December 13, 2024
Temperatures in the mid to high 40s are expected on Monday across parts of Australia. Source: MetCentre
Australia is set to experience two contrasting weather patterns, with scorching heat on the way for NSW, Victoria and large parts of central Australia and continued wet and stormy conditions across eastern Queensland with some localised flash flooding possible.
As different as these are, the two systems are working together. A cold front is approaching from the west, helping to collect and push the heat from Australia's interior into NSW and Victoria. Meanwhile a ridge along the east coast is also helping to push northerly winds down into these regions - while also delivering humid, easterly winds to eastern Queensland and maintaining the locally heavy shower and storm activity.
Inland Areas to Bear the Brunt of Heat, Melbourne Monday Scorcher Head
By Sunday, temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-40s across regions in the Northern Territory, western Queensland, western New South Wales, and northeastern South Australia.
Forecast maximums on Sunday. Source: MetCentre
Come Monday, the heat intensifies further, with inland New South Wales set to experience near record heat as temperatures push into the high 40s. Victoria will also feel the heat, with Melbourne forecasted to approach 40°C, creating sweltering conditions in the city.
Forecast maximums on Monday with maximums reaching to 48-49C over inland NSW. Source: MetCentre
Heat Spills into Western Sydney
By Tuesday, temperatures may ease slightly in the eastern interior, but western Sydney will be next in line, with temperatures expected to push well into the low 40s.
On Tuesday, temperatures should be tempered by a seabreeze over eastern Sydney but are expected to push into the low 40s in western Sydney. Source: MetCentre
Humid & Showery in Brisbane & Eastern Queensland
Falls of 50-100mm are likely over the next 5-7 days for parts of the eastern Queensland coastline with local 100-150mm falls possible. Source: MetCentre
As the intense heat pushes down across into NSW and Victoria it will create an upper ridge that will constrict an upper low across eastern eastern Queensland. This upper low will maintain a broad surface trough or low pressure region helping to generate humid, onshore winds. While temperatures will be much cooler than down south, the higher humidity will still make them feel hot and muggy at times. The combination of the warm and humid conditions with the cooler air in the upper atmosphere will bring further showers and isolated storms. The main concern will be some localised flash flood threats occurring thanks to high levels of moisture and slow moving nature of showers and storms with moderate falls likely along parts of southeastern to central eastern Queensland.
Fortunately the heat down south will be short-lived, while shower and storm activity may ease over southern areas of Queensland by the second half of next week.
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