Australia is bracing for a significant heatwave as temperatures soar across multiple states. The extreme weather pattern is driven by a hot air mass moving from Western Australia towards the Tasman Sea, with South Australia expected to experience temperatures exceeding 40°C on Saturday.
Sky News Meteorologist Alison Osborne reported that South Australians will face hot and windy conditions, particularly in the western regions of the state. Adelaide is forecasted to reach 34°C on Saturday, followed by a cooler 23°C the next day.
As the heat continues to spread, New South Wales is also preparing for a rise in temperatures, with Sydney, Newcastle, and the Central Coast expected to see maximums in the early 30s on Sunday. Inland areas like Wagga Wagga and Dubbo could reach up to 35°C.
This heatwave follows an unusually hot period in the Northern Territory, where Darwin recorded 15 days above 35°C this month, breaking the previous record of 13 days set in October 2009. As the heat subsides, residents in the Northern Territory are anticipating showers and storms on Thursday and Friday.
Fire weather warnings are in effect due to the dry and gusty conditions, particularly in South Australia. The forecast indicates that the heatwave will ease with a strong cool change expected to sweep across the southeast region.