Some Australians will welcome the new year with showers and storms while others will continue sweltering through heatwave conditions.
The Bureau of Meteorology has said the risk of storms will continue along the east coast on New Year’s Day.
The risk of severe thunderstorms will continue for parts of Queensland, with showers becoming more extensive through the state, according to a senior meteorologist, Miriam Bradbury.
Brisbane was forecast to reach a top of 29C on Wednesday, she said, with the chance of a thunderstorm. Surfers Paradise at the Gold Coast was forecast to reach 29C, with morning showers possible.
“The only dry parts of the state [are] likely to be the far north-west,” Bradbury said. Low-intensity heatwave warnings remained in place for parts of the north, expected to ease throughout the week.
After a warm and humid New Year’s Eve, mild and warm conditions were expected to sweep New South Wales, with showers and storms continuing along the east coast.
Sydney was forecast to reach a maximum of 30C on Wednesday, with a possible thunderstorm in the evening.
“The majority of southern and western inland New South Wales will remain dry,” Bradbury said. Canberra was forecast to reach a top of 32C, with the slight chance of a shower.
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It was expected to be a little cooler across Victoria, with patchy showers south of the ranges and some breezy winds developing. Melbourne was forecast to reach a top of 23C, with the slight chance of a shower in the evening.
With a number of bushfires still burning throughout the Grampians national park, Forest Fire Management is urging people to take care over the new year period to ensure no new fires are started in the state.
Across South Australia, Bradbury said, cool conditions were forecast across the south, with winds picking up.
“We may even see the slight chance of a shower in the far south-east but for most areas those dry conditions continue, with hot weather ongoing inland.”
Adelaide was expected to reach a top of 29C, with sunny conditions forecast.
Cool and mild conditions would sweep Tasmania, Bradbury said, along with scattered showers,. Hobart was forecast to reach a top of 20C, with afternoon showers.
Hot conditions were predicted to continue across Western Australia, with the potential for dry thunderstorms along the coast, potentially impacting Perth. The capital city was forecast to reach a top of 38C on Wednesday. Low intensity and severe heatwave conditions were forecast through southern parts of the state.
It would also be a hot day for the Northern Territory, where Darwin was forecast to reach a top of 35C with late morning showers. A heatwave warning remains in place for the northern regions.
“[It will be] dry and sunny inland, with showers and storms continuing through northern parts,” Bradbury said.
Source: www.theguardian.com