Overview
- Temperatures are forecast to run up to about 15C above average through the weekend and early next week, putting October records in play across South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
- Oodnadatta is tipped to reach about 45C on Monday and Birdsville could approach 45C with a five‑day run of 40C‑plus, while Canberra’s forecast 33C on Monday would challenge its October record of 32.7C.
- The Bureau has warned of severe thunderstorms on Saturday for south‑east Queensland and north‑east NSW, with potential giant hail, damaging winds and dangerous supercells.
- Fire danger is elevated by hot, dry and gusty conditions, with the added risk of dry lightning in parts of South Australia and western NSW as the heat pulse moves east.
- A southerly cool change is set to bring brief relief—reaching Adelaide Sunday evening, Melbourne Monday and Sydney Tuesday—yet Sydney’s running October mean near 27.2C remains far above its long‑term 22.2C baseline.