A widespread heatwave has large parts of the country's interior expected to reach highs of above 40 degrees Celsius on Monday.
Across the nation temperatures are 12 to 16C above average, meaning averages of high 30s to low 40s for coastal areas and low 40s for inland areas.
Dean Narramore from the Bureau of Meteorology spoke to News Breakfast about what to expect throughout Monday.
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What is a heatwave?
The bureau defines a heatwave as three consecutive days in which both the maximum and minimum temperatures are well above average for the time of year.
The current heatwave is severe to extreme through northern parts of Australia and severe to low in the south-eastern parts.
According to BOM, a run of unusually high night and daytime temperatures can:
- lead to heat stress, a critical factor in human health
- affect infrastructure such as public transport and electricity supply.
Heat waves form when a high-pressure area in the upper atmosphere strengthens and remains over a region for several days up to several weeks.
Queensland
North and western parts of Queensland can expect to be affected.
Maximum temperatures ranging from the high 30s to mid 40s with overnight minimum temperatures in the mid 20s to low 30s over the Gulf Country, Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, North West, Central West, Channel Country and Maranoa and Warrego districts.
North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and Herbert and Lower Burdekin districts can also expect maximums in the low to high 30s.
The Sunshine State's capital is expected to escape the brute of Monday's heat wave, with Brisbane expected to reach a high of 28C with a very high chance of showers.
Mr Narramore said heavy rainfall could be expected between Brisbane and Yeppoon; however, he said no cyclones were developing.
"We do have a big upper low sitting off the Queensland coast," he said.
"That's driving showers, gusty winds and thunderstorms through eastern Queensland.
"And that low's going to sit there for a few days."
Victoria
Melbourne is forecast to exceed a top of 41C — the city's hottest day this year and the hottest December day since 2019.
Mildura, in the north-west, was still at 30C at 3am this morning.
Temperatures in the northern part of the state are expected to reach up to 47C, with the majority of the state expected to reach the low 40s.
CFA chief fire officer Jason Heffernan told ABC News Breakfast extreme fire dangers were a concern for fire authorities across much of the state.
He said the majority of the state was in total fire ban, with the exception of East Gippsland and North East Victoria.
"It certainly will be a very challenging day for firefighters.
"Today is not a day to be complacent."
Extreme fire danger warnings are in place for most of the state, including around the Melbourne metropolitan area.
Read more here.
New South Wales/ACT
Wilcannia and Ivanhoe are expected to reach 47C, well exceeding long-standing records for December.
Ivanhoe's previous year-round record, in 24 years of record keeping, is 47C.
In the capital, Sydney is not expected to be as severe, with a high of 29C predicted.
The worst of the heatwave has ended for Canberra, however low-intensity heatwave conditions are persisting, and are expected to ease early next week with the passage of a milder southerly change.
Inspector Ben Shepherd from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service told News Breakfast while the grass was currently greener than usual for this time of year, the high temperatures were likely to dry it out increasing fire risk.
He said the RFS was monitoring thunderstorm activity around the Hunter Valley, particularly around Laguna and Bulga where there were lightning strikes overnight.
"We've been fortunate in recent weeks, just getting some rain at the right time, to take the sting out of that fire danger," he said.
However he said the state had been banking up heatwaves and high fire danger for a number of days, which was going to prove problematic for firefighters.
"Especially as we approach Christmas as well, and we start to see people travelling around the state and potentially entering high-risk areas," he said.
Read more here.
South Australia
Adelaide has woken up to temperatures between 33C and 35C, with highs expected to reach up to 38C.
Maximum temperatures are predicted to ease to the high 20s to low 30s in the Flinders, Mid North and Riverland Districts from Monday.
Renmark has already reached 45C.
Severe heatwave conditions should continue in north-eastern parts of SA before easing by mid-week.
Mr Narramore said a cool change was moving into Western South Australia around the Nullabor which was expected to move into Adelaide around lunchtime before continuing into Vicotria.
He said there was extreme fire danger around the Mount Lofty ranges.
Dry thunderstorms are also possible in the eastern parts of the state.
Tasmania
A severe weather warning is in place for damaging winds, with peak gusts of about 90 kilometres per hour possible over coastal parts of the West Coast and North West Coast.
Mr Narramore said the inland areas were not expected to be as windy but they could still reach peaks of 50 to 60kph.
"Then we're going to see these dry thunderstorms develop in the afternoon and evening ahead of this change," he said.
He said that could potentially spark lightning, which was a concern due to hot, dry and windy conditions around the nation driving increased fire danger.
Western Australia
Unlike many other parts of the country, Western Australia's main concern this week is heavy rainfall, particularly around the Kimberley.
The Kimberley is still experiencing severe heatwave conditions with a high of 35C predicted in Broome.
Severe to low-intensity heatwave conditions remain through parts of the Pilbara and north-western WA.
Perth is expected to reach a high of 25C on Monday, however Tuesday's forecast is significantly warmer with a top of 35C predicted.
#NT
Northern Territory
Parts of the Tiwi Islands and the Top End including Darwin and eastern and northern NT continue to experience severe heatwave conditions.
Extreme heatwave conditions over the Arnhem, Tiwi, Daly, Gregory, Tanami and Barkly districts are expected to persist through the beginning of this week before beginning to ease later in the week.
Maximum temperatures will range from the mid 30s to low 40s with overnight minimum temperatures in the mid to high 20s.
When will the heatwave end?
Mr Narramore said most of south-east Australia will only be impacted by the heatwave on Monday.
He said the heatwave conditions were going to continue through into New South Wales, Queensland and Northern Territory on Tuesday.
He said Western Sydney could reach up to 42C before the temperature change, however, most of the coastal areas would be relieved by the sea breezes.
"We're expecting severe to extreme heatwave conditions for much of the NT and western Queensland," he said.
He said Tennant Creek, for example, was looking at minimums of 30 for the next four days and maximums in the mid-40s.
"That's what we're likely to experience across much of northern inland Australia."
The rain threat will continue across parts of Queensland.
"The fire and heat threat moves into eastern New South Wales tomorrow, could get temperatures in the low 40s for Western Sydney," Mr Narramore said.
"But thankfully things are cooling down in the south-east and by midweek we'll be able to have a good look at the Christmas forecast."
What are the heat records in each state?
Although temperatures are some of the hottest in December since the 2019-2020 Black Summer, Mr Narramore said there were not many records likely to be broken.
He said Wilcannia and Ivanhoe in Western New South Wales might break their heat records if they get to 47C.
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