The nation is bracing for an intense heatwave this weekend, with parts of South Australia poised to experience soaring temperatures as high as 45°C.

An expansive hot air mass is currently developing over Western Australia and is set to make its way across the southern regions of the country over the weekend.

In the northern areas of Western Australia, temperatures have already climbed into the low forties. Notably, Mardie in the Pilbara hit 43.5°C on both Monday and Tuesday, which is 8°C above the norm for this time of year.

This wave of extreme heat is expected to advance into central and southern Australia over the weekend, subjecting millions to severe heatwave conditions.

Weather experts are predicting that temperatures in South Australia could peak between 44°C and 45°C by Sunday.

Weather maps are currently depicting ominous shades of dark red and pink, indicating vast regions of the country are likely to experience temperatures reaching the mid-forties.

Those high temperatures are inching close to previous records for this time of year. 

The highest-recorded temperature in SA during October was 45.4C at Oodnadatta in 1995, which means this weekend’s forecasts could beat it. 

Millions of Aussies will sweat through temperatures of up to 45C this weekend (Bondi Beach)

An alarming map shared large parts of Australia projected for temperatures will into the forties over the upcoming weekend, indicated by the red and pink (pictured)

The highest temperature ever recorded in Australia in October was 46.9C at Port Hedland in 2002. 

The last two times anywhere in Australia reached 45C this early in October were in 2014 and 2004, Weatherzone reported. 

Meanwhile, Sydney’s daytime temperatures in October so far have been so high ‘would be above average in January, at the height of summer’. 

This included an average of 27.2C, noticeably higher than the long-term monthly average of 22.2C.

As a result, Sydney could record its hottest October in the city’s history this year. 

Sydney

Friday: Min. 20 Max. 32 Mostly sunny morning. High chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. A thunderstorm likely in the afternoon and evening, possibly severe with damaging winds and large hail. 

Saturday: Min. 16 Max. 23 Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming easterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.

Sunday: Min. 16 Max. 26 Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming northerly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then tending northeasterly during the afternoon.

The projected temperatures could inch close to previous records for this time of year (stock)

Melbourne

Friday: Min. 13 Max. 19 Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming northerly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then tending northeasterly during the afternoon.

Saturday: Min. 10 Max. 20 Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the southeast suburbs in the morning. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. 

Sunday: Min. 14 Max. 28 Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Winds northerly 35 to 55 km/h.

Brisbane

Friday: Min. 16 Max. 28 Sunny. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then tending northerly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. 

Saturday: Min. 17 Max. 31 Mostly sunny morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. A thunderstorm likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.

Sunday: Min. 19 Max. 27 Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h tending easterly during the day then becoming light during the evening.

Large parts of the Australian outback are forecast to experience high temperatures (stock)

Adelaide

Friday: Min. 13 Max. 21 Partly cloudy. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending west to southwesterly in the morning then becoming light in the evening.

Saturday: Min. 10 Max. 28 Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning.

Sunday: Min. 21 Max. 31 Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the evening. 

Perth

Friday: Min. 12 Max. 29 Mostly sunny. The chance of morning fog. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning then tending northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day.

Saturday: Min. 16 Max. 22 Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending westerly 25 to 35 km/h during the morning.

Sunday: Min. 13 Max. 19 Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the afternoon.

Darwin

Friday: Min. 26 Max. 36 Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. 

Saturday: Min. 27 Max. 37 Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Sunday: Min. 27 Max. 36 Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon. 

The highest temperature recorded in Australia during October was 46.9°C in 2002 (stock)

Canberra

Friday: Min. 11 Max. 27 Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and early evening. 

Saturday: Min. 7 Max. 24 Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then shifting easterly during the evening.

Sunday: Min. 7 Max. 27 Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.

Hobart

Friday: Min. 9 Max. 16 Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and early afternoon. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h increasing to 35 km/h before turning northwesterly 25 to 30 km/h in the evening.

Saturday: Min. 7 Max. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h tending northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then tending northwest to northeasterly during the evening.

Sunday: Min. 8 Max. 25 Partly cloudy. Winds northwesterly 25 to 40 km/h.