Hot and dangerous conditions hit Australia as heatwave hits with out-of-control fire-threatening properties – it’s hot here, it’s coming near you today
- Sydney experiences a heat wave in the fall
NSW is poised for another heatwave-filled day with temperatures reaching well into the 30s in much of the state.
Sydney is heading for a top of 34 on Tuesday after the city recorded its highest temperature in two years on Monday, with a rise of 38 degrees in the CBD.
Maximum temperatures are expected to be around six to 12 degrees above average in the eastern parts of NSW before tapering off on Wednesday and Thursday.
The sweltering conditions led to more wildfire warnings, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting extreme fire danger for the Central Ranges where there is a total fire ban, as well as in the Greater Hunter.
“Hot and dry conditions coupled with fresh and gusty westerly to northwesterly winds increase the fire risk,” the BOM said Tuesday.
Isolated thunderstorms are possible in the northeast during the afternoon.
Firefighters are still battling an out-of-control blaze in the Central West, where embers threatened Hills End properties on Monday, but conditions eased overnight.
“There will likely be a prolonged firefighting operation in the coming days,” the National Fire Brigade said.
The BOM says it’s not uncommon to experience heat waves during early fall.
“The agency’s long-term forecast for autumn indicates that much of Australia is likely to be drier and warmer than usual.”
BOM forecaster, Sarah Scully, said Wednesday a “much cooler” air mass would move over the state and bring relief.
‘The westerly, north-westerly winds are notorious for bringing very hot conditions over eastern NSW, and that’s because the air is brought in from over the interior and it’s very hot and generally dry,’ said Ms Scully.
“In addition, westerly, northwesterly winds prevent or slow sea breezes to bring relief to coastal communities.”
A severe weather warning remains in place for damaging winds in parts of the South Coast, Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains, Canberra and South West Slopes.
A burst of heat at the end of the season in NSW on Monday could see Sydney reach 38C
Sydney’s autumn heat wave has seen the highest temperatures in more than two years
Temperatures in Sydney are expected to still be around 30C on Monday at 9pm and possibly around 20C by midnight
At 11am AEDT on Monday, temperatures were already 34°C in western Sydney, 33°C at the airport and just over 31°C in the city
The mercury drops slightly to 34 degrees on Tuesday, while temperatures remain around 20 degrees for the rest of the week
Sydneysiders flocked to the beaches to get relief from the scorching heat on Monday
A beachgoer went outside to train on Monday