We’re still in our last month of spring, but some parts of the country have already been experiencing the kind of heat we associate with summer.
And there’s more to come, with heatwaves forecast for the northern states this weekend.
Heatwaves in the north
For Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Bureau of Meteorolgy (BOM) is predicting hotter temperatures in parts of:
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- Western Australia
It’s only the north of Western Australia and a small area in the far north of New South Wales that’ll be impacted, according to BOM forecasts.
The BOM says there will be extreme heatwave conditions over:
- Northern Territory: The Top End
- Queensland: Western, central and south-eastern parts of the state
- Western Australia: Isolated pockets of the Kimberley
Here’s a look at the national map to give you a better idea of which areas are going to be affected:
While much of Queensland will be sweltering, the heatwaves will only impact small areas in Western Australia and New South Wales. (Bureau of Meteorology)
How do I stay safe during a heatwave?
The Western Australian Health Department says it’s about keeping cool and hydrated.
Keeping yourself cool:
- Plan your outdoor activities for in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid being outside during the middle of the day
- Drink plenty of fluids like water, diluted juice (mixed with water) and low-sugar sports drinks
- Limit or avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee and energy drinks
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-coloured clothing and opt for natural fibre fabrics like cotton, linen and silk
- When at home, try to wear as little clothing as possible
- Take cool showers or baths or soak your feet in a bowl of cool water
- Avoid hot, heavy or spicy food and meals
- Wet your face and arms with a face washer or towel, or use a water-filled spray bottle, then stand in front of a fan
- Soak your feet in cold water for 10 minutes before going to bed
Keeping your home cool:
- Stay indoors with your air conditioner or fan on
- If you’re using a fan, make sure the room you are in has an open door or window so fresh air can flow through the room
- Keep curtains, blinds and windows closed during the day
- Avoid warming up your home by using an oven or stove when cooking
People in the northern states will need to keep their fluids up in the coming days. (ABC News: Dannielle Maguire)
What is a heatwave?
It’s not just a one-off hot day.
For it to be officially declared a heatwave by the BOM, there needs to be above-average day and night-time temperatures for at least three days.
Those hot nights are key to making heatwaves dangerous.
Hot nights are forecast for people in the northern states of Australia. (Getty Images: Peter Dazeley)
“Cooler nights allow some recovery from each day’s heat,” a BOM fact sheet says.
“A high overnight temperature can mean that the next day heats up quickly — there may be more hours of extreme heat.
“In heatwaves, hot nights make it harder to recover from the heat of the day.
“This puts more stress on the body.”
You can stay across heatwave updates on the BOM’s dedicated heatwave warning website.
What are the heatwave categories?
Here are the BOM’s three categories, ranked from least to most serious:
- Low intensity: Most people can cope during these heatwaves
- Severe: Likely to be more challenging for vulnerable people
- Extreme: Likely to be a problem for people who don’t take precautions to keep cool — even for healthy people
Anyone who works or exercises outdoors can be at risk during an extreme heatwave, the BOM says.
Low-intensity heatwaves are quite common in summer, but extreme heatwaves are rare.
Heatwaves aren’t a surprise
Australia’s climate has warmed by 1.51 degrees Celsius since 1910, according to the latest State of the Climate report.
Released last month, the report was put together by the BOM and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CISRO).
It says that we’re already living in a “new climate” with an increased frequency of extreme heat events over land and oceans.
In a nutshell, it said we could expect hotter, more extreme and more unpredictable weather.
Last month, the BOM forecast one of Australia’s hottest summers on record.
When does summer start in Australia?
December.
Most of Australia operates on a meteorological seasons system.
That means there are four seasons — summer, autumn, winter and spring — which line up with the beginning of calendar months.
Summer goes from December 1 until February 28 (or February 29 if it’s a leap year).
In much of the country, it’s still spring, which runs from October 1 until November 30.
But in northern Australia, there are only two main seasons — wet season and dry season.
It’s currently wet season, which generally runs from October to April at the top of the Northern Territory, but the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says it starts later and ends earlier further south.
How hot will it get in the capital cities this weekend?
Adelaide
- Friday: Minimum 13C, Maximum 21C
- Saturday: Minimum 9C, Maximum 23C
- Sunday: Minimum 11C, Maximum 27C
Brisbane
- Friday: Minimum 24C, Maximum 34C
- Saturday: Minimum 22C, Maximum 33C
- Sunday: Minimum 23C, Maximum 31C
Canberra
- Friday: Minimum 8C, Maximum 24C
- Saturday: Minimum 7C, Maximum 25C
- Sunday: Minimum 8C, Maximum 26C
Darwin
- Friday: Minimum 27C, Maximum 35C
- Saturday: Minimum 27C, Maximum 35C
- Sunday: Minimum 26C, Maximum 35C
Hobart
- Friday: Minimum 10C, Maximum 17C
- Saturday: Minimum 9C, Maximum 18C
- Sunday: Minimum 9C, Maximum 18C
Melbourne
- Friday: Minimum 13C, Maximum 20C
- Saturday: Minimum 10C, Maximum 21C
- Sunday: Minimum 11C, Maximum 20C
Perth
- Friday: Minimum 12C, Maximum 26C
- Saturday: Minimum 13C, Maximum 27C
- Sunday: Minimum 13C, Maximum 26C
Sydney
- Friday: Minimum 17C, Maximum 30C
- Saturday: Minimum 17C, Maximum 23C
- Sunday: Minimum 18C, Maximum 25C
