Scorching weather is burning much of Australia to a crisp as the country battles an intense heatwave over the weekend.
The mercury is expected to reach as high as 45C in South Australia while most of the country’s southeast will sweat through the mid-to-high 30s on Sunday.
Bureau of Meteorology’s Jonathan How said conditions in the southeast over the weekend would be the warmest since January 2020.
‘Sunday will be the peak day of heat in South Australia, climbing as high as 45C along the Murray,’ he said.
‘On Monday, Victoria and Tasmania will see the most intense heat, reaching 41C in Melbourne and 33C in Hobart.’
The mercury is expected to reach as high as 45C in South Australia while most of the country’s southeast will sweat through the mid-30s on Sunday (pictured, Sydneysiders beat the heat at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, on Saturday)
Sydneysiders were quick to hit the beaches as the mercury peaked at 30C on Saturday (pictured, beachgoers at Coogee on Saturday)
A graphic depiction of the heatwave battering parts of Australia over the Australia Day long weekend
Sydneysiders were quick to hit the beaches as the mercury peaked at 30C on Saturday.
The hot weather has continued with a maximum of 33C expected on Sunday, 31C on Monday and back to 33C for Tuesday’s public holiday.
Western Sydney will bear the brunt of the heatwave with temperatures skyrocketing to 39C on Sunday.
The conditions are not expected to cool until at least Tuesday.
Bega, on the state’s south coast, is expected to reach at least 39C on Monday and NSW-Victoria border towns could endure temperatures up to 44C.
Victoria will also see temperatures building to a peak on Monday, with most major centres in the state’s north surpassing 40C.
Melbourne will reach a high of 34C on Sunday and peak at a scorching 41C on Monday.
A severe to extreme heatwave has already beset southwest Western Australia and western South Australia.
Adelaide will reach a sizzling 41C on Sunday and taper off to 34C on Monday with a low intensity heatwave is expected to persist in SA until next week.
The hot weather has continued with a maximum of 33C expected on Sunday, 31C on Monday and back to 33C for Tuesday’s public holiday (pictured, Bondi Beach on Saturday)
Beachgoers head into the water to cool off from sweltering conditions in Sydney on Saturday
In Hobart, the maximum will be a cooler 26C on Sunday and peak at 34C on Monday.
Canberra will face temperatures of 30C and above from Sunday to Wednesday.
The maximum will be 38C on Sunday and Monday, 35C on Tuesday and 30C on Wednesday – with sunny skies persisting the whole time, although there is the chance of a possible shower on Wednesday.
Mr How said the high temperatures will create ‘uncomfortably warm nights, making it difficult to recover from hot days’.
‘Heatwaves are normal for summer but they effect everyone differently, it’s important to look out for the more vulnerable, including pets and local wildlife,’ he said.
Beachgoers at Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach. Australia’s southeast will sweat through temperatures as high as 45C for the next four days as an ‘extreme heatwave’ sweeps through
A father and son enjoy a day surfing while down at Bondi Beach on Saturday
‘This weekend, remember to factor in the heat and any fire weather warnings, stay up to day with the forecast, stay up to date, stay hydrated and stay safe.’
Temperatures in Brisbane will be much more mild with a maximum of 29C on Sunday, with the pleasant weather to continue until Tuesday.
Meanwhile on the west coast, Perth will reach a maximum of 26C on Sunday and Monday, and back up to 28C for Tuesday.
In the Top End, Darwin will reach a maximum of 31C on Sunday, which is expected to stay the same until Wednesday, when it will increase to 32C.
Showers and storms are expected until Friday as the Northern Territory is currently going through its Wet Season.
A three-day depiction of the intense heatwave expected to batter the country from Saturday until at least Monday