Tasmania set for a ‘month’s worth of rain’ as the rest of the country swelters and bushfire season is declared ‘well underway’
Tasmania is set to experience “a month’s worth of rain” this weekend as other parts of the country brace for “very dangerous” fire conditions.
Millions of Aussies will endure a week of stifling temperatures as hot conditions continue in the country’s north next week, while parts of Victoria and Tasmania could be battered by heavy winds.
Sky meteorologist Julia Seymour said more than 60mm of rain could fall across Hobart this weekend, while extreme fire threats will peak in northeastern NSW on Sunday.
“Hobart could see a month’s worth of rain from Friday evening to Monday morning,” she said.
Sky meteorologist Julia Seymour said more than 60mm of rain could fall across Hobart this weekend
‘A front and trough are currently moving across Tasmania, increasing showers in the east, south and center and bringing damaging winds all the way to north-west Tasmania.
“At the same time, a low will strengthen further west and we could see damaging winds blowing directly towards Victoria late on Saturday.”
October is Hobart’s wettest month, with an average of 62.1mm over the four weeks. However, the seven-day rainfall in the state till October 24 could total 100 mm.
The deluge comes after some of Tasmania’s east coast locations had their driest September on record.
The deluge comes after some of Tasmania’s east coast locations had their driest September on record
Ms Seymour said flood warnings remain in force across the northern and south-eastern parts of the state, while a flood warning could also be issued for Victoria’s Murray River as the system moves north.
Despite the country only being halfway through spring, she noted that wildfire season is already well underway in other parts of the country.
“We expect extreme fire threats to peak in northeastern NSW on Sunday,” Ms Seymour said.
‘Sunday is hot weather will continue into next week with a heatwave warning still in force for the Tiwi district of the Northern Territory and now expanding into Queensland.”
The ‘very dangerous conditions’ come after almost 10,000 hectares of the Kempsey area in NSW was torched by a bushfire earlier this week as more than 1000 firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control.
Despite Australia being only halfway through spring, ‘bushfire season’ is well underway for other parts of the country
Firefighters continue to battle dozens of fires across NSW on Saturday
Firefighters continue to battle dozens of fires across NSW on Saturday.
“Hundreds of firefighters continue to work hard to control as many of the 40 bush and grass fires still burning in NSW as possible before worsening weather spreads across the state from today,” the NSW Rural Fire Service said in a statement on Social media.
“Their work is supported by water bombing in many of these fires.”
Extreme fire danger is forecast from northern NSW to metropolitan Sydney on Sunday as the hot air mass continues to move eastwards this weekend.
In Western Australia, Exmouth will break the October 2002 heat record of 43 degrees Celsius with a high of 45 degrees Celsius.
Millions of Aussies will endure a week of stifling temperatures as hot conditions continue in the country’s north next week, while parts of Victoria and Tasmania could be hit by strong winds.
NSW and ACT
Sydney will enjoy sunny and dry temperatures around 20 degrees, dropping to 31 degrees Celsius on Sunday, before highs drop to 20 degrees Celsius with showers on Thursday.
Highs in Canberra will peak at 29 degrees Celsius on Saturday before dropping to 18 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
The area can expect temperatures to fluctuate between 17 and 25 degrees Celsius over the next week, with relatively sunny conditions.
Extreme fire hazard conditions will continue across the Greater Sydney region, the Greater Hunter, the Northern Slopes and the North Western Districts (including Moree Plains, Narrabri, Walgett and Warrumbungle) until Sunday.
VIC
Melbourne is forecast for a cloudy week with isolated showers, with temperatures dropping from 23ºC on Saturday to 16ºC and 17ºC on Sunday and Monday.
Tuesday will bring highs of 25C before the mercury drops again on Wednesday with a good chance of showers.
A severe weather warning remains in force for parts of the south-west coast as damaging winds are expected on Saturday night.
QLD
Brisbane will enjoy relatively clear skies this weekend and next week, with highs ranging from 29-32 degrees Celsius before dropping to 24 degrees Celsius on Friday.
WA
Perth will enjoy temperatures of up to 29 degrees Celsius on Saturday, before cooling slightly and dropping to 24 degrees Celsius and then to 23 degrees Celsius on Sunday and Monday.
Conditions will warm up again on Tuesday with highs ranging from 24C-33C until Friday, with sunny or partly cloudy skies.
Extreme fire danger warnings remain in force for Mortlock on Sunday.
SA
Adelaide could see some showers on Saturday with a peak temperature of 18 degrees Celsius, while Sunday will usher in drier conditions that will last until Friday.
Temperatures will rise to 24 degrees Celsius on Monday before dropping slightly over the course of the week before rising again to 25 degrees Celsius with sunny skies later on Friday.
BAG
Rain will continue to fall in Hobart throughout the week, but will stop on Friday.
Temperatures will peak at 21 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, before dropping to highs of 14 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and Thursday.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds developing early Saturday morning remains in force for northwestern parts of the state, affecting Smithton, Strahan, Queenstown, Zeehan, Rosebery and Lake St Clair.
NT
Partly cloudy skies will remain over Darwin over the weekend and into next week, with dry conditions and highs between 34 and 35 degrees Celsius.
Extreme fire danger warnings remain in force for Barkly North on Sunday.