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Firefighters across Australia are preparing for potentially devastating conditions as a searing heatwave engulfs large parts of the country. This extreme weather is expected to bring not only sweltering temperatures but also an increased risk of fires and severe storms.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued heatwave alerts for several regions, including New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and South Australia. Forecasters anticipate temperatures to rise significantly above the typical seasonal averages, intensifying the fire threat.
In the midst of this heatwave, powerful thunderstorms are sweeping through much of New South Wales. These storms are unleashing large hailstones, heavy rainfall, fierce winds, and intense thunder, affecting numerous areas.
On Wednesday morning, dangerous storm cells struck several locations, including Blackheath, Oakdale, Dapto, Lake Avon, the Rylstone/Kandos district, and the Bathurst district. The storms then continued to batter Greater Sydney and its surrounding regions, impacting coastal areas such as Wollongong, as well as towns in the Blue Mountains like Katoomba, and suburbs including Penrith, Camden, and Sutherland.
This turbulent weather follows a tumultuous series of storms that hit the state’s inland areas on Tuesday, where strong winds caused structural damage and stirred up dust storms. Communities are now bracing themselves for further unpredictable weather conditions.
It followed a series of wild storms across the state’s inland territory on Tuesday, with strong winds damaging buildings and whipping up dust torrents.
Winds of about 80km/h shattered windows at the Service NSW Centre in Dubbo, forcing its closure.
A video captured the moment five glass panels blew out. No one was injured but the centre was immediately closed following the damage.
Apowerful storm is set to hit Sydney this afternoon, bringing large hailstones, powerful wind and intense thunder
Firefighters are bracing for catastrophic conditions as a blistering heatwave grips much of Australia
As storms continue on Wednesday, emergency services are urging residents in affected areas to secure loose items, avoid driving through floodwaters, and stay indoors as the storms move through.
The system has already unleashed powerful winds across the state, with gusts reaching 109 km/h in Dubbo, 111 km/h in Trangie, 110 km/h in Orange, and 98 km/h in Parkes.
Humid conditions are fuelling the system, with more hail, heavy downpours and damaging winds forecast in the days ahead.
Sydney and Brisbane will swelter through 35C-plus heat on Wednesday and Thursday, with overnight lows around 19C offering little relief.
South Australia is forecast to reach 45-46C, while parts of southwest Queensland may hit a scorching 47C. Northwest NSW and the southern Northern Territory are also preparing for low-to-mid 40s.
Authorities have declared extreme fire danger, the second-highest rating, for ten NSW districts, including Greater Sydney.
The state’s first catastrophic fire danger rating of the season has been issued for the Lower Central West Plains, meaning any fires will be fast-moving, unpredictable and uncontrollable.
It is the first catastrophic danger forecast for any NSW region since September 2023.
NSW has recorded its first ‘catastrophic’ fire danger rating since 2023 (stock image)
NSW residents are being warned of ‘catastrophic’ fire danger. Picture: NSW Rural Fire Service
Extreme danger warnings and total fire bans have also been issued for millions of residents, including those in metropolitan Sydney, with wind gusts above 90km/h expected on Wednesday in southern NSW and Victoria.
‘(Winds are) combining with warm to hot temperatures and really dry air, and that is elevating fire dangers across the region,’ Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Sarah Scully said.
Dubbo is forecast to reach 37C on Wednesday after recording a sweltering 38C on Tuesday.
Total fire bans apply across 10 NSW regions, including Greater Sydney, Illawarra and the Hunter, while elevated fire danger is also expected in Queensland’s southern interior.
The escalating warnings come as Australia reels from a deadly start to the bushfire season. Country Fire Service member and veteran firefighter Peter Curtis died on Sunday while battling a scrub fire on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.
A bushfire in northeast Tasmania has also burned since Saturday, with authorities urging people in the Curries River Reservoir area to monitor conditions closely.
In NSW, the Department of Education has pre-emptively closed 25 public schools in the Riverina region ahead of the forecast dangerous conditions.
