Four cities to swelter through 38C-plus temperatures - but others face torrential rain: How Christmas is looking near YOU
- Heatwave conditions to hit parts of the country on Christmas Day
- Perth will see temperatures soaring up to 38C on festive holiday
- Canberra, Adelaide and Darwin will also be sweltering through the hot weather
- But Brisbane faces torrential rain with up to 15mm expected on 25th
Millions of Australians will likely hit the beach over the Christmas holidays with scorching temperatures up to 38C forecast in four major cities.
Adelaide, Darwin, Canberra, and Perth are expected to swelter through heatwaves well into the 30s - while Sydney will have a rare La Nina sunny day with temperatures set to hit 30C.
The Western Australia capital will cop the worst temperature with the mercury expected to reach 38C on Christmas Day - with Adelaide and Darwin hitting 32C.
Temperatures are expected to be slightly cooler in Brisbane with the mercury forecast to hit 28C and up to 15ml of rain likely in the Queensland capital.
Millions of Australians will likely hit the beach over the Christmas holidays with scorching temperatures up to 38C set to hit four major cities
The heatwave could be preceded by wet weather in some parts of the country as La Niña raises moisture levels and increases the risk of torrential rain on a scale similar to the storm that swept through Sydney on Sunday
Sydney can expect only a high of 30C on Christmas Day (pictured, a couple making the most of Sydney's hot weather on Saturday at Bondi Beach)
Melbourne will enjoy cool temperatures with a forecast for 24C and partly cloudy weather while Hobart will experience 22C.
The heatwave could be preceded by wet weather in some parts of the country as La Niña raises moisture levels and increases the risk of torrential rain on a scale similar to the storm that swept through Sydney on Sunday.
One woman was killed and two others critically injured after gale force winds and heavy rain lashed the northern beaches.
Share this article
Sky News Weather senior meteorologist Tom Saunders said over the festive season it is vital to keep an eye on changing weather patterns, which can quickly throw plans into disarray.
'Forecasting the weather several days out when the (weather) systems are immobile is relatively straightforward,' he told news.com.au.
'That's not the case right now and it's making the forecast for Christmas tricky to pin down.
'We have a trough potentially sweeping across southern Australia which (quickly) introduces a cool change and a showers and storm scenario.'
Half of the country is set to swelter through an intense heatwave on Christmas Day
Thousands of sun worshippers ignored rising Covid case numbers in Sydney to hit the sand (pictured) and beachside cafes as temperatures soared into the 30s on Saturday
Sydneysiders took the chance to peel off the layers and flock to the beaches and surf-side eateries everywhere on Saturday, including Bondi, Bronte, Coogee and Manly
Earlier on Saturday in Sydney, thousands of sun worshippers ignored rising Covid case numbers to hit the surf, sand and beachside cafes, as temperatures soared.
With the mercury hitting 29C in the CBD and 37C at Penrith in the west, it finally started to feel like summer in Australia's biggest city.
Countless Sydneysiders took the chance to peel off the layers and flock to eastern and northern beaches.
Scores of residents were in no mood for yet another reason to stay home, packing beaches from Manly to Bondi and Coogee.
NSW suffered its worst day of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began nearly two years ago, with 2,482 new infections announced on Saturday.
Sunday was predicted to get even hotter before the Bureau of Meteorology predicted 'fast moving storms' to cool things down in the afternoon.
Sydneysider sunbathes on Bondi beach as Sydney sweltered through hot weather on the weekend
The ocean was the best place to be in Sydney on Saturday, as temperatures soared above 30C (pictured, surf life savers at Coogee in Sydney's east)
Elsewhere, severe heatwave conditions brought 'oppressive' conditions to northern parts of Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland on Saturday.
Severe fire danger warnings were issued for parts of WA and SA, with fire danger warnings also in place for parts of Victoria and NSW on Saturday, as temperatures soared across major cities Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.
It's going to be a quintessentially hot and sweaty Christmas in some parts of the country, according to Weatherzone.
While large areas of Australia were kept unusually cool during November by frequent spells of cloud and rain, December has been noticeably clearer and drier for much of the country.
