Australia Weather News

South-eastern parts of Australia are set to swelter through an intensifying heatwave from today, with the conditions bringing potentially record-breaking temperatures.

Adelaide is forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius for the next four days, while inland parts of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales will be even hotter, reaching the mid to high 40s during the week.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said the blast of scorching weather would likely see December records tumble throughout the south-east, and potentially produce the hottest day on record across the country.

"The existing record for the highest maximum temperature averaged over Australia for a day is 40.3C. That was set back in January 2013," BOM climatologist Blair Trewin said.

"Current indications are that we'll be at least a degree above that on Wednesday and Thursday, so a really extreme event from a nationwide perspective."

Adelaide-based BOM meteorologist Paul Lainio went further, saying there was a strong chance the record could be repeatedly broken on consecutive days.

"[There's] a high possibility that Australia will have its hottest day on record not only for one day, but possibly four days in a row we may see the hottest day on record," he said.

Several locations are forecast to reach 48C during the next few days, while warm overnight temperatures are also expected to make Australians uncomfortable.

"We're expecting to see December record-high temperatures over much of inland southern Australia, from the Nullarbor as far east as eastern New South Wales," Dr Trewin said.

"We may see some places have their highest [overall] temperatures on record, particularly eastern New South Wales and the ACT on Saturday."

Firefighters will be on high alert in affected regions. There is a severe fire danger rating in SA's Mount Lofty Ranges where winds are predicted to strengthen and change direction throughout Tuesday.

'Exceptional week of heat' due to lack of rain

Brisbane yesterday recorded its hottest December day since 1981, and severe heatwave conditions will continue in parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

An extreme heatwave — the highest level on the BOM's scale — will develop over South Australia and parts of New South Wales and Victoria over the next few days.

Health authorities are advising the public to take precautions amid the extreme heat, urging locals to stay hydrated and not to leave children or pets alone in parked cars.

In South Australia, a statewide "code red" alert has been declared for the homeless and most vulnerable, while the SA's State Emergency Service (SES) has issued a community readiness alert.

Extra accommodation and services will be available for those sleeping rough, including at Adelaide's Hutt Street Centre and Baptist Care SA's Westcare Centre.

The SA Government has suggested residents be mindful of the vulnerable and check on elderly neighbours as the risk of deadly heat stroke increases.

"We're also encouraging office buildings to let people use the foyer areas to cool down if necessary, just to help people with some relief," SA Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink said.

Mr Lainio said South Australia was heading for an "exceptional week of heat" that would peak in Adelaide on Friday, before a milder change arrived which would nevertheless increase the fire risk.

"There's not a lot of cloud in the north of Australia, not a lot of rainfall. Until we get a lot of rain — the monsoonal type effects — then we've got a pool of dry, hot air across the north of the continent," he said.

"The record for South Australia in December is 49.1C in Moomba — that was back in 1972.

"Friday is probably the danger day where we see a cool change moving through. That might bring us some joy but not before we have some hot, dry, windy conditions."