Australia is currently experiencing a spell of unseasonably warm weather, with temperatures soaring up to 12°C above the average for August. This exceptional warmth is expected to continue into next week, impacting large areas across the country.
On Wednesday, Sydney saw temperatures reminiscent of spring, peaking at 26.1°C around 3 p.m. at Observatory Hill. This was just shy of the city’s August heat record of 27.5°C set last year. While initial forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology suggested a potential new record of 28°C for Monday, recent updates predict a high of around 25°C instead.
The unusual warmth follows three weeks marked by record-breaking temperatures across the southern hemisphere. Central Australia, in particular, has been under the influence of clear skies and abundant sunshine.
Australia’s unseasonable warmth continues, with temperatures up to 12°C above average.According to BoM senior meteorologist Rohan Smyth, a low-pressure system moving towards Western Australia is expected to concentrate the heat, bringing higher temperatures to regions that usually experience cooler conditions.
On Wednesday, Brisbane was forecast to reach 26°C, while Melbourne was expected to see a few showers with a high of 19°C. However, the warmer trend is anticipated to spread over the weekend, extending into western New South Wales, south-west Queensland, western Victoria, and even Tasmania by Sunday.
Notably, parts of northern South Australia, southern Northern Territory, and western Victoria, including Portland, may approach or break August temperature records.
Melbourne is predicted to hit 22°C on Sunday, close to its August heat record of 23.8°C set in 2013. Moomba in South Australia could reach 36°C, significantly exceeding its August average of 22.5°C, while Oodnadatta might see temperatures of up to 38°C.
This ongoing warmth reflects a broader trend of extreme heat, with the southern hemisphere recording 23 days of unprecedented warmth from July to August. This trend aligns with global climate patterns and has been noted by climate experts as part of an alarming increase in extreme weather events globally.