Sydney, Melbourne weather: Extreme heatwave about to strike

Extreme heat warnings are in place for multiple states as a sweltering heatwave brings one of the hottest December days in years.

Temperatures in the high 40s are expected in parts of Victoria and NSW, while the Northern Territory faces severe to extreme heatwave conditions for much of the next three days.

Hot, dry and gusty north-westerly winds are expected to bring high bushfire risks to parts of NSW and extreme bushfire risks to most of Victoria.

In Sydney, Penrith and Richmond are forecast to hit 39, while Camden is tipped to hit 37. Temperatures across the Harbour City are predicted to stay high throughout the week.

Extreme fire danger has been declared in Victoria’s central and western districts, while Melbourne, with an expected forecast of 41C, will face its hottest day since January 2023 and its hottest December day since 2019.

The heatwave marks an early start to summer and could break a number of December records in parts of the nation.

The mercury is expected to hit 46C in Mildura in Victoria’s northwest, 45C in Swan Hill and 44C in Horsham.

Parts of inland NSW could face even more extreme heat than Victoria.

A maximum temperature of 47C is expected in Wilcannia, in central northwestern NSW, and 46.5C in Ivanhoe, about 180 kilometres further south.

Melbourne is expected to hit a scorching 41C today – the hottest December day since 2019

A cold front is expected to reach western Victoria around 3pm on Monday, bringing relief to Melbourne and central parts of Victoria by around 9pm. 

‘There will be still a risk of storms in the east during Tuesday and showers in that south-westerly,’ Mr Trainor said.

‘But essentially, all that heat goes away on Tuesday.’

The heatwave has prompted a warning from Weatherzone urging people to take precautions and prevent heat-related deaths this year. 

‘Heatwaves cause more deaths in Australia than any other natural disaster,’ a spokesperson said.

Aussies are expected to stay cool by heading to the beaches as temperatures soar 

High fire danger warnings issued for southeastern states as hot, dry, and windy conditions intensify

‘You can mitigate the effects of a heatwave by staying inside a cool building during the hottest part of the day, avoiding sports during the day, drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, taking cool showers or bath and avoiding direct exposure to the sun where possible.’

Victoria’s Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas also urged Victorians to check on those most at risk, and stay inside as much as possible. 

Melbourne

Monday: Mostly sunny morning, with cloud increasing from the west in the afternoon. Slight chance of a shower in the late evening. The chance of a thunderstorm with little or no rainfall from the early afternoon. Thunderstorms possibly severe with damaging winds. Winds northerly up to 50 km/h shifting cooler south to southwesterly up to 25 km/h in the late evening. Max 41.

Tuesday: High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Winds south to southwesterly up to to 25 km/h becoming light before dawn then becoming southwesterly up to 35 km/h early in the morning. Min 17 Max 24.

Wednesday: Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Winds southwesterly up to 20 km/h turning southerly up to 30 km/h during the morning. Min 14 Max 21.

Thursday: Sunny. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming south to southeasterly up to 25 km/h during the afternoon. Min 12 Max 27.

Spots for cooling off will be in high demand as temperatures soar around the country

Extreme fire danger has been declared in Victoria’s central and western districts

Sydney

Monday: Mostly cloudy morning, sunny afternoon. Slight chance of drizzle this morning. Light winds becoming northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day. Max 29. 

Tuesday: Sunny day. Slight chance of a shower in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the west in the late afternoon and evening. Winds north to northeasterly up to 25 km/h shifting south to southeasterly up to 35 km/h in the evening. Min 20 Max 32.

Wednesday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers in the morning. Winds southerly 25 to 40 km/h. Min 18 Max 23.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Min 18 Max 23.

Brisbane

Monday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds southeasterly up to 35 km/h. Max 28.

Tuesday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending easterly in the morning then becoming light in the early afternoon. Min 23 Max 28. 

Wednesday: Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly up to 20 km/h during the afternoon then tending south to southeasterly during the evening. Min 23 Max 29

Thursday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h tending southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Min 20 Max 26.

Every state and territory, excluding Tasmania, will see a heatwave

Perth

Monday: Cloud clearing. Winds southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending southerly 15 to 25 km/h in the evening then becoming light in the late evening. Min 16 Max 25.

Tuesday: Sunny. Winds southeasterly up to 20 km/h tending easterly up to 40 km/h before dawn then turning south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the afternoon. Min 17 Max 35.

Wednesday: Sunny. Winds east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the morning then tending southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the evening. Min 20 Max 32.

Thursday: Sunny. Winds southerly up to 25 km/h tending south to southwesterly up to 35 km/h during the day then turning southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the evening. Min 16 Max 30.

Adelaide

Monday: Mostly sunny morning. Slight chance of a shower, most likely this evening. The chance of a thunderstorm late this afternoon and evening. Winds northwest to northeasterly up to 35 km/h tending northwest to southwesterly up to 40 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming southwesterly up to 35 km/h in the late afternoon. Max 38.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Winds southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h turning southerly in the late afternoon then decreasing to 15 to 25 km/h in the evening. Min 16 Max 26.

Wednesday: Sunny. Winds southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h. Min 13 Max 29.

Thursday: Sunny. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h tending south to southwesterly during the day then tending southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Min 16 Max 33.

Sydney will see highs of 29C Monday and 32C Tuesday, but Western Sydney braces for a scorching 41C on Tuesday

Hobart

Monday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely this evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds northerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light in the late evening. Max 33.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the early morning. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light before dawn then becoming westerly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning. Min 16 Max 21.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning south to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the afternoon. Min 12 Max 20.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. Min 10 Max 21.

Darwin

Monday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely during this afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm from late this morning. Winds westerly up to 25 km/h becoming light in the evening. Max 35.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds west to southwesterly up to 25 km/h tending west to northwesterly up to 20 km/h during the afternoon and evening. Min 27 Max 35.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Min 27 Max 35.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 25 Max 33.

Canberra

Monday: Sunny. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Max 37.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny morning. Slight chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming northwesterly up to 30 km/h in the morning then shifting easterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Min 19 Max 35.

Wednesday: Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Mostly sunny day. Winds east to southeasterly and light increasing to up to 30 km/h during the day. Min 13 Max 28

Thursday: Sunny. Winds southeasterly up to 20 km/h becoming light during the day then becoming easterly up to 25 km/h during the afternoon. Min 9 Max 28.