Australia Weather News

Sam Cronin's phone is ringing every 10 minutes at the moment.

As large swathes of Australia's north sweat through severe heatwave conditions that are expected to peak this weekend, the Longreach refrigeration and air conditioning business owner says work is booming.

Mr Cronin said it was hard to complain when business was so good.

"We can't complain about the work, but we still complain about the heat," he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says daytime maximum temperatures and overnight minimums are 3–8 degrees Celsius above average for this time of year.

The BOM has issued a severe heatwave warning from Friday through to Monday covering northern Queensland from the Peninsula and Gulf Country to the Tablelands, the Herbert and Lower Burdekin, Whitsundays, Capricornia and down to the Wide Bay and Burnett.

It warned of temperatures in the high 30s to mid-40s and overnight minimums in the low to high 20s.

The heatwave warning also covered the northern and western parts of the Northern Territory.

In the outback Queensland city of Mount Isa, it has been a hot week with each day reaching more than 40C.

Local tourist park owner and groundskeeper Brett Rixon said although it was a bit warmer than usual for October, it was largely "business as usual".

"We'll just keep on chugging away at it. It'll be right," he said.

Mr Rixon said the key to getting through his workday was seeking shade, a midday movie with lunch, then getting back to work late in the afternoon.

"Hoping for some rain, love that build-up, a thunderstorm. Can't beat it."

A silent killer

Heatwaves are sometimes described as a "silent killer" — taking lives but, unlike bushfires and floods, leaving no visual signs of their wrath.

According to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's National Mortality Database, there were 21 deaths nationwide in 2022–23 from what has been classified as "exposure to excessive natural heat".

In 2018–19, the number of deaths was 40 and in 2013–14, there were 94 deaths.

The institute also publishes data on the number of hospitalisations from "exposure to excessive natural heat".

In the 2023–24 year, there were 544 hospitalisations. This was up from 354 in the previous year.

Don't be caught off guard

Advanced care paramedic Andrew Blackhall said the best message for the public during the heatwave was to plan ahead and not be caught off guard.

"If possible, avoid being out in the heat for extended periods, seek shade and head indoors if there are fans and air conditioners available," Mr Blackhall said.

For those who work outdoors, he said workers should ensure they had plenty of water and electrolytes and to take regular breaks in the shade.

Mr Blackhall said the signs of what medical professionals called heat exhaustion included fatigue, headaches or feeling nauseous. Anyone feeling this should seek shade, attempt to rehydrate with water and electrolytes and call 13Health and speak to a registered nurse.

Heat stroke a medical emergency

Heat stroke, when the core body temperature is too high, is more serious than heat exhaustion

Mr Blackhall said people could start acting in bizarre ways, seem confused or drowsy and have episodes of fainting.

He said it could manifest in severe dizziness or light-headedness, which would be a medical emergency.

"That is the situation when you call 000," Mr Blackhall said.

Mr Blackhall said three main population groups were particularly vulnerable — very young babies and young children, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

"We are certainly encouraging people in these groups to be aware," he said. "We are also encouraging people to check on these vulnerable populations.

"The last thing to look out for is our furry friends."

Australian Medical Association vice-president Julian Rait also had some tips for surviving heatwaves.

"Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related death in Australia, with the elderly, young children and people with chronic illnesses particularly at risk," the associate professor said.

"People should try to stay inside during the hottest parts of the day, drink plenty of fluids even if you're not thirsty, and avoid sport or heavy exercise during peak heat.

"When you do need to be outside, avoid direct sun exposure where possible by seeking out shaded areas, wear sunscreen and protect yourself with loose-fitting, lightweight and light-coloured clothing."

Back in Longreach, Sam Cronin said being on roofs and inside ceilings installing air conditioners felt 10 degrees hotter than it actually was.

"It's a bit of a struggle but you get used to it after a while … the apprentice says different, though," he said.

Things are expected to start cooling down from about Tuesday of next week.