The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a heatwave warning for Victoria and parts of NSW with high temperatures extending out to South Australia and Tasmania.
Southern parts of NSW are expected to experience heatwave conditions, with Bega, Bombala and Eden likely to be impacted.
Victorians were issued a heatwave warning on Thursday, with temperatures to reach the mid-thirties over the weekend.
"So far, a heatwave warning has been issued for Victoria, as both daytime and nighttime temperatures are forecast to be well above the average for this time of year," meteorologist Helen Reid said.
The three-day heatwave situation will impact most of Victoria, with the East Gippsland district facing a severe heatwave warning.
Temperatures are expected to ease at the start of next week.
The elderly are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and fatalities during heatwaves. Source: Getty / Miguel Angel Flores
How to stay safe during a heatwave
Heatwaves and hot weather have caused more deaths in Australia than any other disaster, with young children and the elderly particularly vulnerable to heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Here are some tips for coping with a heatwave:
- Use air conditioning or a fan.
- Opt for light, loose-fitting clothing.
- Keep your skin wet using a spray bottle or damp sponge.
- Take cool showers or foot baths in cool tap water.
- Wrap ice cubes in a damp towel and drape them around your neck.
- Consider spending time in cool places like air-conditioned malls or libraries.
- Avoid vigorous physical activity.
Shane Chelepy, state disaster coordinator for the Queensland Police Service, urged people not to drive through floodwaters following a series of rescues during recent heavy rainfall. Source: AAP / Simon Bullard
Extreme start to summer
In Queensland, multiple flood warnings are in effect due to heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms.
On Wednesday night, severe storms hit inland towns on the state's central coast, bringing nearly 100mm of rain in just one hour.
Lesdale, located 700km west of Brisbane, received 92mm of rain in just one hour, while nearby Charleville saw 68mm of rainfall.
BoM warned the trough will deepen over the next few hours, bringing heavier rainfall, with totals expected to exceed 200mm on Thursday.
Avoid driving through floodwaters
Shane Chelepy, state disaster coordinator for the Queensland Police Service, urged people not to drive through floodwaters after a spate of rescues during recent wet weather.
"We have already seen a number of swift-water rescues right across south-east Queensland of people who are driving into floodwaters," he said.
"We lose more lives during a disaster season by the reckless behaviour of driving through water than we do from the disasters.
"So please, if it's flooded, forget it."
Disaster resources have been deployed to the central region in preparation for potential severe weather impacts.
