Hobart residents sweated out the city’s hottest night in 112 years as an intense heatwave continues to affect much of south-east Australia.
South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales are expected to experience several days of extreme heat, the Bureau of Meteorology said on Sunday, after record temperatures led to the cancellation of major events over the weekend. did.
Saturday was the hottest March day on record for South Australia’s Edithborough (41.7 degrees Celsius) on Yorke Peninsula and Kanagluk (40.6 degrees Celsius) in western Victoria.
Hobart’s overnight minimum temperature was 24.3C, the bureau’s records show, making it the warmest night in Tasmania’s capital since 1912.
Sarah Scully, the bureau’s senior meteorologist, said tropical nights were “truly unusual” for Hobart, where the average nightly low temperature in March is 11 degrees. She said maximum temperatures were about 10 to 16 degrees higher than the March average across the heatwave-hit region.
“It was very hot last night,” said Scully.
“Melbourne has observed or forecast days above 37C over the entire long weekend. [The extreme heat] started [on Saturday] Conditions are expected to continue into early Tuesday morning. ”
Temperatures should ease as a southerly shift hits Melbourne and southern Victoria on Tuesday, but northern Victoria and parts of South Australia will remain hot until Thursday when a “blocking” high pressure system moves away.
Mr Scully said a shielding high pressure system was causing northerly winds, dragging hot air to Australia’s south-east.
“It’s unusual to have such an intense heatwave at this time of year, but it’s not unprecedented,” Scully said.
“Autumn is usually a transition period from hot to cool seasons, so heat waves occur at the beginning of autumn. [isn’t] Not normal. “
Melbourne recorded a high of 36.9C late Sunday, Avalon recorded 40C and Geelong 39.6C. Temperatures dropped significantly in Tasmania as a cold front moved through the state, with Hobart hitting a high of 25.7 degrees just before 8am.
As the heatwave subsides, event organizers across Australia’s south-east are grappling with safety concerns and cancellations.
One of Adelaide’s Woomad stages was closed on Sunday due to the heat, and several other events were postponed or canceled until the evening as temperatures soared to nearly 40 degrees.
Due to the situation, the Pitch Music and Arts Festival, which was being held in regional Victoria, was also cancelled.
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Organizers announced on Sunday afternoon: “Following consultation with the authorities, and in light of the updated severe fire danger warning issued this afternoon, we have been instructed to cancel the remainder of Pitch Music & Arts 2024 until tomorrow.” .
“We have consistently followed the guidance of the relevant authorities throughout the process. No one is in immediate danger. We urge everyone on the ground not to panic. [but] Settle in, pack your bags, and leave tonight or early tomorrow morning. ”
Melbourne’s Moomba Parade was canceled on Saturday over concerns for performers and spectators as temperatures soared in Victoria, but the infamous Birdman rally went ahead on Sunday.
Melbourne Mayor Sally Capp said of the parade’s cancellation: “This is an extremely difficult decision, especially on Moomba’s 70th anniversary, but in these extreme circumstances, people’s health must be our priority.”
“Participants must spend several hours outdoors in hot, heavy clothing, exposing them to greater risk.”
Melbourne is expected to reach a high of 37 degrees on Monday, with temperatures in most parts of the state expected to be in the mid to upper 30s. Temperatures in Adelaide are expected to reach a high of 38 degrees, with temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s expected for most parts of South Australia.
While the Southeast was sweltering, people on the other side of the country faced a variety of extreme weather conditions.
Western Australia has been warned of the potential for flash flooding and heavy rain in Eucla, Goldfields and southern inland areas from a rain system that is likely to remain largely static for several days.
– Additional reporting by Australian Associated Press
