Severe heatwave warnings have been issued for large parts of the country, with temperatures forecast to top 40C in at least four states in the coming days.
The Bureau of Meteorology's (BoM) senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told SBS News: "[It's] one of the most significant heatwaves we've seen in south-eastern Australia for a little while."
The combination of a slow-moving trough system through southern Australia and a blocking high in the Tasman Sea is bringing all the heat from the north and west of the country down to the south-east.
BoM has issued severe heatwave warnings for parts of NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, which will remain in effect until Wednesday.
"We're going to see multiple days of temperatures anywhere from six to 16 degrees above average through south-eastern parts of the country," Narramore said.
BoM has issued severe heatwave warnings for parts of NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, which will remain in effect until Wednesday. Credit: SBS
The BoM has warned of the potential heat impact on older Australians, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.
40C temperatures in four states
BoM forecasts 40C temperatures in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia early this week.
In NSW, the severe-to-extreme heatwave will expand and peak mid-to-late week, with maximum temperatures reaching the high thirties to mid forties.
On the east coast, warnings cover the South Coast, Snowy Mountains and South West Slopes in NSW; North East and East Gippsland in Victoria; North East, East Coast and Midlands in Tasmania; parts of South Australia, including the West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula and North West Pastoral and the ACT.
For Victoria, maximum temperatures in the low-to-mid forties are predicted. From Thursday, maximum temperatures are expected to be in the high thirties in the south and up to mid forties in the north of the state.
The prediction for Victoria shows Mildura's maximum temperature will change between 44C and 46C between Wednesday and Friday.
In South Australia, maximum temperatures will be in the high thirties and mid forties, and the heatwave condition is expected to peak mid to late next week. It is expected temperatures will rise to 41C in Adelaide on Wednesday.
On the west coast, the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, Goldfields, Eucla, north interior, south interior and Central Wheat Belt in Western Australia are facing heatwave warnings.
Western Australia might even experience warmer days, with the BoM predicting temperatures in the forties in parts of the state's north-west.
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