Significant Weather Media Release

More heat for southern NSW but relief in sight

The heatwave affecting southern parts of NSW, along with much of south east Australia, will peak again on Saturday and Sunday ahead of a strong change that will bring welcome cooler conditions to NSW early next week. The change is expected to enter southwest NSW on Sunday night and move across southern and central areas of the state during Monday. Unfortunately no significant rainfall is expected with the change.

The hot, dry and windy conditions ahead of the change are expected to cause very high to extreme fire weather conditions across southern NSW and the ACT, including western Sydney, on the weekend. Temperatures ahead of the change are expected to exceed 40 degrees, except the coastal fringe where sea breezes will temper the heat.

The extended heatwave over south-eastern parts of the continent has been primarily due to a high pressure system anchored over the Tasman Sea that has directed hot northerly air flow over the southeast of Australia since late January. "This weather pattern will finally break down next week with the arrival of cooler air from the south" said Julie Evans, a senior meteorologist with the NSW office of the Bureau of Meteorology.

During this event a number of locations in southern and south-western NSW have either reached or exceeded their records for consecutive days at or over 35 or 40 degrees. For example to date, Griffith and Broken Hill have had nine consecutive days over 40 degrees, the highest for both locations, with the heatwave still continuing. The nights have also been warm with temperatures staying close to 25 degrees and above at many locations including Broken Hill and Ivanhoe. “Record or no record, this heat wave has been extremely hot and unusually long” Ms. Agata Imielska, a climatologist with the NSW office of Bureau of Meteorology, said.

With the heatwave set to continue in southern NSW till Sunday night it is possible that further records will be broken.

As to whether this heatwave is due to climate change, Mr Perry Wiles, senior climatologist with the NSW office of the Bureau of Meteorology said, “Climate change is not only increasing average temperatures, but also the frequency and severity of extreme temperature events. While any one event cannot be attributed to climate change, this heat wave is certainly consistent with that expectation. In a warming world we can expect similar extreme events more often.”

For further information on the heat wave see:

• Special Climate Statement The exceptional January – February 2009 heatwave in south-eastern Australia
• Information from other states

Related information:

• Latest forecasts and warnings: NSW | ACT
• Forecast Maps: Rainfall | Wind
• Thermal Comfort Observations
• Latest Weather Observations: NSW | ACT
• Climate Averages

Contacts for further information:

• Julie Evans (NSW Media and Community Relations) 9296 1545
• Perry Wiles (NSW Climate Services Centre) 9296 1525
• Agata Imielska (NSW Climate Services Centre) 9296 1539