Heatwave intensifies, but some relief in sight from the monsoon

17/01/2013

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a return to extreme temperatures, with strong winds and dangerous fire-weather conditions ahead of the cool change moving northeast from tomorrow.

Assistant Director of Weather Services, Alasdair Hainsworth, said this unusual, extended period of extreme heat affecting large parts of Australia over the past two weeks will start to ease over the weekend with the onset of the monsoon.

“Unfortunately high temperatures reaching into the mid-40s over eastern Western Australia, South Australia, western Queensland and large parts of Victoria and New South Wales are expected today and tomorrow,” said Mr Hainsworth.

“This extreme heat, combined with strong, gusty winds ahead of the cool change will prove particularly challenging for fire fighters who have been battling blazes for two weeks now.

“The late onset of the monsoon has allowed extremely hot air to build up in northern Australia. Fortunately, this weekend we’re going to finally see some cloud cover and rain getting into northern Australia, and will eventually flush out the hot air mass that has built up in the interior of the continent,” he said.

Northern Territory Climate Services Manager, Joel Lisonbee, has been closely monitoring the north Australian monsoon, and said that all indicators point to its well-overdue arrival this weekend.

“This year the monsoon onset is about three weeks later than we would usually expect to see it, although this is not a first. During the summer, or northern wet season, of 1972-1973 and 1992-1993 we also saw a late onset of the monsoon, in the last week of January,” said Mr Lisonbee.

“For a few weeks now a strong, stationary mid-level ridge over eastern Australia has kept the monsoon trough offshore, preventing the onset of the monsoon and contributing to the widespread heatwave conditions.

“As the monsoon trough moves south over the continent the hot, dry air mass will be gradually replaced by a moist, tropical air mass – bringing welcome relief in the form of cloud cover, rainfall and lower temperatures across central Australia,” he said.

Extreme heat events, such as this one, have wide ranging impacts across agricultural and horticultural sectors, infrastructure and transport, and not least human health and safety. The Bureau is also providing advice through federal and state emergency services partnerships to assist during this heatwave and its impacts.

for the latest national warnings go to the Bureau's warning page.
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