Australia weather: Rain bomb and a deadly heatwave about to strikeAustralia is set to see in the New Year with more extreme weather, being hammered by tropical rains in the north and a three-day heatwave to the south which could spark bushfires and risk lives.
Far North Queensland will see heavy rainfall into next week, while Brisbane and the Gold Coast will be wet and windy for New Year's Eve, as much of Victoria and South Australia bake in scorching temperatures.
While it will be beach weather in Victoria, the Bureau of Meteorology warned people not to get carried away in the heat, even issuing a 'heat health alert' for Central Victoria and Melbourne.
'Heat kills more Australians than any natural disaster,' the bureau said.
While it will be beach weather in Victoria, the Bureau of Meteorology warned people to not get carried away in the heat
Australia is set to see in the New Year with more extreme weather, being hammered by tropical rains in the north and and a three-day heatwave to the south which could spark bushfires and risk lives
Victoria and South Australia also face a bushfire risk in some areas from lightning strikes.
Campers heading towards Gippsland are advised to stay up to date with bushfire news.
Melbourne and Adelaide will both reach a scorching 38 degrees on a hot and sunny New Year's Eve, and hit 36-37 degrees again on Saturday.
Melbourne will cool slightly on Saturday afternoon, then drop to 21 by Monday, while Adelaide will stay in the 30s all weekend.
Australia faces several days of vastly contrasting weather from a searing heatwave in Victoria and South Australia to tropical rain in Far North Queensland
Much of Queensland will be facing heavy rain over the next few days, while parts of the southern states could be battling bushfires as authorities say lightning strikes are forecast
On Saturday 'dry thunderstorms' will develop in Victoria's east, creating a potential bushfire threat.
'We'll see some dry lightning over the east of state, across Gippsland and the north east of Victoria, which can spark up fires,' said Jonathan How from the Bureau of Meteorology.
'So if you're heading out camping, keep in touch with information from the Country Fire Authority (CFA),' he added.
The weather office has warned of a risk of dry thunderstorms which could bring lightning strikes in Victoria's east and South Australia's lower south-east - and a risk of bushfires
Mr How said the tropical storm which has drenched Far North Queensland will ease as it moves offshore - but it is likely to mean a wet and windy New Year's Eve for Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Sydney is set for a spell of warm fine weather, reaching 29 on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, then 30 on Sunday and Monday.
'It will be showery and windy along the beach along the Gold Coast and at Brisbane, so you might need to tie down your umbrella if you're out in it.'
There's a good chance of showers into next week in south-east Queensland and 'dangerous surf conditions'.
Cape York was drenched this week but the weather warnings for the far north have been cancelled
The Daintree rainforest in Queensland copped 135mm of rain in 24 hours
'So follow all advice from surf lifesaving Queensland.' |
