Key Points
- The BoM has warned of heatwaves in parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
- During heatwaves, residents and visitors of the NT need to take extra precautions to reduce their risk of heat stress.
- South East Queensland faces heavy rain with predictions of dangerous flooding.
Large parts of Northern Australia will experience a hot start to the new year.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) had issued heatwave warnings for parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Temperatures are expected to reach the 40s on Monday.
The temperature in Marble Bar in WA is expected to reach 46C, with the western Kimberley, including the Dampier Peninsula, being the worst affected.
The town's heat gauge has been showing scorching temperatures higher than the bureau's official readings in recent days, with thermometers at the local RSL recording 51C.
Severe heatwave warnings were issued for the Top End, as well as for parts of far northern Queensland and the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory.
In addition, a low-intensity heatwave was expected to extend throughout much of Australia's interior, including South Australia and western New South Wales.
A soggy start to the new year for parts of South East Queensland
While Queensland's northern interior was due to face severe heatwave conditions, parts of the state were also bracing for potentially damaging thunderstorms.
Intense falls in some areas could lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, the BoM warned on Monday morning.
The weather is predicted to affect residents at Coolangatta, Logan, Beenleigh, Tamborine Mountain and Springbrook.
Upper Springbrook on the Gold Coast had already recorded almost 300mm of rain in the 12 hours to 7am on Monday, while 165mm fell at both Binna Burra and Worongary Creek in the same period, the bureau said.
"The heaviest rainfall will be associated with shower and thunderstorm activity, which is likely to be hit-and-miss in nature across the warning area," the BoM added in an alert.
"There is significant uncertainty in the movement and timing of features, but at this stage, the heavy rainfall risk may persist into Tuesday morning and may extend further north."
Northeastern NSW is also on high alert for heavy rain and flash flooding.
Downpours that could lead to flash flooding were predicted for the Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands regions on Monday.
A flood warning was also for the Tweed River, with the bureau saying water could reach the minor flood level at Tumbulgum.
Temperatures of 26C were expected in Sydney, while Melbourne could expect a maximum of 25C on Monday.
What is a heatwave?
According to the weather bureau, a heatwave occurs when the maximum and the minimum temperatures are unusually hot over a three-day period for a particular location.
That is considered in relation to the local climate and the recent past.
Heatwaves are classified in three ways: low intensity, severe intensity and extreme intensity.
While low-intensity heatwaves are expected to be experienced most of the time during the summer, severe-intensity heatwaves are less frequent and might be challenging for vulnerable people: the elderly or those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Extreme heatwaves are quite rare and can affect not only people's health but also infrastructure such as power and transport. Even healthy people are at risk if they don't take precautions to keep cool.
In Australia, heatwaves usually range from 37C to 42C.
Risk of heat stress
Northern Territory Health heat health warnings before and during severe and extreme heatwaves in the Northern Territory.
They explain that heat stress can happen when your body overheats and can't cool itself to its normal body temperature.
It can cause minor conditions like dehydration and heat cramps but can also cause life-threatening conditions like heat stroke.
During heatwaves, residents and visitors need to take extra precautions to reduce their risk of heat stress.
Certain groups of people face an increased risk of heat-related illnesses. These vulnerable populations include babies, young children, and the elderly.
Individuals who have consumed alcohol within the past 24 hours, are overweight, suffer from health conditions such as heart or lung disease or high blood pressure, or take medications for sweat reduction are also at a higher risk.
Furthermore, if you work or exercise outdoors, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, you should take extra precautions during this scorching period.
