The hottest September temperatures in six years, combined with smoke from wildfires, threaten to make conditions uncomfortable for runners in a major city marathon this weekend as the East Coast Australia has a taste of summer.
Sydney Marathon runners will face temperatures of up to 30C on Sunday, as well as air quality currently ranked among the worst in the world due to firefighters burning excess fuel around the city before the summer fire season.
Around 40,000 people are expected at the event.
“The safety and wellbeing of our participants is our top priority, and we are working closely with key stakeholders including the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) to ensure implementing the highest safety standards,” said the Sydney Marathon. » said director Wayne Larden in a statement.
Temperatures well above the September average are expected to reach Australia’s east coast this weekend.
Sydney faces five days of temperatures above 30C, starting with 32C on Saturday and persisting until Thursday, where a southward change is expected.
Western Sydney could reach 35C in some areas on Monday and Tuesday.
“Heat in Sydney on Monday and Tuesday could reach the mid-thirties, which would be the hottest September weather the city has seen in six years,” Sky News Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne told NCA Newswire .
The majority of Australia has an 80% chance of reaching above-average temperatures in spring.
High temperatures coupled with sunny skies will lead to a hot weekend in Sydney (photo, Balmoral Beach)
Melbourne and Brisbane will be cooler than Sydney, with temperatures in the early to mid-20s, although the Queensland capital is expecting a scorching 34C on Thursday next week.
People are advised to keep an eye out for the elderly and the very young in warmer conditions.
“People over 65, people with chronic illnesses, and babies and young children are particularly sensitive to heat,” said NSW Health’s Dr Jeremy McNulty.
Despite high temperatures set to resemble a heatwave, Weatherzone meteorologist Josh Rout said a crucial factor was preventing the event from being officially declared.
“It’s not a heatwave, because a heatwave requires the maximum and minimum temperatures to be above average,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“Maximum temperatures could reach 10°C above average this week, but nighttime minimum temperatures will remain average, giving people a chance to cool down.”
However, even though Australians avoided a heatwave this weekend, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned that the coming months will be hotter and drier.
Its long-range forecast, from October to December, found temperatures were above average while precipitation was below average in August – a trend the Bureau said will continue until the end of the year.
Sydney Marathon runners will face temperatures of up to 30C on Sunday, as well as air quality currently ranked among the worst in the world due to firefighters burning excess loads of fuel around the city before the summer fire season.
“October to December is likely to be drier than average in most areas, with little change in Australia’s northern inland regions,” it said.
“Unusually light rainfall is at least twice as likely in parts of south-west WA, central coastal Queensland, south-east South Africa, south and north- Eastern Victoria and Western Tasmania.” Unusually low precipitation corresponds to the driest 20% of the October-December periods from 1981 to 2018.
“Daytime temperatures will most likely be above average across most of Australia.
“From October to December, above-median maximum temperatures are very likely (greater than 80% chance) across most of Australia.
“Warmer than average nights are also very likely in most areas.”
“Australia’s climate warmed by around 1.47°C between 1910 and 2021, leading to an increased frequency of extreme heat events. Southern Australia has seen a 10-20% reduction in cool season rainfall (April to October) over recent decades, the report said.
Rainfall from October to December is likely (60-80% chance) to be below median for much of Australia.
This weekend, north-west New South Wales and south-west Queensland are expected to bear the brunt of the heat.
Sydney will be the warmest capital with sunny skies expected all weekend, followed by Brisbane.
The Queensland capital is expected to experience cloudy conditions on Saturday before skies clear for a sunny Sunday.
Melbourne and Adelaide will be largely unaffected by this heatwave-type event, but will still experience warm weather.
The maximum temperature in Melbourne is expected to stay around 20°C through the weekend, while Adelaide will see a maximum of 24°C on Saturday and 29°C on Sunday.
Temperatures in Canberra are expected to be similar to Melbourne with a maximum of 24°C on Saturday and 25°C on Sunday.
The warmth is expected to last until the middle of next week, when a cold front appears.
“Temperatures will remain above average until a cooler change arrives late Wednesday into Thursday,” Mr Rout said.
“Cooler air will spread across South Australia, Victoria and southern Queensland. The change will reach the New South Wales coast by Thursday.
However, the weather is expected to be much wetter in Western Australia due to a cold front moving through the state.
Heatwave-like conditions will affect eastern Australia until a cold front arrives on Wednesday.
Showers associated with temperatures below 20C are expected to persist over Perth until Saturday before skies become cloudy on Sunday.
Hobart is also expected to see cloudy weather on Friday before showers arrive on Saturday.
This rain will clear on Saturday, leaving cloudy skies before showers return to the Tasmanian capital on Tuesday.
Darwin residents are still awaiting the start of the Top End’s infamous rainy season, with sunny skies and temperatures of between 30C and 30C forecast until next week.
