Australia Day long weekend to bring warm and sunny conditions across the country
Warm and sunny conditions are predicted over the Australia Day long weekend, with parts of Victoria set for scorching temperatures.
While residents in Sydney and Perth can look forward to perfect weather on Australia Day, Melbourne will experience blistering heat on the Monday public holiday.
The Victorian capital is expected to be the hottest major city on Monday, with long weekend temperatures building up to reach 40 degrees before a relieving cool change could drop temperatures significantly for the city's "four seasons in one day".
"The heat spikes in the southeast on Monday ahead of a cool change bringing relief later in the day - Melbourne's temperatures could fluctuate more than 17C during the afternoon after nudging 40C," Sky News Weather Meteorologist Alison Osbourne said.
"Variable winds and high temperatures are likely to lead to fire weather warnings in Victoria on Monday - any active fires could flare up quickly and become uncontrollable."
Australians can expect to see warm summer temperatures for the long weekend, with warnings to be mindful of afternoon winds potentially leading to fire dangers across the country, especially in Victoria.
There could be a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the far-northern tropics, the coastline of Queensland, and parts of northern New South Wales on Friday afternoon before the sunshine kicks in for the long weekend.
Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Emerald, and Lismore look set to be in the firing line.
"These storms may be severe with the risk of damaging winds, large hailstones, and also heavy rainfall," Ms Osbourne said.
On Friday, a cool change will sweep through Perth following a week of heatwaves, although warnings will still be in place for parts of outback Western Australia and coastal Queensland for the weekend.
"This prolonged heat has resulted in some of the highest temperatures in up to eight years across western Queensland," Ms Osbourne said.
"Weekend temperatures in outback WA could exceed 47-48C - this is a degree or two off all-time records, but extremely hot nonetheless - it's not compatible with day-to-day normal living in those areas."
Brisbane will see slightly cooler temperatures over the long weekend with mostly dry conditions. The mercury will top in the low-30s, with a mix of sun and cloud as showers could come early on Monday before clearing. Australia Day is set to be 31C.
Sydney's long weekend could start with a slight risk of morning showers on Saturday until the sun appears, with temperatures forecasted to sit in the mid-20s. Australia Day is forecasted to be 28C, increasing to 30C on Monday.
In Adelaide, heat will build over the three days, with tops of 36C forecasted on Australia Day before a cool change on Monday morning brings slightly cooler temperatures of 34C.
Hobart will have a mild weekend in the low-20s, with Australia Day at a cool 21C and a short burst of heat on Monday reaching 32C.
Melbourne's temperatures are set to rise over the weekend from 24C on Saturday, to 26C on the national holiday and peaking at 40C on Monday, before an afternoon cool change.
Darwin is forecasted to receive rain from the usual late storms, with a mix of sun and cloud, and the risk of late showers and storms across all three days, which are expected to hit tops of 33C.
Canberra's sunny weekend is forecasted at 31C on Saturday and Sunday, jumping up to 36C on Monday.
The heatwave warning for Perth is set to end on Friday with Cyclone Sean delivering less rain as it ventures off into the Indian Ocean. The long weekend is expected to see temperatures in the low 30s with Australia Day at 29C.
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