An unseasonal heatwave is set to take hold of Australia’s east coast this weekend, with records likely to fall thanks to the sizzling conditions.
Temperatures are expected to reach 33 degrees in Sydney on Saturday, with the mercury in north-western New South Wales and southern Queensland potentially hitting 40C.
With extreme conditions, total fire bans have also been put in place across the state, as well as in parts of southern Queensland.
An unseasonal heatwave is set to take hold of Australia’s east coast this weekend, with records expected to fall thanks to the sizzling conditions
Early Saturday morning saw surfers and swimmers take to the waters at Bondi Beach, as temperatures edged passed 24C and kept climbing.
Sydney’s CBD was forecast to reach 33C, while parts of Queensland could reach as high as 42C.
Dean Sgarbossa, a Senior Meteorologist from the Bureau of Meterology’s extreme weather desk told Daily Mail Australia temperatures across the east coast were expected to hit the high 30s or low 40s.
‘The forecast temperatures today across that region are somewhat unusual, being around 12 to 16 degrees above average,’ he said.
Early Saturday morning saw surfers and swimmers take to the waters at Bondi Beach, as temperatures edged passed 24C and kept climbing
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) was seen among the revellers at Bodi Beach during Saturday’s hot conditions, visiting a surf-lifesaving club
Sydney’s CBD was forecast to reach 33C, while parts of Queensland could reach as high as 42C, potentially breaking records
‘There is the potential for some local records to be broken in New South Wales and southern Queensland.’
Temperatures in Birdsville were tipped to reach around 42C, very close to the 42.4C that sits as the current Queensland record.
While New South Wales and Victorian records could also be broken if the mercury hit reached more than 39.6C or 37.4C respectively.
The heat is expected to bring out revellers in their droves but also comes with fire warnings across 12 areas of New South Wales, with the danger level ranging from high to severe.
And in Queensland, hot, dry conditions have resulted in severe to extreme fire dangers, with Maranoa, Warrego, Channel Country, Darling Downs and the Granite belt put on alert.
A Senior Meteorologist from the Bureau of Meterology told Daily Mail Australia temperatures across the east coast were expected to hit the high 30s or low 40s
Among the records that could be broken was Queensland’s 42.4C, with conditions in Birdsville tipped to reach around 42C
‘The temperatures themselves are not overly unusual for this time of year, however the contrast in weather across Australia is,’ Mr Sgarbossa said.
Perth and south-west Western Australia are in for a wet weekend, with temperatures four to six degrees lower than their September average.
Rain and gusty conditions are expected there Saturday with a chance of thunderstorms Sunday, as temperatures top out at 18C.
It comes as a series of cold fronts crossed the state bringing gusts of up to 100km/h, with wild weather also recorded in south-east Queensland on Friday.
Footage uploaded to the Lockyer Valley Weather Facebook page showed Gatton bypass being pelted with huge hail stones.
The weather is expected to cool slightly for the remainder of the weekend, with gusty conditions in Western New South Wales thanks to a cold-front.
The heat is expected to bring out revellers in their droves but also comes with fire warnings across 12 areas of New South Wales, with the danger level ranging from high to severe
The extreme heat Australia’s east coast is set to enjoy was in contrast with Perth and south-west Western Australia, which was in for a wet weekend, with temperatures four to six degrees lower than their September average