Winter heatwave set to smash August temperature records in Oz

A winter heatwave has been forecast to hit parts of Australia over the coming days, with temperature records likely to be broken.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has forecast a cluster* of unusually warm weather to wash over the country late in the week.

Meteorologist Rohan Smyth said large parts of the country would likely experience “above average” temperatures for this time of year leading into the weekend.

Central Australia recorded temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius on Thursday. The BOM said the heat would likely move further south Friday.

“We can see some of these temperatures raise up just a little bit and move further south, so the northern parts of South Australia really bearing the brunt* of those warmer temperatures,” he said.

Coober Pedy* in South Australia’s north could hit a record-breaking 36C on Friday, the BOM said.

A temperature of 36C is much more reminiscent* of a summer maximum for much of the country.

The small town’s winter record currently sits at 34.3C.

Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, meanwhile, could hit 35C on Friday.

The town’s previous warmest August day is 35.2C, recorded in 2009.

The town of Bourke in remote NSW could hit 27C, while Toowoomba in the Darling Downs region of Queensland is looking at a 25C day.

The hot weather trend would likely continue into the weekend, Mr Smyth added.

Closer to the coast, Brisbane is forecast to enjoy a sunny maximum temperature of 25C on Saturday and 26C on Sunday, while Sydney will likely experience 22C on Saturday after a possible morning shower and 25C on Sunday.

Melbourne is in for a pleasant 21C day on Saturday and 22C on Sunday, while Adelaide will likely enjoy a top temperature of 22C and 23C.

Darwin will likely swelter* under 34C on Saturday and 35C on Sunday.

Hobart and Perth look set for cooler weather, with 15C and 17C for Hobart and 19C and 20C for Perth.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• cluster: group
• brunt: the worst of something
• Coober Pedy: a desert town in South Australia famous for its abundance of opals
• reminiscent: similar to, or reminding you of something
• swelter: feel very hot

EXTRA READING
Winter diving with turtles of Oz
Why it’s so cold in Aussie homes
Cold sends shivers down our spines

QUICK QUIZ
1. How hot could temperatures get in the mining town of Coober Pedy on Friday?
2. What is the forecasted maximum in Alice Springs on Friday?
3. Which two cities look likely to record temperatures below 20C over the weekend?
4. What temperatures are forecast for Sydney over the weekend?
5. Which town or city has the highest forecasted temperature over Friday, Saturday and Sunday?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. What would you say?
What would you say to convince another kid (who thinks that stories about the weather are really boring) that following the weather is the most interesting and sometimes most important thing that you can do? Write down the most convincing points and examples that you can think of.

Time: allow at least 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Geography

2. Extension
How do meteorologists work out what the weather might be like? Use information in the story and your own ideas to brainstorm answers and ideas. Then, use your research skills to find out if you were right! Use this information to create A Beginner’s Guide to Weather Forecasting – a step by step ‘how to’ guide for people who might want to give it a go!

Time: allow at least 45 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Geography

VCOP ACTIVITY
Creative vocabulary
Find a bland sentence from the article to up-level. Can you add more detail and description? Can you replace any ‘said’ words with more specific synonyms?

Have you outdone yourself and used some really great vocabulary throughout your writing? Firstly, well done. Secondly, let’s ensure everyone can understand it by adding a glossary of terms. Pick three of your wow words and create a glossary for each word to explain what it means.