<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>336340</docID> <postdate>2025-01-10 11:54:12</postdate> <headline>Heatwave scorching vast swathe of Australia</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-336341" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pexels-pixabay-301599-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="507" /></p> <caption>Severe summer heat conditions are forecast over the weekend for many parts of the nation. Photo: Pixabay</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Savannah Meacham</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Multiple states are sweltering through a low-intensity to severe heatwave with some temperatures expected to exceed the high forties.</strong></p> <p>Parts of Queensland, Tasmania, SA and WA are all preparing to be scorched by severe summer conditions over the weekend.</p> <p>WA and Queensland have been sizzling for some time, but the conditions are now extending into the southeast, the Bureau of Meteorology's Miriam Bradbury told AAP.</p> <p>It won't be as hot this weekend as last, but inland parts of NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, central Australia and WA may experience severe heatwave conditions.</p> <p>A heatwave is when temperatures are above average during the day and night over a period of three days or more.</p> <p>For Tasmania, temperatures will reach the low 30s during the day and high teens during the night.</p> <p>"That doesn't sound warm for mainland Australians but compared to the averages of Tasmania that is still significantly more," Ms Bradbury said.</p> <p>In parts of central Australia, inland Queensland and WA temperatures will be eight degrees above average to between 40C and 44C.</p> <p>The conditions have elevated the bushfire risk with fire danger ratings across most of the nation remaining at moderate to high.</p> <p>High is before the extreme rating which is when total fire bans are issued.</p> <p>"With moderate to high we're still below warning level but it's not a sign to let our guard down as we all know how bushfire-prone Australia can be in the summer period," Ms Bradbury said.</p> <p>Tasmania, southwest WA pushing into SA and western Victoria will experience the most risk of fire danger over the weekend.</p> <p>"Particularly through western Victoria, where we've seen so recently those really terrible bushfires in the Grampians, is one to have on people's radar," Ms Bradbury said.</p> <p>While a large swathe of Australia will swelter, east coast cities such as Sydney and Brisbane will have a wet weekend.</p> <p>Temperatures will reach into the high 20s, but humidity will be rampant as an easterly flow pushes from the east coast.</p> <p>The showers and storms already impacting the east coast for a number of days will continue with heavy falls around Sydney on Friday, while the wet weather will increase in Brisbane on Saturday.</p> <p>The bureau is forecasting showers and thunderstorms with some severe conditions that bring the risk of flash flooding and for Brisbane, damaging wind gusts and hail.</p> <p>"For all our east coasters, it's certainly a weekend to be keeping an eye on the radar," Ms Bradbury said.</p> <p>A flood watch is already in place for Sydney's Hawkesbury Nepean River as the wet weather continues over the weekend.</p> <p>Ms Bradbury warned rain expected on Friday may cause minor flooding in parts of the river system.</p> </body>