Sydney suffers through record heatwave not seen in 165 years
Sydney suffers a record heat wave not seen in 165 years with temperatures reaching over 40C as thousands flock to the beach
- Sydney sweltering due to record temperatures in March
- Climbed above 30C for the first time for four days in March
- Coastal NSW will see cool change on Monday
Sydney set a new weather record after temperatures rose above 30°C for four consecutive days in March – the first such event in 165 years.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicted Sydney to top 30C on Sunday, while Penrith would swelter in 40C heat.
Richmond and Blacktown would also reach 39C.
The high temperatures are caused by a low-intensity heat wave spreading across the region, which also includes some parts of South East Queensland.
said senior meteorologist Felim Hannify of the Bureau of Meteorology NCA NewsWire the last time Sydney recorded such high temperatures in March was in 1878.
Sydney has experienced its warmest March on record with a record four consecutive days rising around 30C
At that time, temperatures above 30C were recorded for three consecutive days.
“It’s a record that’s never been seen before,” said Mr. Hannify.
“A lot of people were nervous about the change in outlook to El Nino later in the year, but we’re already seeing an imprint of those temperatures.”
The Observatory Hill station near the southern end of the Sydney Harbor Bridge has recorded the March average 2C higher than the previous record of 27.1 degrees from 2006.
The Bureau predicts there will be isolated gusts with little or no rainfall possible around the Southern Ranges and slopes in New South Wales.
It warns that these conditions could exacerbate the already heightened fire risk due to continued hot, dry conditions in the region.
Large parts of Victoria have already seen bushfires, but on a cooler day on Sunday, residents on the Surf Coast and in the Alpine region saw the threat abated.
Sky News Australia meteorologist Rob Sharpe said the people of New South Wales can also expect some cool change soon.
The hot weather has led to major bushfire hazards in NSW, with Victoria already seeing large areas on fire
“The wet weather will pick up again,” he said.
‘A nice change is crossing Victoria, Tasmania and along the New South Wales coastline, reaching Sydney on Sunday evening.
It will be considerably cooler off the coast of New South Wales by Monday.
“We won’t see this kind of heat again until we’re at least spring.”
Mr Sharpe said while central and western parts of the state will continue to see high temperatures, rain is forecast for the week ahead.
“We will continue to see showers almost daily in the east for most of next week, so prepare for the wet weather,” he said.
“Even though La Nina is over, this doesn’t mean the end of the wet weather.”
Mr Hannify said the system which saw temperatures of 43 degrees in some parts of the interior west on Saturday will continue to move towards the coast.
Sydneysiders try to find some relief from the hot Sydney days at Bronte Beach in the east of the city
“Temperatures have risen again today, we had that weather system coming over the southern part of New South Wales,” he said.
“It’s dragging that heat farther east today, which is why you’re getting close to 40 in the western suburbs because it’s being dragged closer to the coast today.”
Meanwhile, Melbourne is forecast to top 21 degrees on Sunday, which is about three degrees cooler than the March average.
Brisbane is expected to reach a top of 32 degrees on Sunday.