The east coast has been stuck in a cycle of humidity bringing sleepless nights for weeks. But an end is now in sight.
A reprieve from the stifling and sticky conditions that have been plaguing Australia’s east are in sight – but there could still be a few days of sleepless nights yet.
Since New Year, Sydney has been experiencing minimum temperatures so warm that if repeated until the end of the month it would be the third hottest January on record measured by overnight lows.
Forecasters have warned of another storm outbreak as unsettled conditions continue. There could even be a flood risk for Melbourne.
Meanwhile Tropical Cyclone Tiffany is charging into the Top End with warnings it could leave rivers overflowing and communities cut off in the Territory.
“Australia is in the middle of a period of widespread severe weather,” Sky News Weather senior meteorologist Tom Saunders said.
“We’ve seen out of control bushfires in Western Australia this week, an ongoing heatwave through the interior, a tropical cyclone for the northern tropics and a storm outbreak continuing through the southeast states.”
Tropical Cyclone Tiffany hits land
Tropical Cyclone Tiffany crossed into the Top End this morning and is currently a category 1 storm. The low is producing gusts of up to 100km/h.
Its path is taking it eastwards just to the south Katherine where it could pass on Thursday morning, likely as a weaker tropical low.
“Once the system weakens below tropical cyclone intensity, strong gusts and heavy rainfall remain possible over areas close to the system track as it moves further inland,” the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.
Mr Saunders said it looked likely that once the system reached the western Top End or Kimberley it could stall.
“As a result of the stalling we’ll see heavy rain under the part of the system not just for a few hours or a day, but perhaps for three or four days.
“And that means a huge amount of rain and a flood watch has been issued for the Carpentaria and the northwestern rivers.”
Some areas could see 300mm of rain.
Katherine has been told to expect 50-120mm on a gusty Thursday and then a further 50-150mm heading into the weekend.
An absolute drenching is likely for Darwin too as the outer edges of Tiffany have an impact. Up to 35mm today, then 25-80mm on Thursday and 40-90mm on Friday. There will be more heavy downpours for the weekend.
Humidity in east could ease
Far less drama in Brisbane with maximums around 30C for the coming days and overnight lows of 20C with only the odd drop of rain.
Moving into NSW, the state’s coastal areas have had almost unbroken humid days in the high twenties since New Year.
“Sydney’s minimums have been above average every night so far this month due to very high humidity which prevents overnight temperatures from dropping,” Mr Saunders said.
The average minimum for the CBD has been 21.2C, 2.4C above normal for January.
January 2019 saw an average minimum temperature of 21.7C which was the warmest ever with 163 years of data. If Sydney keeps to its current average minimum it would be the third warmest January based on overnight lows.
“For the next few days, the minimums should remain above 20C each night, so more sticky sleepless nights ahead.
“But models currently predict a southerly will flush out some of the heat and moisture on Monday next week which should drop the overnight temperatures by a couple of degrees by Tuesday,” he said.
That’s caused by drier, less moisture-laden air moving up from the Southern Ocean.
“Although a 2C drop does not sound significant, it will make it feel much more comfortable.”
Sydney’s maximums will bounce around the 30C mark into the weekend with a possible storm on Saturday.
Canberra will see highs of 25C for the coming days rising to 30C on Saturday and minimums of around 15C. Up to 10mm of rain on Friday could occur as a storm rolls through.
Storms for Victoria, parts of NSW
“Thursday is a big storm day for Victoria with flash flooding a key risk particularly in the western state with storms likely through the western part of NSW,” Mr Saunders said.
“As we move towards the weekend central and eastern Victoria and Melbourne could have heavy falls and again in NSW going into Saturday.”
Melbourne could see up to 10mm of rain on Thursday and then 10-25mm on Friday – that’s enough for possible flash flooding.
It will be hotting up in the city with a high of 31C on Thursday and 33C on Friday with lows of 20C.
Friday and Saturday could see some showers in Hobart but they won’t be particularly heavy. Maximums of 23-25C and minimum in the mid-teens.
Perth could reach 40C
Scorching temperatures in Adelaide should recede for a few days with highs around 26C but shooting up to 30C on Sunday with lows of 17C. No rain on the horizon.
Blisteringly hot in Perth on Wednesday, reaching 36C. There will be a short break with Thursday to Saturday not breaching 30C. But the mercury then keeps on rising with 33C on Sunday and potentially 40C midweek next week.
A bushfire warning in the state’s south west in the Busselton region has been downgraded. A blaze near Curtis Bay Beach affected 200 hectares of bushland.
Total fire bans are in place in the regions surrounding Perth.
An intense heatwave is pounding much of WA. Broome is looking at seven days of maximums hitting 34-35C and dawn lows of almost 30C.
Originally published as Tropical Cyclone Tiffany hits land while reprieve in sight for east coast’s humid conditions
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