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Blackout warnings for homes along the East Coast were reduced after coal plant operators canceled planned blackouts during an expected heat wave.
The Australian energy market operator issued a warning on Monday about risks of blackouts in New South Wales and Queensland on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, when temperatures could rise to 40C in parts of Sydney.
Increased use of air conditioning and generator repairs at three New South Wales coal-fired power stations threaten to shut down the grid in some areas.
“High temperatures and strong demand for electricity, combined with some generation outages, are leading to tight forecasts for electricity supply in New South Wales tomorrow and Wednesday afternoon,” a spokesperson for the operator said.
The energy operator downgraded the warnings late Monday afternoon.
“The previously planned understock level 3 has been downgraded to a less critical understock level 2,” a spokesperson said.
“This improvement is largely due to the cancellation of transmission outages in the region.”
The market operator said it would take “all necessary measures” to increase supply if forecasts deteriorate again.
Sydney prepares for a heat wave that will last until Wednesday
Australians are expected to swelter in the coming days as the energy regulator warns heatwave conditions could lead to rolling blackouts in one state.
Earlier on Monday, power companies were asked to disconnect large electricity users and increase supply across the state.
“AEMO has alerted the energy industry and is working with power station operators and transmission companies to increase the availability of electricity,” a spokesperson said.
“If the market response remains inadequate, AEMO will take whatever measures are available to maintain supply.”
NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said people should look out for each other during the peak heat.
He said the government was alert to any power supply issues.
“You have to drink water, watch your neighbors and think about whether it is necessary to go outside in the middle of the day under the scorching sun,” he said.
‘Do you really need to have all the lights in the house on… do you need to have the air conditioning at 19 degrees? You don’t.
The Bureau of Meteorology on Monday issued a heatwave warning for New South Wales and Queensland that will last until midweek.
The temperature in Sydney’s city center is forecast to reach a high of 33C on Wednesday and could reach 40C in the northwestern suburbs.
The heat wave is expected to end on Thursday and Friday, with chances of showers and storms.
The predictions follow a week of high temperatures in Victoria, where parts of Melbourne reached 37C, well above the November average.
Sydney
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Winds from the northeast at 15 to 20 km/h, becoming light before dawn and then from the northeast at 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day. Min. 20°C Max. 31°C
Wednesday: Sunny morning. Average chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. Winds will be light from the north, 15 to 25 km/h during the day and then become light at night. Minimum 21°C Maximum 33°C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High probability of rain. The probability of a storm in the outer west. Light winds that become from the south to southeast at 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon and then become light at night. Minimum 22°C Maximum 29°C.
Senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said the heat was caused by tropical humidity.
Melbourne
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers. The possibility of a storm. Light winds. Minimum 17°C Maximum 26°C.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High probability of showers, more likely in the morning and afternoon. The possibility of a storm. Winds from the north to northeast at 15 to 20 km/h turning northwest at 25 to 35 km/h during the day and then trending northwest to southwest at 15 to 20 km/h during the night. Minimum 19°C Maximum 27°C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers, more likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds from the northwest to southwest at 15 to 20 km/h, trending south to southwest at 15 to 25 km/h during the morning and then trending south to southeast at 15 to 20 km/h during the night. Minimum 17°C Maximum 24°C.
brisbane
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers, more likely in the morning. Winds will be light from the northeast at 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon and then become light in the evening. Minimum 19°C Maximum 29°C.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers, more likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds will be light northeasterly at 15 to 20 km/h during the day and then become light overnight. Minimum 20°C Maximum 30°C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers. Winds will be light northeasterly at 15 to 20 km/h during the day and then become light overnight. Minimum 22°C Maximum 30°C.
Canberra
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers, more likely in the afternoon and evening. The possibility of a storm. Light northwest winds of 20 to 30 km/h in the morning and then light at night. Minimum 16°C Maximum 31°C.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High probability of rain, more likely in the afternoon and evening. The possibility of a storm. Winds will be light from the northwest at 20 to 30 km/h during the morning and then become light overnight. Minimum 17°C Maximum 31°C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High probability of rain, more likely in the afternoon and evening. The possibility of a storm. Winds will be light from the northwest at 20 to 30 km/h during the morning and then become light overnight. Minimum 17°C Maximum 31°C.
Temperatures could reach up to 40C in New South Wales and Queensland on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Adelaide
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of rain, most likely in the late afternoon and evening. The possibility of a storm. Light winds becoming northwest to northeast at 15 to 20 km/h in the morning and then trending west to northwest at 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day. Minimum 17°C Maximum 32°C.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds from the west to northwest at 20 to 30 km/h turning southwest at 25 to 35 km/h during the afternoon. Minimum 15°C Maximum 24°C.
Thursday: Cloudy. Slight chance of showers in the morning. Winds from the south at 20 to 30 km/h. Minimum 13°C Maximum 23°C.
Darwin
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High probability of rain, more likely in the late morning and afternoon. The possibility of a storm. Light winds. Minimum 26°C Maximum 32°C.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High probability of showers, more likely in the morning and afternoon. The possibility of a storm. Light winds. Minimum 26°C Maximum 33°C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High probability of showers, more likely in the morning and afternoon. The possibility of a storm. Light winds. Minimum 26°C Maximum 33°C.
Perth
Tuesday: Sunny. Winds from the southeast at 20 to 30 km/h. Minimum 11°C Maximum 26°C.
Wednesday: Sunny. Winds from the east to southeast at 20 to 30 km/h. Minimum 12°C Maximum 29°C.
Thursday: Sunny. East winds of 20 to 30 km/h becoming light during the afternoon. Minimum 17°C Maximum 32°C.
hobart
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Light winds that will reach the southeast at 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon and then become light at night. Minimum 13°C Maximum 23°C.
Wednesday: Cloudy. High probability of rain. Light winds turning from the south to southeast at 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon. Minimum 14°C Maximum 22°C.
Thursday: Cloudy. Average chance of showers, more likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds from the south at 20 to 30 km/h turning southeast at 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon. Minimum 12°C Maximum 17°C.