Extreme heat and cold warnings as Australia splits in two this weekend
Australia will split between extreme heat in the far north and a polar blast in the south this weekend.
Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia will swelter in 44 degrees on Saturday and Sunday under an extreme heatwave. Northern Queensland faces similar conditions with severe heatwave warnings across the Gulf Country and Whitsunday islands.
A cold front arriving from Antarctica will bring freezing temperatures to the south. Hobart will struggle to 11 degrees on Saturday, Melbourne 14 degrees, and Sydney will drop from 30 degrees to 16 degrees by Sunday afternoon.
Snow is forecast down to 800 metres in the Alpine regions. Wind warnings have been issued for eastern coastal areas.
The extreme split is caused by warm sea surface temperatures and inland heat in the north combined with cold polar air pushing from the far south.
- 44 degrees
- Fitzroy Crossing forecast
- 11 degrees
- Hobart forecast
- 30 to 16 degrees
- Sydney drop
- 800 metres
- Alpine snow elevation
Why it mattersThe rapid weather extremes across the continent mean Australians need to prepare for dangerous heat in the north and cold in the south over the weekend.
AustraliaMost of Australia faces extreme conditions this weekend; northern residents should prepare for heat stress and power strain, while southern residents need to prepare for cold-related risks.
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