Temperatures in four major Australian cities would soar above 32°C Monday through Wednesday for the first time in 51 years this early in the season.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicted maximum temperature of 35°C for Sydney, 34°C for Melbourne and 32°C for Canberra from Monday to Wednesday. Adelaide and surrounding areas can expect a maximum of 34°C on Monday and Tuesday.
Low to severe heatwave conditions were predicted for eastern New South Wales while low-intensity conditions were predicted for northern Western Australia and far north Queensland. Last week Perth recorded temperatures close to 38°C. Hobart and Brisbane could reach 28°C on Tuesday.
"Patchy areas of low intensity heatwave conditions identified over the northern parts of the country, mainly over far north QLD. Low intensity heatwave conditions over eastern New South Wales, with a small strip of severe heatwave along the southern New South Wales coast," the Heatwave service predicted for Monday through Wednesday.
The unusually hot weather is due to a high-pressure system in the Tasman Sea that's drawing hot air from the north of the continent. He also said that the hot spell was "not really a heatwave as such" and more "a usual summer pattern of a couple of days of hot weather".
High intensity heatwaves can pose health risk to senior citizens, babies, young children and pregnant women.
Australia, which is known for its forest fires, is on alert in certain parts. The weather is expected to cool down by Wednesday.
Last season, heatwave had continued in Australia until March 2016, with weather conditions turning very dry. Most of the major cities had recorded temperature close to 30°C.
