It will be wet and windy for residents in New South Wales' north and east. Photo / NewsWire, Max Mason-Hubers
Millions of Australians are being warned to brace for another day of wild weather on Wednesday as firefighters warn of “catastrophic” fire danger and schools shut in parts of New South Wales.
Warnings for damaging winds, catastrophic fire danger and heatwave conditions have been issued for residents in the state’s northwest.
Areas affected include the Greater Hunter, the Greater Sydney Region, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, the Central Ranges, North Western, the Upper Central West Plains, the Lower Central West Plains, the Southern Slopes, the Eastern Riverina, the Southern Riverina and the Northern Riverina regions.
The mercury is expected to soar in the state’s capital on Wednesday, with temperatures tipped to peak at 36C in Sydney.
Damaging winds in excess of 90km/h have started to develop across the state’s southeast, which are expected to stick around through much of Wednesday before settling in the evening.
Locations that may be affected include Wollongong, Nowra, Canberra, Goulburn, Bowral and Katoomba.
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning that the strong and gusty winds, combined with extremely hot and dry weather, could create “very dangerous” fire conditions.
“We’re seeing a number of districts experiencing extreme or possibly even catastrophic fire dangers,” senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.
Because of the oppressive heat and fire danger warnings, the Department of Education has shuttered 25 public schools across the state.
The affected schools include: Ariah Park Central School, Barellan Central School, Bedgerabong Public School, Binya Public School, Bogan Gate Public School, Boree Creek Public School, Caragabal Public School, Ganmain Public School, Greenethorpe Public School, Lake Wyangan Public School, Lowesdale Public School, Marrar Public School, Matong Public School, Naradhan Public School, Narrandera East Infants School, Narrandera High School, Pleasant Hills Public School, Tallimba Public School, Tharbogang Public School, The Rock Central School, Ungarie Central School, Wamoon Public School, Weethalle Public School, Whitton-Murrami Public School and Yerong Creek Public School.
All independent schools in New South Wales remain open and operational.
Aside from the wind and suffocating heat, thunderstorms will also pepper northern and eastern New South Wales.
“For NSW, we’re more likely to see the damaging wind gusts and the large hail,” Bradbury said.
“There is even a small chance we could see destructive wind gust and giant-sized hail, which is greater than 5cm in diameter across parts of the Northern Rivers.”
The risk of severe damage is most likely in the afternoon and evening.
“For communities which have already seen a few days of very strong severe storms, this is yet another day of very unsettled weather,” she said.
After wild storms ripped through parts of Queensland on Monday and Tuesday, residents can expect the unsettled conditions to continue once again.
About 38,000 people in the state remain without power after the devastating storms.
As of Wednesday morning, about 24,000 homes and businesses remain without power in Moreton Bay and another 7000 in Noosa.
Energex confirmed 4000 homes on the Sunshine Coast were still without power, 700 in Logan and 600 in Somerset.
They said power had already been restored for about 120,000 homes and businesses and that most others should be reconnected by 8pm on Wednesday (local time).
“However some areas of severe damage around Bribie Island and the Sunshine Coast are likely to be without power into Thursday,” a statement read.
“Energex asks for residents to take extreme care when cleaning up storm debris, particularly fallen trees and vegetation, as fallen powerlines may be hidden underneath debris and could well be live.”
Storms are likely to continue for Queensland on Wednesday, affecting almost the entire coast.
“Storms are possible pretty much anywhere in Queensland, except for the far northern tip of the Cape York Peninsula,” Bradbury said.
“Severe storms, however, are possible right along the coast, so that extends from the southern parts of the Cape York Peninsula all the way through the eastern districts of Queensland and into the southeast, then pushes down across northeast.”
Residents in the northern and central regions have been warned of heavy rainfall, damaging winds and possibly large hail.
Thunderstorms won’t be isolated to Queensland and New South Wales, as a cold front passes over the country’s southeast, bringing unsettled and wild conditions.
The bureau forecasts thunderstorms to pass over South Australia and Victoria, bringing heavy rain, blistering winds and lightning.
Residents will feel the brunt of the storms in southeastern South Australia and Adelaide before they move into Victoria and settle in Melbourne.
“These areas could see thunderstorms, pretty gusty thunderstorms moving through with the front today,” Bradbury said.
“[The storms] could produce those locally damaging wind gusts.”
In Brisbane, it will be a warm and wet day, with a high chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm with plenty of hail and damaging winds, reaching a maximum of 35C.
Sydney will be hot and mostly sunny, though there is a chance of a thunderstorm and a shower in the early afternoon, reaching a top of 36C.
Skies will be partly cloudy in Canberra, with “very windy” conditions, a possible thunderstorm in the afternoon and a forecast maximum of 27C.
Melbourne will be gloomy and cloudy on Wednesday, with a very high chance of showers and a thunderstorm in the morning as the mercury tips to 21C.
It will also be cloudy and wet in Hobart, with a maximum temperature of 19C.
Similar conditions can be expected in Adelaide, with cloudy skies, a high chance of showers and a top of 21C.
Sunny skies will dominate Perth on Wednesday with a slight chance of a shower in the morning and temperatures forecast to hit 24C.
Darwin residents can expect cloudy skies and a medium chance of showers, with a possible thunderstorm and a top of 33C.
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