A heatwave has hit the east coast which will last for days and deliver almost 40C temperatures – with warnings issued for an elevated risk of power blackouts.
On Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe heatwave warning for eastern parts of NSW.
Sydney is settling in for back-to-back sweltering days, with temperatures in the city’s west reaching 35C on Monday and 38C on Tuesday.
The heat will be at its worst on Wednesday when it is expected to get as high as 39C.
These unusually hot days are 6C to 10C higher than the typical seasonal average.
The hottest towns and suburbs will be Batemans Bay, Bowral, Camden, Campbelltown, Hornsby, Liverpool, Nowra, Penrith, Parramatta, and Richmond.
Other areas across the state that are expected to be affected include the Hunter region, Illawarra, South Coast, and Southern Tablelands.
The Australian Energy Market Operator has issued warnings of potential blackouts starting Tuesday afternoon as demand for electricity surges due to the widespread use of air conditioners in response to the heat.
Exacerbating the issue, at least one generation unit at three of New South Wales’ four coal-fired power plants is currently offline due to maintenance or repairs.
Sydney is set for a heatwave which will last from Monday through to Wednesday
Temperatures will stay above 35C for much of the time in parts of NSW
‘High temperatures and strong electricity demand, combined with some generation outages, are causing tight electricity supply forecasts in NSW tomorrow and Wednesday afternoon,’ an AEMO spokesman said.
‘AEMO is also forecasting tight electricity reserves in Queensland on Wednesday.’
Meanwhile, those living in Victoria and ACT may also notice the days getting hotter as the heatwave travels south towards the end of the week.
The Bureau warned anyone living in the affected areas to seek shelter and stay safe.
‘Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.
‘Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.
‘If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.’
From Thursday, rain will replace the heat, with showers expected to drench both Victoria and NSW over the weekend.
Rain will drench the state come Thursday just in time for the weekend
Sydney
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Winds northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light before dawn then becoming northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day. Min 20C Max 31C
Wednesday: Sunny morning. Medium chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 21C Max 33C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the outer west. Light winds becoming south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Min 22C Max 29C.
Senior Meteorologist Sarah Scully said the heat was being caused by tropical moisture
Melbourne
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 17C Max 26C.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h turning northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the day then tending northwest to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Min 19C Max 27C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds northwest to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then tending south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Min 17C Max 24C.
Brisbane
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Min 19C Max 29C.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 20C Max 30C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 22C Max 30C.
Canberra
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the evening. Min 16C Max 31C.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Min 17C Max 31C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Min 17C Max 31C.
The Bureau warned anyone living in the affected areas to seek shelter and stay safe during the heatwave
Adelaide
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning then tending west to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day. Min 17C Max 32C.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds west to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h turning southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the afternoon. Min 15C Max 24C.
Thursday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h. Min 13C Max 23C.
Darwin
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 26C Max 32C.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 26C Max 33C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 26C Max 33C.
Perth
Tuesday: Sunny. Winds southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h. Min 11C Max 26C.
Wednesday: Sunny. Winds east to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h. Min 12C Max 29C.
Thursday: Sunny. Winds easterly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light during the evening. Min 17C Max 32C.
Hobart
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Min 13C Max 23C.
Wednesday: Cloudy. High chance of showers. Light winds becoming south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon. Min 14C Max 22C.
Thursday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h turning southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Min 12C Max 17C.
