A major heatwave is about to hit large parts of Ausrtralia, so get ready to pull out all the stops to bribe your new bestie that has air-conditioning in their home.
Queensland’s leading the charge, with temperatures already starting to climb today. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines warned of a “prolonged run of warm weather” that will see temperatures “somewhere between five to seven degrees warmer than their typical January maximum temps” in the second half of this week, as reported by the ABC.
A heatwave warning is in place across most of the state, impacting Brisbane, Biloela, Barcaldine, Dalby, Goondiwindi, Ipswich, Isisford, Roma, Stanthorpe, and St George.
Birdsville is expected to reach a blistering 44 degrees today, climbing to 46 degrees tomorrow.
While Queensland swelters, Western Australia is experiencing its own extreme weather. Perth is forecast to hit 39°C and 44°C, potentially marking the hottest January day in a decade. The mercury reached a scorching 44.4°C in January, 2015 according to PerthNow.
There are extreme heatwave warnings in place for Lower West and Central Wheat Belt Districts. Severe heatwave warnings will impact Gascoyne, Goldfields, North Interior, South Interior, Central West, South West, South East Coastal and Great Southern Districts this week.
Geraldton has already recorded a staggering 49.3°C, matching its hottest day on record.
So, what’s causing this extreme weather? It’s a perfect storm of climate factors. The absence of the monsoon over northern Australia has allowed repetitive bouts of hot air to slosh around the country.
Adding to this, Tropical Cyclone Sean off Western Australia’s coast is influencing weather patterns, intensifying the heat in the south while bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the north.
Environment Australia’s Beau Frigault warned that this isn’t just uncomfortable – it’s dangerous. “Heat is one of the biggest silent killers in Australia,” he cautioned, per the ABC.
Dr Frigault advised to find air-conditioned spaces, keep your workouts for the cooler parts of the day, keep refilling your bottle and stay hydrated, and to not forget to check on vulnerable people.
“Particularly people like pregnant women, children, people with cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, they can become very susceptible to extreme heatwaves for longer periods of time and those people can become quite unwell.”
Whether you’re in Queensland or Western Australia, the message is clear: stay cool, stay safe, and maybe invest in a really good fan. This heatwave is no joke.
Lead image: Getty Images
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