SA braces for heatwave with one town tipped to sizzle at 46 degrees
South Australians are being warned to prepare for extreme weather and high fire danger this week as a heatwave engulfs the country. Read just how high the temperature is expected to rise.
Severe heatwave warnings have been issued across South Australia by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) through to Thursday, with temperatures on Wednesday expected to reach 41 degrees in Adelaide, 44 degrees in Ceduna and 44 degrees in Coober Pedy.
BOM meteorologist Dean Narramore said that on Wednesday, there would be a high fire danger in the Mount Lofty Ranges, the south-east and parts of the Eyre Peninsula due to hot, dry and windy conditions.
Extreme fire dangers are also likely on Friday for much of South Australia and Victoria ahead of a strong and gusty change on Friday night and into Saturday.
A Country Fire Service spokesperson said that “now is the time for all South Australians living, working, or travelling in bushfire risk areas to enact their Bushfire Survival Plans”.
“Our volunteers stand prepared and ready to respond, but we need the community to do their part to prepare, stay informed, and keep themselves and their loved ones safe,” she said.
South Australians will need to drink plenty of water, with maximum temperatures predicted to reach the high 30s to mid-40s, while overnight minimum temperatures will be in the high teens to mid-20s.
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The unpleasant weather will be most severe for SA on Wednesday and Thursday, possibly reaching the high 40s, before gradually easing over the weekend.
It comes as SA Greens leader Robert Simms called on the State Government to declare a Tier 2 Code Red to unlock additional services and support SA’s homeless community.
Premier Peter Malinauskas would not rule out declaring a Code Red in response to the heatwave, but said the decision is taken by the Department of Human Services.
“We take on the advice and continue to monitor conditions,” he said.
“Typically, what informs Code Red decisions is the same days at a particularly high temperature, whether or not we hit the benchmark that’s required for that code to be called remains to be seen, and as yet, it hasn’t been called.”
| Tuesday maximum temperatures | |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | 35° |
| Ceduna | 42° |
| Coober Pedy | 42° |
| Wednesday maximum temperatures | |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | 41° |
| Ceduna | 44° |
| Coober Pedy | 44° |
| Thursday maximum temperatures | |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | 39° |
| Ceduna | 35° |
| Coober Pedy | 45° |
| Friday maximum temperatures | |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | 34° |
| Ceduna | 27° |
| Coober Pedy | 46° |
Stay informed, daily
BOM describes a heatwave as three consecutive days when both the minimum and maximum temperature is well above average for that time of the year.
It said that the severe heatwaves are most dangerous for the elderly, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and those who are unwell.
BOM is advising that people find a cool place to escape the weather, such as at home, in a library, a community centre or a shopping centre.
People are also advised to close windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep heat out and to use fans or air conditioners.
There will be little respite anywhere across the state, with the heatwave affecting metropolitan Adelaide, the Yorke Peninsula, the Upper South East, the Lower South East, the Riverland and the Murraylands.
Other affected areas include the Mid North, the Flinders, the West Coast, the Eastern Eyre Peninsula, the Lower Eyre Peninsula, the North West Pastoral, the North East Pastoral and the Mount Lofty Ranges.
According to BOM, areas that are likely to be impacted include Clare, Coober Pedy, Maitland, Mount Barker, Narracoorte, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Renmark, Roxby Downs and the Barossa Valley.
Narramore said that low-intensity heatwaves began to spread across much of south-eastern Australia earlier this week.
He said the focus of the heat started moving into inland South Australia and far south-west Queensland today, with temperatures to become higher throughout populated parts of south-eastern Australia on Wednesday.
Narramore said that temperatures in the low to mid 40s will continue in inland areas of Australia on Thursday and Friday, but that a southerly wind could bring some relief to areas within 10 to 20 kilometres of the coast.
He said that on Friday, there will be a third day of temperatures in the 40s throughout inland parts of South Australia, western New South Wales and much of northern Victoria, while Tasmania will also see temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s for multiple days.
“So, with all these hot temperatures and gusty winds later this week, it’s important you stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings via our website and app,” Narramore said.
“Make sure you prepare for a major heat event through south-eastern Australia later this week and into the weekend, and as always, if and when fires do get going later this week, listen to all advice from emergency services, and we’ll continue to keep you updated here at the bureau.”
