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Millions Brace for Days of 40+ Degree Heat
3 Jan
Summary
- A severe heatwave will push temperatures into the mid-40s across Australia.
- Western Australia will experience the heat first, followed by South Australia, Victoria, and NSW.
- Overnight lows in western Sydney will remain in the mid-20s, offering little relief.
A significant heatwave is forecast to grip Australia early next week, with temperatures anticipated to soar into the mid-40s across multiple states. Western Australia will bear the brunt of the intense heat starting this weekend, with the hot air mass then moving eastward to affect South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales.
By Tuesday, South Australia and central parts of the country will experience days exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Victoria and New South Wales are set to feel the severe heat from Wednesday onwards, with inland areas expected to be the hottest. Western Sydney residents could endure at least three consecutive days of 40-plus degree temperatures before a cool change arrives on Sunday.
Meteorologists warn that some locations could reach 48 degrees Celsius, and even major cities will not escape the extreme conditions. Overnight temperatures will provide little relief, particularly in western Sydney where lows are predicted to stay in the mid-20s. This follows research indicating heatwaves contributed to over 1,000 deaths in Australia between 2016 and 2019.
