Key PointsParts of the ACT, NSW, South Australia and Victoria will experience 40C temperatures over the weekend.The Bureau of Meteorology says warm weather that affected Western Australia this week is now moving to the east.Doctors are urging Australians to watch out for signs of heat-related illness, and to remain hydrated and stay cool.
Doctors are encouraging Australians to be alert to the signs of heat-related illness this weekend as searing temperatures are forecast for a large part of the nation.
Parts of the ACT, NSW, South Australia, and Victoria will experience the 40C temperatures that had many Western Australians sweltering this week.
Healthdirect chief medical officer Dr Nirvana Luckraj offered advice on preventing an emergency.
“The best way to prevent heat-related illness is to drink plenty of water and to stay as cool as possible,” she said.
“Heat-related illnesses include dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, a worsening of existing medical conditions and in the worst cases, heat stroke.”
Health practitioners have also urged people to keep covered and avoid sun exposure, which can cause pain as well as lead to skin cancer.
Staff at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in North Adelaide have treated 15 patients for severe sunburn in recent weeks.
Dr Bernard Carney said parents and carers could not be too cautious about children being in the sun.
“It is incredibly distressing for children to be treated for sunburn. They are often in severe pain and require frequent dressing changes,” he said.
“No parent wants to see their child suffer, especially from something that’s preventable.”
Carney encouraged people to keep hydrated, wear a hat and loose clothes, and use sunscreen.
His comments echo the views of
.
The pair have called on Australians to change their attitudes to sun exposure, particularly tanning.
What temperatures are forecast this weekend?
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the very warm weather that had affected Western Australia this week was moving to the east of the country.
“Most places will be getting a step warmer on Sunday,” he said.
Some parts of South Australia were forecast to be 12 degrees warmer than usual, Hines said.
The hottest parts would be in the east and southeast of the state. Renmark is forecast for 44C on Sunday.
People in Adelaide can expect temperatures in the low to mid-30s throughout the weekend.
In Victoria, people in some parts of the state can expect their warmest day on Sunday since February 2023.
Melburnians are set for a 37C high on Sunday. However, Hines said a wind change due in the early afternoon could influence this.
“The timing of that wind change is crucial to the top temperature. If it comes through in the morning, it will be cooler than 37 degrees.”
Mildura is due for 43C on Sunday.
Almost all capital cities will reach the 30s over the weekend, while some regional areas will hit the 40s. Source: SBS News
Hines said parts of the NSW interior and west would have temperatures as high as 44C on Sunday.
“Most of western NSW did have heatwave conditions in January. So a lot of these places that will have 43 and 44 degrees were higher than that a few weeks back,” he said.
Temperatures in western Sydney are forecast to reach 39C on Sunday and Monday.
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