The affected schools include: Ariah Park Central School, Barellan Central School, Bedgerabong Public School, Binya Public School, Bogan Gate Public School, Boree Creek Public School, Caragabal Public School, Ganmain Public School, Greenethorpe Public School, Lake Wyangan Public School, Lowesdale Public School, Marrar Public School, Matong Public School, Naradhan Public School, Narrandera East Infants School, Narrandera High School, Pleasant Hills Public School, Tallimba Public School, Tharbogang Public School, The Rock Central School, Ungarie Central School, Wamoon Public School, Weethalle Public School, Whitton-Murrami Public School and Yerong Creek Public School.
Authorities have declared extreme fire danger, the second-highest rating, for 10 NSW districts, including Greater Sydney
Hailstones reaching up to 12cm in size were recorded on Monday in Queensland (pictured, hailstones from the storm)
Emergency services are urging residents to avoid outdoor work during peak heat, stay hydrated, and have bushfire survival plans ready.
Meteorologists said the prolonged heatwave is being driven by hot air from inland Australia moving towards the coast while humidity drops. They warn the hot spell, while not unusual for late spring, could approach record-breaking November temperatures.
Meanwhile, a separate weather system sweeping over southern and central NSW will whip up strong, dry westerlies today, creating dangerous conditions for downed trees and fast-moving fires.
The warning comes as Queenslanders who faced an ‘insurance catastrophe’ hailstorm event on Monday are being warned to prepare for more bouts of poor weather.
Severe thunderstorms with large hailstones, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall again hit parts of Ipswich, Logan, Somerset, Southern Downs, Western Downs, South Burnett, and Toowoomba on Tuesday night.
Damage caused by Monday’s storm alone saw more than 16,000 insurance claims lodged across 140 postcodes in what was called an ‘insurance catastrophe’.
Energex said the ongoing storms in SE Qld cut power to an additional 11,000 customers.
‘Despite this, our crews have done amazing things and restored power to thousands more customers overnight,’ a spokesperson said.
Severe weather stopped play during day three of the Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and Victoria at The Gabba in Brisbane on Monday, with more poor weather in store
‘Currently, we have nearly 40,000 customers still without power – including a mix of those who’ve been without power for days and new outages from overnight storms.’
Ongoing humidity and heat is expected to bring further thunderstorms along much of the country’s east today.
Checkout the five-day weather forecast for your city below.
Sydney
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Min 20 Max 36
Thursday: Sunny. Min 19 Max 32
Friday: Mostly sunny. Min 18 Max 28
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Min 19 Max 33
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Min 17 Max 27
Melbourne
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Min 15 Max 21
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Min 13 Max 19
Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 11 Max 24
Saturday: Cloudy. Min 13 Max 17
Sunday: Cloudy. Min 11 Max 18
Meteorologists said the prolonged heatwave is being driven by hot air from inland Australia moving towards the coast while humidity drops
Brisbane
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Min 24 Max 32
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 24 Max 37
Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 24 Max 34
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Min 23 Max 32
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 23 Max 32
Perth
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Min 14 Max 24
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 12 Max 22
Friday: Mostly sunny. Min 11 Max 24
Saturday: Sunny. Min 13 Max 28
Sunday: Sunny. Min 16 Max 33
Adelaide
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Min 14 Max 21
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 14 Max 21
Friday: Cloudy. Min 11 Max 25
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Min 12 Max 21
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 12 Max 20
Extreme danger warnings and total fire bans have been issued for millions of residents
Hobart
Wednesday: Cloudy. Min 12 Max 19
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 7 Max 14
Friday: Cloudy. Min 9 Max 17
Saturday: Cloudy. Min 10 Max 17
Sunday: Cloudy. Min 9 Max 17
Canberra
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Min 13 Max 27
Thursday: Sunny. Min 10 Max 25
Friday: Sunny. Min 7 Max 27
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Min 12 Max 24
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 8 Max 23
Darwin
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Min 25 Max 33
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 26 Max 33
Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 26 Max 33
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Min 26 Max 34
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 26 Max 34
