An unseasonably warm air mass will challenge winter heat records in central Australia over the coming week, with temperatures set to climb more than 15°C above average for this time of year.

A slow-moving ridge of high pressure has allowed hot air to build over northern Australia this week. This hot air mass will start to spread further south over the next few days as northerly winds develop ahead of an approaching low pressure system and associated trough.

This air mass is exceptionally hot for this time of year, with temperatures in central Australia predicted to reach levels more typical of mid-summer than winter.

The maps below show the predicted maximum temperature on Saturday and how this compares to average temperatures for this time of year. As you can see in the second map, some places in the far north of SA could be more than 15°C warmer than average on Saturday afternoon.

Image: Forecast maximum temperature on Saturday, August 24, according to the ECMWF-HRES model.

Image: Forecast temperature anomaly at 4pm AEST on Saturday, August 24, according to the GFS model. Source: tropicaltidbits.com

According to current forecasts, Saturday’s temperatures could reach 36°C at Coober Pedy and 38°C at Oodnadatta. These places could challenge SA’s current winter heat record of 36.5°C from Oodnadatta on August 12, 1946.

In Qld, temperatures are forecast to reach 35 to 37°C around Birdsville and Bedourie between Friday and Sunday. This heat is within a couple of degrees of the state’s winter record, which currently stands at 38.5°C from Bedourie on August 29, 2009.

The NT’s winter record of 39.7°C is not likely to be challenged by this week’s heat, although southern parts of the territory are predicted to reach 35 to 38°C between Thursday and Sunday. Alice Springs is tipped to reach 35°C each day from Friday to Sunday, which could challenge the winter record of 35.6°C from the old Post Office weather station back in the 1880s.

While the highest temperatures over the coming days will occur in central Australia, unseasonably warm air will also waft over the country’s southern and eastern coastlines during the coming week.