A heatwave will descend over the centre of the country this week and continue into Christmas, the bureau of meteorology says

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Most of Australia is set for a warm and dry Christmas Day, with the bureau of meteorology predicting temperatures as high as 40C in the north, between the high-20s and mid-30s in capital cities, and little chance of rain.

The bureau’s seven-day forecast for the holiday period says Perth, Adelaide and Darwin will have the hottest Christmas Day, at a maximum of 35C, while there could be rain in Darwin and Hobart.

But a large high-pressure system will cover most of the country on Christmas Day, meaning the chance of rain is low and temperatures will be high.

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According to the bureau’s Wednesday forecast, Sydney and Melbourne will see a minimum of 18C and a maximum of 29C on the big day, with zero chance of rain.

Brisbane is forecast for the same temperatures, but with a 20% chance of rain.

The northern parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory will potentially see scorching temperatures of above 40C.

Meteorologist Grace Legge said on Wednesday that a heatwave will descend over the centre of the country this week and continue into Christmas.

“The heatwave that is forecast to stretch from the north-west of Western Australia all the way to central New South Wales later this week will still be making its presence felt, as hot, dry air lingers, bringing very high temperatures to many inland regions,” she said.

“Heat will be dragged through much of the country for Christmas, though sea breezes may keep some coastal areas a little cooler than inland parts.”

The heat will be on in Perth and Darwin, with a maximum of 34C, and in Adelaide, with a top of 35C.

Canberra will not be far off, with a minimum of 14C and a maximum of 33C.

Legge said storms could come to the Northern Territory and Queensland in the afternoon, with a heat trough building in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Tasmania and southern Victoria could also see a cool southerly change that would keep the heat down on Christmas Day, she said.

Hobart has a 20% chance of rain, with cooler temperatures of between 15C and 24C. Darwin has a 50% chance of showers, and potentially a thunderstorm.

Last year it only rained in two capital cities on Christmas Day (Sydney and Darwin), and in 2016, it rained in Sydney, Canberra and Darwin

In fact, it has rained in Darwin on seven of the past 10 Christmas Days.