Unseasonably high gusts and record-breaking warm weather are likely to bring an end to winter on Australia’s east coast this weekend.
On Friday, Sydney saw the hottest August day since 1995, with a maximum temperature of 31.5C.
The warm weather was predicted to persist into the weekend across central and southern Queensland, as well as north-eastern New South Wales, with Brisbane experiencing multiple days with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that temperatures in Queensland’s capital will reach 34 degrees Celsius on Saturday and Sunday. Monday’s maximum was expected to be 33 degrees Celsius, with temperatures cooling until the end of next week.
Towns in northern New South Wales, including Ballina, Grafton, and Lismore, were also predicted to have weekend maximum temperatures of more than 30 Celsius.
However, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for damaging winds over Victoria and Tasmania on Saturday, with gusts above 130 km/h recorded in several regions.
Senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said Saturday might be the warmest August day since 2009.
“So many, many locations are likely to see their warmest August maximum temperature since 2009 and several may set new August records today,” according to her.
“These warm temperatures are expected to persist for the next few days, before cooling off a little on Tuesday as this southerly change moves through.”
It comes as the snow season continues to wind down early, with Mount Buller saying its season would conclude on Sunday and Falls Creek resort announcing a price decrease amid declining snow cover. On Thursday, the resort issued a 30% reduction on resort admission permits, in light of the recent rain and higher temperatures.
How a Stubborn High-Pressure Ridge is Driving Record Warmth Across Australia
According to Scully, the warm weather was brought on by a “really stubborn” ridge of high pressure that has spread throughout northern and central Australia over the last week.
“That system has brought settled and clear sky conditions, with the air sort of stagnating over the interior and being able to really heat up,” the meteorologist added.
“And, as a result, we’ve seen maximum temperatures well above the August average.”
Earlier on Saturday morning, gusts of 156 km/h were reported at Luncheon Hill, with gusts of 150 km/h at Low Rocky Point and 143 km/h at Cape Grim, all in Tasmania.
On Saturday, a powerful cold front was anticipated to bring lengthy episodes of severe wind gusts across most of Tasmania.
According to the Bom, gusts of more than 125 km/h are likely to continue in the afternoon, with heavy showers and thunderstorms accompanying the front in the state’s western, far southern, and northern regions.
The wind was predicted to lessen across most of Tasmania starting Sunday morning, with severe winds remaining only in mountainous terrain and coastal areas of western, northern, and southern Tasmania.
Scully stated that some of the rain was landing on already saturated catchments, prompting a series of flood warnings across the state.
Minor to moderate flooding warnings have been issued for the Forth, Mersey, Meander, North Esk, South Esk, and Macquarie rivers.
Scully advised residents to stay up to date on the bureau’s latest projections and to listen to local emergency services.
