Parts of Australia are bracing for a warm and windy end to winter, continuing a trend that is almost certain to make this month the country’s hottest August on record.
Hot conditions are forecast for Sydney on Friday with a maximum temperature of 29C in the CBD and higher in the city’s west. Temperatures in the mid-20s are forecast for the weekend.
Brisbane could reach 32C on Friday and higher on the weekend and into next week.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting above-average heat to continue for most of Australia throughout spring, too.
“Despite some typically cool winter temperatures at times on the east coast, winter has been warmer than usual across the country with August on track to be Australia’s warmest August on record,” the bureau said.
The bureau’s preliminary results for winter indicated Australia’s mean temperature was about 1.5C above the 1961 to 1990 winter average.
Above-average rainfall is also expected for much of the east coast over the coming months, according according to the bureau’s long-range spring forecast.
Most of Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT should expect more rain than usual from September to November.
Drier-than-average conditions were forecast for Western Australia.
The northern wet season starts in October but the first significant rains were forecast to fall earlier than usual in Queensland and part of the Top End – but later in most of WA.
Spring forecast by jurisdiction
* NSW and ACT – warmer than usual, above average rainfall in most areas, unusually high rainfall in NSW’s north and some central areas
* Victoria – warmer than usual, typical rainfall in most areas, slightly increased chance of above average rainfall in parts of the southwest
* Queensland – unusually warm days and nights in most parts, above average rainfall in most areas, first significant rains of the wet season likely to be earlier than usual
* South Australia – warmer than usual with slightly above average rainfall in southern agricultural areas and parts of the north
* Western Australia – warmer than usual in most areas except for the south where temperatures will be average, unusually warm days and nights in the north, typical rainfall in most areas, first significant rains of the wet season likely later than usual
* Tasmania – unusually warm days and nights, above average rainfall in the east
* Northern Territory – unusually warm days and nights, typical rainfall, first significant rains of the wet season likely earlier than usual.
– with Australian Associated Press
