Australians have been sweltering through a scorching late summer and above-average temperatures are expected to continue well into autumn.
Temperatures soared above 30C across much of Australia on Thursday as thousands of people flocked to the beach to escape the heat.
Sydney came close to hitting its hottest ever leap day as Penrith and Richmond, in the city’s west, hit 40C.
Bondi Beach was packed with Sydneysiders and tourists seeking refuge from the scorching heat.
Canberra also suffered one of the hottest days of the summer, while Perth, Darwin and Brisbane also recorded temperatures above 30 degrees.
A severe heatwave warning remains in place for much of New South Wales, including the Hunter, Mid North Coast, Northern Tablelands, South Coast and Central Tablelands, Snowy Mountains, Upper Western Districts and slopes and plains of the central west.
Sydneysiders flocked to Bondi Beach on Thursday to escape the sweltering heat, as parts of inland NSW hit more than 40 degrees.
Sydneysiders flocked to Bondi Beach to escape the scorching heat
Much of New South Wales is in the midst of a late summer heatwave.
“The extra day of summer certainly had a big impact for most of the country, as the hot air swept across southern and western New South Wales, making its way across Victoria and Tasmania,” the BOM meteorologist said. Kate Doyle to Daily Mail Australia.
“In many parts of New South Wales temperatures were six to eight degrees above average, with parts of western and inner Sydney reaching over 40.”
It comes after the city experienced its third hottest summer on record with 18 days above 30C recorded at Observatory Hill.
Canberra recorded a high of 32C, dubbed “one of the sweatiest days of summer 2023-24”, with the city not reaching similar temperatures since early December.
Perth and Darwin reached 34, while Brisbane recorded 31 and Adelaide 29.
Perth also experienced its third hottest summer on record, with the capital city experiencing seven days of temperatures above 40 degrees in February alone, while nighttime temperatures in Brisbane were the hottest on record.
Brisbane suffered a swelter for 60 consecutive nights in which minimum temperatures did not drop below 20°C.
Bondi beachgoers stayed hydrated as temperatures soared above 32°C
Sydneysiders have sweltered through the city’s third hottest summer on record.
Bondi Beach was packed with Sydneysiders and tourists seeking refuge from the scorching heat.
It was 26C in Melbourne on Thursday as much of the state’s west continues to burn.
Even with a change that will spread across Australia, the warm weather will stick around for a while longer.
“There is a potential for warmer conditions to persist, with the long-range forecast predicting an 80 per cent chance of higher temperatures through to March,” Ms Doyle said.
“We still have a little bit of time left and are looking forward to warm conditions as we transition into fall.”
Unsettled conditions will spread across the country, with Sydney experiencing colder temperatures over the weekend.
Above average temperatures will continue across inland New South Wales and South Africa as the heat moves into southern Queensland.
Unsettled conditions will spread across the country, with Sydney experiencing colder temperatures this weekend.
The Bayindeen-Rocky Road fire broke out on February 22 and continues to burn, leaving several towns between Ballarat and Ararat under watch and warning.
Meanwhile, fire danger warnings remain in effect as Victoria continues to battle an ongoing bushfire emergency.
Conditions were classified as catastrophic on Wednesday in the far west Wimmera fire district and more than 30,000 residents living in fire risk areas were urged to leave their homes.
The Bayindeen-Rocky Road fire broke out on February 22 and continues to burn, leaving several towns between Ballarat and Ararat under watch and warning.
A member of Forest Fire Management Victoria at the Bayindeen-Rocky Road fire northwest of Ballarat, Victoria, on Wednesday night.