A blast of warm weather likely to break winter heat records is heading to central and northern Australia before spreading to southeastern capital cities.
The strong, near-stationary high-pressure system centred over the heart of the continent this week will enable heat to build up in the interior of the country under clear skies.
It will result in the mercury soaring over central and northern Australia on Saturday and Sunday, the last full weekend of winter.
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Meteorologists say Alice Springs is expected to reach 35 degrees on Friday and Saturday, and there’s every chance that its winter record temperature of 35.2 degrees could be broken.
In northern South Australia, Coober Pedy is heading for 33 degrees on Friday, 34 degrees on Saturday, and 33 degrees again on Sunday. Its winter record is 34.3 degrees.
Also in northern SA, the Outback town of Oodnadatta, which holds Australia’s equal-highest recorded temperature in any month of 50.7 degrees, is forecast for 36 degrees on Friday and Saturday. Its winter record, as well as the state’s winter record, is 36.5 degrees.
Southeastern capitals can also look forward to a spell of spring-like temperatures beginning on Sunday as the warm air moves away from central Australia.
Sydney can expect a maximum temperature of 25 degrees, while the mercury will top 24 degrees in Adelaide and 23 degrees in Melbourne. Canberra and Hobart should expect highs of 21 and 19 respectively.
No records are likely to be broken due to the influence of a relatively weak cold front clipping the south-east corner of the continent, but it will still feel decidedly spring-like.
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