Overview
Ending the year as you mean to go on is the ultimate New Year's Eve mantra, and it seems that Australia's weather has taken the sentiment to heart. After the country clocked up its third-warmest year on record in 2018, it kicked off 2019 with toasty spells in both Sydney and Melbourne — and another country-wide spate of hot, hot heat is on its way.
It is summer, of course; however the next run of warm weather will see the nation affected by a heatwave from Monday, January 14. According to AAP and The Guardian, every state and territory will feel the heat. The mercury will hit the 30s in every capital city, although the impact will differ around the country. And again, while sunny, sweaty days are part and parcel of this time of year, each capital will experience temps above its average maximum for January.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that Sydneysiders can expect at least a five-day stretch of 30-plus temperatures from Tuesday, while Brisbanites will swelter through the same temps for the whole week. In Melbourne, a maximum of 37 degrees is forecast on Monday, followed by 35 on Tuesday, before easing off down to 21 on Saturday.
In what's proving to be a particularly hot start to 2019 in South Australia, Adelaide will reach 41 degrees on Tuesday and 40 on Wednesday — part of a southern spike that'll also see Hobart make it to 30 degrees on Tuesday and Canberra endure a four-day span of temperatures between 38–40 degrees. Perth will bake on Saturday, when a 37-degree day is expected, while Darwin will stay above 30 all week.
Wherever you're spending the next seven days, air-conditioning, pools and the beach are your friends.