Weather News

Hot end to the week in southeastern Australia

Ben Domensino, Wednesday March 14, 2018 - 14:16 AEDT

It's going to be a summer-like weekend across southeastern Australia as a pulse of inland heat sweeps across the region, elevating fire danger ratings in multiple states.

Northwesterly winds will develop across SA, NSW and Victoria from Friday as a high pressure system moves over the Tasman Sea.

These heat-laden winds will persist for two to three days, allowing temperatures to climb more than 10 degrees above average for this time of year in some places this weekend.

Maximum temperatures are forecast to reach the low forties over inland parts of NSW and SA, and the high thirties in northern Victoria this weekend.

The hottest day for much of SA - including Adelaide - western Victoria and southwest NSW will be on Saturday, before a blustery cool change sweeps through the region.

The passage of this front will drive the hot air further east, sending the mercury soaring in NSW and parts of Victoria on Sunday.

Maximum temperatures on Sunday are forecast by the BoM to be 11 to 12 degrees above average in Victoria's Sale (36C), Bairnsdale (36C), Tullamarine (36C) and Melbourne (35C), and Richmond (39C), Bowral (33C) and Cessnock (38C) in NSW.

As the heat reaches its peak, winds will strengthen ahead of the approaching front, elevating fire danger ratings across the nation's southeast this weekend.

Total fire bans have already been issued in five districts in South Australia on Saturday and similar restrictions may be applied to parts of other states during the weekend.

Tasmania will also be affected by the heat briefly. Hobart is forecast by the BoM to climb eight degrees above average on Saturday and Sunday, reaching tops of 28 degrees both days. This would make it Hobart's warmest weekend since January.

The passage of this weekend's blustery front will also bring some welcome rain to parched areas of South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, although little rain will penetrate into NSW.

Further ahead, there is potential for some early autumn snow in Tasmania early next week as much colder air sweeps across the state during Monday and Tuesday.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2018

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