Australia’s Extreme Heatwave Continues: Record Temperatures and Disruptions Across the South-East

Residents of Hobart endured the city’s hottest night in 112 years as a severe heatwave grips southeast Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast that extreme temperatures will persist across South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and southern New South Wales for several more days.

On Saturday, Edithburgh on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula recorded a scorching 41.7°C, marking the hottest March day in the region’s history. Similarly, Kanagulk in western Victoria experienced 40.6°C.

Hobart’s overnight low reached a sweltering 24.3°C, the highest since 1912, though temperatures slightly eased after 8 a.m. Sunday.

Sarah Scully, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau, noted that such hot nights are atypical for Hobart, where the usual March minimum is around 11°C.

The heatwave has driven temperatures 10 to 16 degrees above the March average across affected areas. Scully described the situation as “very hot” and pointed out that Melbourne and other regions are experiencing unprecedented heat for this time of year.

In Melbourne, temperatures peaked at 36.9°C late Sunday, with Avalon reaching 40°C and Geelong 39.6°C. While a cold front brought temporary relief to Tasmania, Hobart’s maximum temperature before 8 a.m. was still 25.7°C.

The extreme conditions have led to significant event cancellations and safety concerns. Adelaide’s Womad festival faced stage closures and other events were postponed or cancelled.

Similarly, the Pitch Music & Arts festival in regional Victoria was called off due to heightened fire danger. Melbourne’s Moomba parade was canceled to ensure participant safety amid the heat.

As the heatwave continues, a southerly change is expected to bring some relief to Melbourne and southern Victoria by Tuesday.

However, the north and parts of South Australia will remain hot until at least Thursday when a high-pressure system moves away. Meanwhile, Western Australia faces potential flash flooding and intense rainfall from a persistent rain system.