Southern Australia is bracing for a brief but intense heatwave starting this Friday and continuing until next Tuesday. Adelaide will face the brunt of this heat, with temperatures expected to reach around 36°C on Friday, which is 10°C above the usual for this time of year.
The city will experience daytime highs exceeding 35°C until Tuesday, and nighttime lows will not dip below 25°C. This will be Adelaide’s longest streak of March temperatures above 35°C in four years, compared to only one such day in the past three Marches.
Rural inland areas will see even more extreme conditions, with temperatures soaring up to 15°C above average, surpassing 40°C in some places. Melbourne will also face high temperatures from Saturday, with highs around 38°C.
Adelaide faces extreme heat with highs reaching 36°C; severe alerts issued.A low-intensity heatwave alert is in effect for much of southern Australia, with some areas, including Adelaide, under severe heatwave warnings.
The combination of dry conditions and light winds will intensify the heat’s impact. Residents are advised to use air conditioning and avoid cutting back on electricity to stay cool, especially at night.
Although temperatures will begin to drop by Tuesday, Adelaide will continue to experience above-average temperatures until Thursday.
Last weekend, a western disturbance, an extratropical cyclonic system originating from the Mediterranean, brought heavy rain and snow to Afghanistan, northwest India, and Pakistan.
These disturbances, common in the northern hemisphere winter, are the primary source of precipitation in north-west Pakistan and can cause severe flooding.
This particular disturbance led to significant disruption in Pakistan, with snow and landslides stranding remote areas, destroying homes, and resulting in at least 35 deaths, including 22 children.