Make sure your air conditioner is in good condition because Australia is expecting a major nationwide heatwave next week, potentially breaking the Australia-wide average temperature record.
A hot air mass that’s currently wreaking havoc on Western Australia is expected to make its way across the country, bringing a number of 40 degree days with it.
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“We’ve seen extraordinary temperatures over Western Australia over the past few days,” Diana Eadie of the Bureau of Meteorology said, according to 7News. “They’ll continue over those parts of the country over the weekend.”
South Australia, south-eastern Western Australia and north-western Victoria are expected to see the worst of the heat, with Coober Pedy expected to hit 47 degrees throughout the week.
“As we head towards next weekend, that heat will extend further to the east before really intensifying towards the latter part of next week.”
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, temperatures of 12-16 degrees above average are to be expected across the week, with “the potential we’ll see some records broken.”
The record for the highest area average in Australia is currently set at 40.3 degrees, dating back to January 2013. There’s also a chance the individual temperature records will be smashed as well.
“It is not out of the realms of possibility that we could break our highest ever recorded temperature of 50.7C at Oodnadatta, which is in South Australia.”
“We’re likely to see broad parts of the country experiencing temperatures in excess of 45 degrees from Wednesday onwards,” Ms Eadie said.
The extreme heat is expected to make matters worse for firefighters across the country as they work tirelessly to protect what’s left of our smouldering nation.
Thankfully, major east coast cities should manage to escape the worst of the heat, but the health department is still urging people to take health precautions.
The risk of dehydration and heatstroke is a particularly strong concern for the young, sick and elderly. But it’s not just humans that are at risk of heat-related illnesses.
The RSPCA have also advised people to keep their pets in “cool, shaded areas” to avoid heatstroke, and to leave bowls of water out for wildlife wherever possible.
Stay cool, stay safe and look out for each other because it’s set to be one literal hell of a summer.
