Take this as your sign to get out-and-about this weekend – it’ll be the weather for it! Photo: Michelle Kroll.
It might officially be autumn but it seems summer isn’t done with us yet.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), Canberra is set to hit 33 degrees today (14 March), before spiking at 35 degrees on Saturday and 32 degrees on Sunday.
If you’re looking to escape to the coast, the South Coast will also feel the heat with temperatures approaching or above 30 degrees all weekend. Batemans Bay will hit 34 and 36 degrees (on Saturday and Sunday, respectively), while Bega will be 29 on Saturday before a high of 35 on Sunday.
That forecast is being driven by a cold front moving through southern Australia, which is bringing with it heat from Western Australia and central Australia.
Senior Meteorologist Dean Narramore says it’s “probably one of the last bursts of high temperatures” the capital can expect until later this year.
“We’re looking at temperatures on Friday and Saturday around 6 to 10 degrees above average, and even on Sunday as well, before that cold front moves through on Sunday afternoon,” he says.
“Once we get to mid-April and late-April, normally you don’t see any heat like this again until about October [or] November.”
Mr Narramore says the higher temperatures are arriving in Canberra because of something simple: winds.
“This time of year, the sun’s still pretty strong and the heat for much of the country normally fits over central and Western Australia,” he says.
“Every time we get westerly or north-westerly winds ahead of any cold fronts or troughs, combined with the high in the Tasman [Sea], that’s what normally leads to getting the heat across south-eastern Australia.”
But once the cooler change hits, Mr Narramore says it might be time to get out the blankets, with temperatures possibly dipping to as low as 4 degrees overnight early next week.
“We’re going to see those cold nights return – maybe even the odd fog and frost patch as well,” he says.
“It’s probably the first burst of pretty cold air that we’re seeing so far this year.”
The radar is showing signs of possible storms along the NSW-Victoria border, but Mr Narramore says the Bureau is not expecting them to head into NSW.
Capital country – along with much of NSW – is set to swelter through the last gasp of summer conditions this weekend. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
After a few days’ reprieve from the heat, temperatures are expected to rise again late next week.
The BoM predicts Canberrans can enjoy temperatures of around 30 degrees as a similar system makes its way over southern Australia.
“We’re likely to see some of that heat move back into south-eastern parts of the country, but at this stage it’s not looking as hot as what we’re going to see this weekend,” he says.
“The warmth has still got a bit more warmth to come yet.”
Mr Narramore says the BoM is forecasting a wetter and hotter autumn.
“We’re looking at average to slightly above average rainfall for this time of year – good news for those looking for rainfall,” he says.
Normally, we do start getting wetter [conditions] as we get deeper into April and into winter, anyway.
“Temperature-wise, it’ll be the same, from average to above average, with maximum temperatures that are slightly warmer than average.”
With such hot conditions, he reminds Canberrans to make sure they take precautions and keep an eye on each other.
“Stay cool, stay hydrated,” he says.
“We’re not looking at any heat wave conditions, but it’s just coming to the back of summer now. When you get that kind of heat at the end of summer, the body’s not used to it.”
