Heatwave warning for large parts of Australia as temperatures expected to reach low 40s

"The bureau issues a heatwave warning when both the maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast to be unusually hot for a period of three days or more. Sign up: AU Breaking News email The bureau issued an extreme warning for the NSW south coast and severe heatwave warnings in the Hunter, metropolitan, Illawarra, southern tablelands and Snowy Mountains areas. Places that were likely to be affected include the Sydney metropolitan area, Newcastle, Batemans Bay, Gosford, Camden, Mona Vale, Nowra, Richmond and Wollongong."

"Extreme means that it's dangerous for everyone, even for healthy people, if you don't take precautions, senior meteorologist Christie Johnson said. We tend to find in terms of the health impacts the effect is cumulative, so it's usually the third day is the most dangerous. Johnson said in areas where severe heatwave warnings were in place, vulnerable people, including elderly people, pregnant people, babies and children, and people with medical conditions, were most at risk."

"Temperatures were beginning to climb on Thursday and the heatwave in NSW was expected to peak on Friday and Saturday, with temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s forecast for some areas. She said by Saturday temperatures in western Sydney and parts of the Hunter were expected to reach the low 40s. Temperatures in inland NSW were also forecast to reach the 40s, however this part of the state does not have a heatwave warning in place because the temperature is considered more usual for the region."

Heatwave warnings cover New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with an extreme warning for the NSW south coast indicating the highest level of risk. Warnings include metropolitan and regional areas such as Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Batemans Bay and the Snowy Mountains. Alerts are issued when both daytime and overnight temperatures are forecast unusually hot for three or more days. Temperatures are expected to peak Friday–Saturday, with many areas in the high 30s and some western Sydney and inland locations reaching the 40s. Heat effects are cumulative and pose greater danger to elderly people, pregnant people, babies, children and those with medical conditions.

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