Melbourne has been canceled as the city suffers a major three-day heatwave.

Organizers of the Moomba Festival, which coincides with the city’s Labor Day long weekend, canceled Monday night’s iconic Moomba Parade due to safety concerns for performers, spectators, workers and volunteers.

“This is a very difficult decision, especially in Moomba’s 70th year, but we must prioritize the health and safety of people in these extreme circumstances,” they wrote in a statement Saturday afternoon.

‘Parade participants must spend several hours outside in warm, heavy costumes, which puts them at greater risk.’

While most activities during the five-day festival will go ahead as planned, organizers warned that changes and interruptions may be necessary due to the heat.

Organizers have canceled the Moomba parade, which was scheduled for Monday. Photo: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

The news comes as all of Victoria is on alert amid ‘extreme’ fire danger warnings and a severe heatwave engulfing millions of Australians this weekend.

Another festival in regional Victoria is also urging ticket holders not to attend as heat and fire dangers escalate across the state.

The Pitch Music Festival, held in Moyston, about 220km west of Melbourne, sent a message to ticket holders on Friday evening warning of increasing heat and fire danger on the festival site.

“The CFA (Country Fire Authority) recommends that the safest option for those already on scene is to leave the site this evening or early this morning,” said Pitch’s statement, published on Instagram.

‘The CFA advises that the fire danger is extreme, which recommends that you reconsider traveling through bushfire risk areas and that leaving bushfire risk areas early in the day is your safest option as fires will spread quickly and be extremely dangerous. Expect warm, dry and windy conditions.

‘If you arrive on Saturday, we recommend that you postpone your arrival until further notice.’

The Pitch Music Festival urged ticket holders on Friday evening not to attend the festival due to the heat and fire danger in Victoria. Image: supplied

But despite the risks and a plea to ticket holders to reconsider their need to attend, the festival will go ahead, with Pitch confirming that on Saturday afternoon the music performances will start at 6pm and continue throughout the weekend.

“We are closely following the guidelines of the relevant authorities to prioritize the safety of our community and have a full team of emergency services, including medical services, police and fire brigade on site, on call throughout the event,” the festival organizers said .

‘Before 6pm today, the festival will program some light entertainment in the shade in the Pitch One and Pitch Black arena, including yoga and other low-level entertainment, to ensure that customers are not left camping in the heat of the heat. day, as per Ambulance Victoria advice.

‘For anyone who wants to leave and does not have their own car, free shuttle buses will run from Gate 3 to Ararat Station until 6pm today.’

The Pitch Music and Arts Festival is held in south-west Victoria

Some social media users reacted angrily to Friday’s Instagram statement, claiming the festival was trying to avoid refunds.

“Very disappointing,” said one user.

‘Blatantly avoiding people’s refunds and endangering festival goers.’

Another said the festival had not effectively communicated the situation to festival goers.

“My sister is on site and no one has come to talk to anyone and she can’t get to the insta or website so what are you guys doing, she wants to leave but is stuck in tents ffs,” one user said.

Festival organizers said Saturday they would use “a variety of methods” to relay important information to festival-goers “who may not have service.”

‘This includes multiple info hubs, helper hubs, friendly staff and WiFi available at the checkout and food trucks/market stalls.’

The heat wave is expected to last until at least Monday.

Organizers said they were “working through the details” of refund requests.

“Rest assured, ticket holders will receive an update as more information becomes available,” they said.

About 18,000 people are expected at the three-day event.

A premium camping ticket sells for $135, while a glamping tent for three people costs more than $1,500.

Queensland

Brisbane will reach a top of 29 degrees on Saturday.

Mr Hines said some rain could fall in the south-east on Sunday.

“Much drier for the eastern part of the province, but we will see a few showers along the (east) coast, especially north of Sydney, not much rain, but a few peaks and spots in northern NSW and Queensland,” he said.

N.S.W

Coastal NSW will reach the upper 20s with some light rainfall this weekend.

Sydney residents can expect highs in the 30s across the city, although this could reach the mid 30s in the west.

Western Australia

Meanwhile, Mr Hines warns that some parts of the state could see heavy rainfall of up to 100mm to 150mm, with temperatures fluctuating.

“It’s about average in the north, and cooler than average in south-west Australia, but not many complaints there after a very hot summer,” he said.

‘A slow-moving weather element in southern WA will bring persistent rain.’

Northern parts of WA will experience heavy rainfall on Friday, while southern parts of the state will bear the brunt on Saturday.