WA to endure extreme heatwave over Christmas with milder conditions for rest of Australia
West Australians will swelter through an extremely hot festive weekend, with Perth expected to peak at 42C on Christmas Day.
The blistering conditions, caused by the southward migration of dry desert heat, have sparked severe fire danger warnings for the region.
The latest weather forecasts for Saturday show a proper downpour is expected in the Top End, with Darwin looking at a 95% chance of rain, and showers likely in Brisbane. Milder conditions are expected in the southeast of the country, although Canberrans should get ready for a warm 31C.
One thing all states have in common is a predicted UV index of “extreme”. So if you are celebrating outdoors, remember to slip, slop, slap. Western Australia
West Australians will endure the most extreme Christmas Day weather in the country, with Perth set for a 42C scorcher.
Extreme heatwave conditions are expected to stretch from south of Bunbury up past the state’s capital and north of Geraldton across the festive weekend. The coast will endure temperatures above 40C, sparked by dry desert heat travelling south. And night will bring little respite, with a minimum of 27C predicted for Boxing Day.
The conditions are “historic”, according to senior meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Jackson Browne.
“We haven’t seen extreme category heatwave conditions in the Perth region since December of 1996,” he said.
The region should also be on high alert for fire danger, with a severe warning expected for Perth on Christmas Day.
Elsewhere, Port Hedland is predicted to hit a high of 38C, while up in Broome and down in Kalgoorlie a hot 35C is expected.
New South Wales
A warm and cloudy weekend is predicted for Sydney, with Christmas Eve to bring a high of 27C and possible showers.
On the big day itself, the mercury is expected to hit 29C in the city and 32C in Penrith, with a slight chance of a shower and a possible thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. It’s a slightly grimmer forecast for Boxing Day, with cloudy skies, an 80% chance of rain and a possible morning thunderstorm bad news for those planning to hit the beach.
Up north Coffs Harbour is looking at a high of 26C and showers for Christmas Day, while Newcastle will touch 30C.
Wollongong is predicted to hit 27C and down in Eden it’ll be 26C and partly cloudy. It’s a hot one out west, with temperatures in the mid 30s expected across much of the state.
Victoria
After a sunny and 26C Christmas Eve, Melburnians are expected to wake up to clouds on Christmas morning. But it won’t stay overcast for long, with the sky likely to clear to mostly sunny by the afternoon. Christmas Day will
also bring a predicted top of 21C and a very slim chance of showers. On Boxing Day, the clouds are expected to make a comeback, with the predicted high dropping one degree to 20C.
A couple of hours north, Christmas Day is expected to be hot, with a predicted top of 33C in Bendigo and an uncomfortable 35C in Shepparton, Echuca and Wodonga. West of Melbourne, Port Fairy and surrounding towns will see highs of just 18C.
ACT
The nation’s capital is expected to top 31C on Christmas Day, up from a pleasant 26C on Christmas Eve. A partly cloudy day is predicted, with a slight chance of a shower and a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Light winds are expected. The 31C will only last a day, with a top of 25C expected on Boxing Day.
South Australia
The Adelaide forecast has been tweaked from mostly sunny to partly cloudy, but those planning to celebrate outdoors can rest assured no rain is predicted.
The city is expecting a dry Christmas Day with a top of 27C, down from 31C on Christmas Eve.
Some south to south-easterly winds are expected to blow through the metropolitan area at 25km/h to 35km/h. Inland, those in Oodnadatta can expect a hot 39C on Christmas Day with 37C for Coober Pedy. Cooler temperatures are expected at Mount Gambier (22C) and west at Ceduna (24C).
Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Queensland Brisbanites should prepare for a wet Christmas, with rain expected from Christmas Eve through to Boxing Day and beyond. But the chance of a festive downpour will diminish further up the coast.
Rain is predicted for Rockhampton on Christmas Day, but in Mackay and Townsville, it’s more likely to be a Boxing Day shower. Brisbane is expected to hit a high of 28C on Christmas Day, with tops rising to around 32C upstate.
Cairns is expected to enjoy a rainfree Christmas weekend and highs of around 33C, while towns like Weipa on the Gulf of Carpentaria could see thunderstorms. In Birdsville, it’s a neat 40C and 37C north in Mt Isa.
Northern Territory
It is expected to be a wet and wild Christmas in the Top End, with thunderstorms expected across the region and a very high chance of rain in Darwin.
Up to 80mm may fall on Christmas Day in the Northern Territory capital, where a top of 31C on Christmas Day is also expected. South in Alice Springs, a dry, partly cloudy day of 35C is expected, and at Uluru, a mostly sunny 38C.
Hobart
Tasmanians will have a cooler Christmas Day than the rest of the country with an expected high of 21C in Hobart, 23C in Devonport and 22C in Burnie. All three cities are expected to have cloudy skies across the weekend, but generally fine, dry conditions. Showers are expected, though, in the west and far south of the state.