Hot, tropical air from a cyclone developing off Darwin’s coast is set to bring a wave of high temperatures to south-eastern Australia this weekend, pushing thermometers into the low 30s. Melbourne and Adelaide are particularly poised for a significant warm spell, with temperatures expected to exceed the April average by as much as 10 degrees.
This sudden surge in warmth is attributed to a robust high-pressure system edging east from Western Australia, combined with a tropical low pressure developing north-west of Darwin. This low is anticipated to transform into a tropical cyclone over the weekend, according to Weatherzone reports.
In Melbourne, temperatures are projected to reach around 30 degrees tomorrow, climbing even higher to about 32 degrees in some localities by Sunday. The warm trend is expected to persist throughout the upcoming week, with temperatures remaining in the high 20s.
Adelaide is forecast to experience even more intense heat, with maximum temperatures expected to hit 34 degrees over the weekend and stay in the 30s through Thursday, significantly higher than the average maximum of 22.2 degrees for April. Additionally, minimum temperatures in both Melbourne and Adelaide are predicted to be six to eight degrees above average over the weekend.
The tropical low is on track to develop into a Category 1 cyclone tomorrow, with a possibility of escalating to Category 2 by Sunday evening as it moves south-westward along the Kimberley coastline, as indicated by Weatherzone. While it may not make landfall on the Western Australia coast, the surrounding areas could experience damaging winds and heavy rainfall this weekend and early next week due to the cyclone’s influence.
In summary, south-eastern Australia should prepare for a sweltering weekend, driven by the developing tropical cyclone off Darwin, which is likely to significantly impact both weather patterns and local climates in the coming days.