First 30 of the season for multiple cities
Ben Domensino,
Monday October 29, 2018 - 11:11 AEDT
Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra are likely to experience their first 30 degree day of the season this week, while parts of western Sydney could nudge 40 degrees.
A mass of hot air originating over northern Australia will sweep across the nation's south and southeast later this week. The air is being transported out of the tropics by a burst of northwesterly winds, which will develop ahead of an approaching cold front and low pressure trough.
While temperatures will gradually rise over the space of a few days, the hottest part of the air mass will sweep over Australia's south coast on Thursday, before targeting NSW and the ACT on Friday.
Adelaide is forecast to reach at least 30 degrees between Wednesday and Friday, peaking at 36 degrees on Thursday. Prior to this week, Adelaide's West Terrace weather station hasn't reached 30 degrees since April.
Melbourne's forecast tops of 33 and 31 degrees on Thursday and Friday respectively are also the city's first days over 30 degrees so far this season. Melbourne hasn't had days this warm since March.
Canberra is tipped to reach 31 on Wednesday and 33 degrees on Thursday and Friday. This would the capital city's first 30 degrees in six months and the first three day spell over 30 since February.
Sydney's sea breeze should hold out long enough for a top of around 34 degrees in the city on Friday, it's highest temperature since April. Parts of Western Sydney are forecast to reach 38 degrees on Thursday and could push close to 40 degrees in some suburbs.
Hobart should reach the mid-to-high twenties on Thursday, although Australia's southernmost capital city won't see its first 30 of the season during this burst of heat.
The heat will be accompanied by strengthening northwesterly winds and followed a blustery south to southwesterly change in some areas, which is likely to elevate fire danger ratings in the coming days. Visit your state's fire authority website for the latest information on ratings and total fire bans.
- Weatherzone
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2018