A heat wave hit northern Australia this week

A surge of unusually hot weather this week will cause extreme heat in parts of three states and territories in Australia’s north, with the heat also raising fire danger ratings in some places.

Northern Australia is certainly no stranger to heat at this time of year. The country’s highest temperature ever recorded in October was in the Pilbara town of Port Hedland, where the mercury soared to a searing 46.9C back in 2002.

But even hot places can have heat waves, and the Bureau of Meteorology defines a heat wave in Australia as: “When the maximum and minimum temperatures are unusually hot for 3 days. This can be compared to the local climate and past weather.”

Northern Australia will experience unusually warm temperatures for several days and nights this week due to a ridge of high pressure lingering over southern Australia, which will help trap a hot, dry airmass over the north of the country.

The highest absolute temperatures this week are likely to be in northern WA, although a heat wave is expected in parts of WA, North Carolina and Queensland.

Image: Heat wave intensity forecast for three days starting Tuesday 22 October.

Image: Heat wave intensity forecast for three days starting Friday 25 October.

Hot weather in northern Australia this week will be associated with waves of dry air being pushed north from within. Hot, dry and windy weather will increase fire danger ratings in some areas throughout the week.

Smoke from multiple fires could be seen across North America on Monday, including a large smoke zone caught in the afternoon sea breeze along the southwest coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Image: Smoke blown inland by sea breezes from the Gulf of Carpentaria, Monday, October 12, 2024.

A fire weather warning has been issued for the Exmouth Gulf coast in WA on Tuesday due to forecast extreme fire danger ratings. Forecast models also suggest there could be extreme fire danger in parts of North Carolina’s Barkley region on Friday.