Extreme heatwave in AustraliaA huge pocket of hot air is causing extreme heatwave conditions across eastern Australia, causing authorities to prepare for temporary suspension of power to selected areas of New South Wales late Friday, February 10, 2017. Rare Catastrophic fire weather conditions for NSW are expected on Sunday which is shaping up to be the worst fire weather day so far of the season. January was the hottest month on record for Sydney since 1859, but the city has broken its 121-year-old record today when Friday became the 10th day this summer with highs exceeding 35 °C (95 °F).
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology warned that severe to extreme heatwave conditions are forecast to continue for eastern Australia for several days, with widespread temperatures in the low to mid-40s (104 - 113 °F).
Forecast temperatures are well above average for southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, it said.
Hot conditions will extend from inland Queensland into the southeast of the state later in the week, with high humidity making the conditions even more uncomfortable.
New South Wales could experience its hottest February day on record on Saturday, February 11, as extreme heatwave conditions peak across the state.
Forecasts indicate temperatures will reach the mid-40s (113 °F) in many inland areas and high 30s along the coast for the next two days.
Sydney’s Observatory Hill is expected to reach temperatures of 38 °C (100.4 °F) today, rising to 39 °C (102.2 °F) tomorrow, while the temperature in Penrith is forecast to reach 45 °C (113 °F) on Saturday.
Authorities were preparing to temporarily suspend power to selected areas of NSW state late on Friday to prevent overload just days after 40 000 homes and businesses lost electricity in the state of South Australia.
NSW Energy Minister Don Harwin asked residents to consider reducing their energy usage after work.
"Rather than going straight home and turning on the television and cooking, (you might) want to consider going to a movie, going out to a shopping center, keeping the load low, every bit like that helps," Harwin told journalists in Sydney.
Catastrophic fire weather conditions
Acting NSW Regional Director Stephen Lellyett said a stationary mid-level ridge over central Australia had caused a build-up of heat over the interior of the continent over the last few weeks.
“An approaching front to the south is now dragging this hot air down across New South Wales,” Mr. Lellyett said. "This will lead to widespread severe heatwave conditions and locally extreme heatwave conditions along parts of the coast."
“Fire weather warnings are also likely during the weekend as the system will lead to increasing wind speeds in conjunction with the extremely hot temperatures. The forecast Catastrophic fire weather conditions on Sunday in the upper Hunter and fringes of adjoining districts are rare in NSW. Sunday is shaping up to be the worst fire weather day so far of the season.”
Forecast models indicate the front will sweep through the state on Sunday, leading to some relief from the extreme heat from Monday.
January was the hottest month on record for Sydney since 1859. A number of areas in the state, including Moree and Walgett, have experienced a significant number of consecutive days over 35 °C (95 °F) and will come close to the record of 50 hot days in a row.