The long weekend is set to end on a sizzling hot note, with clear skies and plenty of sunshine expected across most capital cities.  

The remnants of Ex-tropical Cyclone Sean will sweep across the south of the country this weekend, with intense heat trickling into the southeast from the central and western Australia.  

Heatwave conditions are forecast for large areas of Australia over the weekend, with a severe heatwave expected in northern and eastern WA, the southern NT, southwestern Qld and parts of NSW.  

Images: Heatwave severity maps for the three days beginning on Saturday (top) and Sunday (bottom). Source: Bureau of meteorology. 

The heat will begin to impact SA on Sunday, Vic and Tas on Monday and the east coast on Tuesday. A cool southerly change will bring some relief to SA later the weekend as a low-pressure trough and associated cold front sweep across the south of the country. 

This system has the potential to produce strong winds and thunderstorms to parts of NSW and Qld as it moves through the states.  

Northern Australia will also experience a stormy weekend with showers and thunderstorms on the forecast each day, while the rest of the country remains mostly dry. 

Image: Accumulated rainfall forecast for 3 days ending at 11am AEDT on Monday, January 27, according to ECMWF 

All capital cities should see some sun this weekend, although heating up along the south as the weekend progresses. Here’s a brief overview for each capital city: 

• Darwin should see an afternoon storm and shower each day with a maximum of 33°C. 

• Perth will gradually warm from the high 20s to low 30s by the end of the weekend, with showers clearing Saturday afternoon. 

• Adelaide’s heat will peak on Sunday with a maximum of 37°C forecast. Sunday night will also be uncomfortable with the temperature only forecast to drop to 26°C possibly 29°C. A cool change will arrive Monday afternoon providing some relief. 

• Melbourne’s maximum temperature will reach the high 30s or low 40s on Monday, before a cool change arrives in the evening. The city will also see periods of blue skies on the weekend, perfect conditions for the Australian Open finals. 

• Hobart should also be mostly clear, with the mercury rising to 32°C on Monday ahead of a cool change in the evening. 

• Canberra is forecast to be clear this weekend, heating up to 36°C on Monday. 

• Sydney will also be mostly sunny with the mercury heating up as the weekend progresses to 31°C on Monday. The humidity will be oppressive making the heat feel a couple of degrees warmer and helping produce some afternoon storms in the west on Monday 

• Brisbane’s forecast is for partly cloudy and 31°C each day, however humid conditions will make it feel around 2 to 4°C hotter than this.  

Wherever you are in Australia, we have you covered. Check out our app for the long weekend’s forecast for your closest town or city. 

Image: Daily forecast on the Weatherzone app for Darwin, NT, as at 9:14am ACST, on January 24, 2025.