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LARGE parts of the country are in the grips of yet another heatwave, with experts warning the extreme weather could be fatal.
The current heatwave will see the mercury soar well above the average maximum temperature, with unusually humid conditions compounding the already dangerously hot weather.
Sarah Fitton, a senior meteorologist from the Bureau of Meteorology’s National Operations Centre, said most of South Australia and Victoria and parts of NSW would be affected by a severe heatwave while parts of Tasmania would grapple with an extreme heatwave over the long weekend.
She said the mercury would rise up to 16 degrees above the average maximum temperature for large areas of the country.
Adelaide, Hobart and Melbourne will be the hottest capital cities, with Sunday’s overnight temperature only dropping to an “uncomfortable” minimum of 27 degrees.
“Compounding this is the fact it’s also becoming very humid. A slow moving high pressure system from the Tasman Sea is bringing tropical moisture from Queensland down into the southern states,” Ms Fitton said.
“Normally summer heatwaves are often a very dry heat but the characteristic of this heatwave is that there is high humidity which makes it feel even hotter.
“It increases heat stress as the human body doesn’t cool down well in humid conditions. Evaporative air conditioners can also struggle when it is humid.”
But there is relief in sight, with a cool change coming on Sunday through to Monday in much of the country.
“There will be a cold front accompanied by showers and storms cooling off the south of the country on Tuesday and it will move across NSW,” she said.
“There will be a complete flushing out of heat in the southern states and except for Queensland it will be very mild for the remainder of the country into early next week.”
Victoria’s chief health officer Professor Charles Guest warned the current heatwave could be fatal.
According to Fairfax media, Professor Guest said elderly Australians were more at risk as they were less likely to use airconditioning.
“We know every time there is a succession of hot days there will be deaths,” he said on Friday morning.
“Think of your neighbours and friends. Particularly old people living alone are vulnerable to the heat and not aware they are becoming victim to heat exhaustion.”
Beachgoers have also been warned to swim between the flags and avoid rips following a recent spike in drowning deaths across the country.
Australia’s latest heatwave comes with unusually humid conditions. Picture: BoMSource:Supplied
ADELAIDE:
The South Australian capital will be mostly sunny and very hot with a high of 41 degrees today, before climbing even higher to 42 degrees tomorrow.
There will be a cool change on Monday though with the mercury plummeting to 26 degrees.
MELBOURNE:
Melburnians will face humid conditions with a possible shower today with a high of 32 degrees, followed by a scorching hot, humid and mostly sunny 39 degree day tomorrow.
HOBART:
The city will be very hot, humid and sunny at 36 degrees tomorrow, with a high of 29 today.
SYDNEY:
It will be partly cloudy and a reasonable 28 degrees in Sydney today and tomorrow.
BRISBANE:
There will be a shower or two in Brisbane today with a high of 32, followed by more showers and a high of 29 tomorrow.
PERTH:
It’s expected to be mostly sunny and 28 degrees today in Perth, with clouds clearing and a high of 30 tomorrow.
CANBERRA:
There will be a shower or two and a possible storm with a high of 31 in the nation’s capital today, with a partly cloudy 31 degrees tomorrow. Book in to a first aid course in Canberra so you are out of the heat. www.canberrafirstaid.com
DARWIN:
Possible storms and a high of 29 are predicted in Darwin both today and tomorrow.