Australia is set for a week of soaring temperatures, with parts of the south likely experiencing conditions up to 8°C hotter than normal.
This heatwave, originating in the Northern Territory, is expected to spread across the country, potentially increasing the risk of thunderstorms in wide areas.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported that regions around Darwin have been enduring temperatures up to 41°C, about 5°C higher than usual.
The heatwave is predicted to move from the Top End into Western Australia’s Kimberley and eastward over Cape York at the start of the week.
By midweek, central Australia and regions stretching from Western Australia to the New South Wales coast could see temperatures 4°C to 8°C above the average.
Rising humidity and heat create conditions for scattered thunderstorms from Monday to Wednesday.Meteorologist Angus Hines indicated that thunderstorms might develop across the southern and eastern parts of the country early in the week.
The combination of heat and rising humidity increases the likelihood of storm activity from Monday to Wednesday, with regions in New South Wales, Victoria, southern Queensland, and northern Tasmania at risk.
Australia’s long-range weather outlook suggests a hot and wet start to the summer.
Wetter-than-usual conditions between October and December could heighten the risk of flooding in the north, east, and Tasmania, particularly with high water storage levels and wet soil across many areas.
Most of the country is expected to experience warmer-than-normal temperatures, especially during nighttime.
The trend of increasing heat reflects the broader impacts of global warming. Australia has already warmed by 1.5°C since 1910, with this past September ranking as the fourth hottest on record, following the warmest August ever recorded.