Hot weather will impact much of southern Australia this weekend as heat extends from Western Australia across to much of southern and southeast Australia, including the ACT, the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts.
Maximum temperatures in Canberra are forecast to hit 32 degrees on Saturday and 36 on Sunday, before dropping to 25 on Monday.
BOM advises that a cold front is moving over southern WA today and will move into South Australia and western Victoria on Saturday and into NSW from Sunday afternoon. This cold front will bring a cool change but little, if any, rain.
The front is dragging down hot, dry and windy conditions which is causing temperatures to increase.
Maximum temperatures will be 9 to 15 degrees above average in eastern WA and western SA today, eastern SA, Victoria and western NSW on Saturday.
On Sunday, the ACT and much of NSW will experience high temperatures but these temperatures are expected to ease on Monday.
Minimum temperatures are also expected to be 2 to 10 degrees above average.
On Saturday, fire dangers will be high across southern Australia, reaching extreme in parts of eastern SA and western and central Victoria on Saturday.
Low-intensity heatwave conditions are likely across parts of WA, SA and NSW.
Some locations in NSW on Sunday could exceed their maximum temperature record for the month of March, especially on and west of the ranges.
Melbourne is forecast to reach 37 degrees on Saturday, while on Sunday, Sydney is forecast to reach 32 degrees and western Sydney 39 degrees.
The hot, dry and windy weather is of concern to areas of inland NSW and Victoria, with many fires continuing.
Due to this, fires could become uncontrollable this weekend.
Extreme fire dangers are forecast Saturday for eastern parts of SA and western and central Victoria.
Relief from the hot weather will arrive for the east coast on Monday, however, warm conditions will continue throughout inland and western areas of the country into the middle of next week.
The Bureau advises: “Know your weather, know your risk. Residents and communities should stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings via our website and BOM Weather app and follow the advice of emergency services.”
