Very hot spell on the way for Adelaide

A very hot four-day spree of 40 degrees plus is looming for Adelaide, and much of the rest of inland South Australia.

A low pressure trough extending from northeast New South Wales, across Queensland and the Northern Territory, and around the western coast of Western Australia is currently drawing intense heat into the western state. Perth has already experienced four days with temperatures exceeding 36 degrees since Tuesday, and is forecast to exceed this threshold for an extra two days, possibly reaching 40 degrees today and Sunday.

This pooling heat over Western Australia is expected to spread eastwards this coming week. South Australia can expect heat to build significantly over the coming days.

Adelaide is currently forecast to experience a four-day heatwave of 40 degrees and above from Tuesday to Friday. Across South Australia, during this heat wave period, the mercury is expected to reach the low forties in Adelaide and as high as 48-49 degrees in the Wudinna, Kimba, Port Augusta, Tarcoola and Oak Valley areas. The hottest days look to be on Thursday and Friday ahead of a cooling wind change.

Dry, gusty north to north westerly winds will push through the region this week, bringing increased fire danger along with the intense heat. A strong southerly wind change on Friday afternoon will likely bring an end to this run of extreme heat, but may also complicate any fire event that may develop throughout the week by pushing fire spread northwards. Our estimates show a potential for a total of 1-5mm of badly needed precipitation along agricultural areas in the days following this change, with most falling about the Eyre and Yorke peninsulas.