Heatwave Warning for Half of Australia as Cyclone Stalls WA

A cyclone off the west coast of Australia is causing a major heatwave to spread across the country this week. According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s heatwave warning service, nearly half of Australia will experience heatwave conditions from Tuesday to Saturday, with some areas facing extreme heat.

In particular, Western Australia and Queensland will see ‘severe’ heat, including cities like Perth and Brisbane. Some parts of Queensland may even experience ‘extreme’ conditions. A heatwave is defined by the Bureau as three-day average temperatures that are much higher than normal, both during the day and night.

Expect hot days and warm nights in areas under the warning. In Western Australia, temperatures are expected to be between 6°C and 12°C hotter than usual, with Perth reaching highs of 39°C to 41°C from Tuesday to Friday. The humidity on Tuesday will make it feel even worse, which is unusual for Perth.

This heatwave follows a record-breaking day in Perth, where temperatures hit 45°C, and in Geraldton, where it reached 49.3°C. In Queensland, the worst of the heat is expected towards the end of the week, with Brisbane seeing temperatures of 35°C to 37°C. The humidity will make it feel even more stifling.

The heatwave won't just affect daytime temperatures – the nights will be much warmer too. In Perth, temperatures are expected to stay above 25°C for four nights in a row, with some inland areas staying in the high 20s. Queensland will experience similar warm nights. These hot nights are particularly tough because they make it harder for the body to cool down, increasing health risks.

On the plus side, states like Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia are outside the warning area and will see milder weather for most of the week.