The heatwave from HELL: Australia is set to sizzle with temperatures hitting a scorching 49C in some parts this weekend
- Severe heatwave conditions expected for WA, SA and Queensland on Friday
- Parts of WA, QLD and NT won’t dip below 30 degrees Celsius this weekend
- Severe fire danger warnings are in place for WA, SA & parts of Victoria and NSW
- Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne set to exceed temperatures of 30C
An extreme heatwave is set to hit parts of Australia over the weekend after weeks of heavy rain and storms smashed the east coast.
A combination of ‘exceptionally hot air mass’ and lack of cloud cover is setting Australians up for a blistering few days.
Severe heatwave conditions are expected for parts of Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland from Friday.
The sweltering conditions will be a warm welcome for some after La Nina brought weeks of unseasonably wet and cool weather.
And while many will be preparing to enjoy the start of the festive season relaxing on the beach, the mercury may be a struggle in some parts.
Severe heatwave conditions are expected for parts of Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland on Friday
News comes as Australia’s east coast suffers extreme humidity thanks to the current La Niña weather event that is expected to stay well into 2022 (pictured, a woman on Bondi Beach)
WA’s Pilbara region could see temperatures brew close to 50C while Marble Bar is forecast to reach 49C this weekend – making it the hottest December on record.
Severe fire danger warnings have been issued for parts of WA and SA, including the Mount Lofty Ranges and Kangaroo Island on Friday.
Fire danger warnings are also in place for parts of Victoria and NSW on Saturday, as temperatures are set to soar across major cities Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.
Sydneysiders can expect a hot start to the weekend as temperatures are set to peak to 31C on Saturday and Sunday.
Temperatures in Melbourne will exceed 30C with a top of 33C on Saturday before a cool change hits the city on Sunday dropping temperatures to the low 20s.
Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne are forecast to exceed 30C on Saturday
La Niña has brought humidity levels as high as 97 per cent to Australia’s east coast due to increased rainfall
Further south, Adelaide is expected to see its hottest day since February when it hits 37C on Friday before dipping to 27 on Saturday.
High temperatures will even stretch over the Bass Strait with Hobart expected to see a maximum temperature of 30C.
The south east will see some relief on Sunday as a cold front develops but there could also be some summer afternoon storms on the NSW coast.
A heatwave is set to sweep the nation after La Nina weather brought unseasonably wet and cool conditions
A combination of ‘exceptionally hot air mass’ and lack of cloud cover is setting Australians up for a blistering week
‘The heat is also expected to bring some storms, mainly over the east coast over the next few days,’ The Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Jonathan How said.
‘We could see some warning issued but thankfully nothing quite as severe or significant as what we’ve seen over the last few days.’
Australia’s east coast has been enduring extreme humidity and wet weather thanks to the current La Niña weather event in the Pacific.
La Niña has brought humidity levels as high as 97 per cent to Australia’s east coast due to increased rainfall.
The current La Niña event is expected to stay and cause havoc until late Summer or early Autumn in 2022.