Temperatures to soar above 40 degrees as heatwave sweeps eastern Australia
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts an extreme heatwave straddling the inland border of Queensland and New South Wales, with Bourke in the NSW outback and Thargomindah in Queensland’s channel country tipped to reach the highest temperatures of 45 degrees and 44 degrees respectively
A heatwave predicted to stretch across 1,000km of eastern Australia has prompted warnings for the public to avoid physical activity in the sun and stay alert for signs of heat-related illness in others, especially children and older people.
Temperatures are expected to soar above 40 degrees Celcius in parts of central and southern Queensland and New South Wales over coming days , eclipsing the mercury readings in Australia’s tropical north.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts an extreme heatwave straddling the inland border of both states, with Bourke in the NSW outback and Thargomindah in Queensland’s channel country tipped to reach the highest temperatures of 45 degrees and 44 degrees respectively on Wednesday. The mercury in Thargomindah will hit 46 degrees on Thursday, according to the bureau.
Maitland, north of Sydney, is forecast to reach 41 degrees, while Sydney’s western suburbs will also swelter in 40 degrees on Wednesday.
A total fire ban has been declared in Sydney and parts of the Hunter Valley, while the rural fire service warned of very high fire danger in Queensland’s central highlands and coalfields through to Thursday. Unusually high temperatures in the region are expected over the next three days and into the weekend.