Saturday began warmer than usual across most areas of the Northern Territory, northern Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. Minimum temperatures were recorded as 10-15°C above average for this time of year, with notable examples including: 

• Alice Springs (NT), which recorded a minimum of 20.9°C (15°C above the monthly average); 

• Birdsville (QLD), with 23.2°C (14.4°C above the monthly average); 

• Coober Pedy (SA), with 19.3°C (11.7°C above the monthly average); 

• Cobar Airport (NSW), with 15.6°C (11.5°C above the monthly average); 

• Giles (WA), with a minimum of 15.6°C (11.5°C above the monthly average). 

Image: 2m temperature and 10m wind at 4pm on Saturday 24th, using ECMWF.  

As Ben Domensino wrote here, an unusually hot airmass is spreading over central Australia, and already brough some winter records and may cause new ones this weekend and into next week. Today, temperatures above 35°C are expected in the Northern Territory, northern South Australia, western New South Wales, and much of inland Queensland. 

Tomorrow, a cold front is expected to bring cooler conditions to much of South Australia, while the hot airmass will continue to affect northern and eastern Australia. 

Looking ahead, the hottest conditions are expected to persist in central areas. The map below shows temperatures above the average for much of Australia over the next 7 days. The red colour indicates temperatures that are 5°C above the August average in the Northern Territory, Queensland, northern South Australia, and western New South Wales through the end of the month. 

Image: Forecast temperature anomaly until Saturday, August 30th, according to the ECMWF model. Source: www.weatherbell.com/

To find out if your region will be affected by this hot airmass, visit the Weatherzone homepage.