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Southern capitals bake in late summer scorcher

Drew Casper-Richardson, Saturday February 25, 2012 - 14:28 EDT

Adelaide, Melbourne and even Hobart are forecast to climb into the high thirties today as some late summer heat moves over southeastern Australia.

A large high in the Tasman Sea is combining with an approaching low pressure trough, allowing north to northwesterly winds to draw a hot airmass from the nations interior over the southeast. This coupled with clear skies is allowing the mercury to soar in the southern capitals.

Adelaide's hot summer is continuing with a top of 39 degrees yesterday, which is 10 above average. The mercury again reached 39 early this afternoon, continuing the trend of a warmer than usual summer. In December, the average maximum was 0.9 degrees warmer than normal and January was up by 1.8 degrees. Although February so far has been cooler than average, this recent run of heat has served as a reminder that summer is not over just yet.

Melbourne has also had a hot summer, with December and January being 0.9 and 1.5 degrees above average respectively. The City climbed to 37 yesterday which is 11 above average and is forecast to reach 38 today. So far, the February maximum has been 0.9 degrees warmer than normal.

This current pulse of heat has also stretched its way across Bass Strait to Hobart. The southern most capital is expected to reach 38 degrees today. Should it reach this it will be the hottest February day since 2001. If it climbs to 38.9 degrees it will be the hottest day of any month in over 14 years.

Sunday should see slightly lower temperatures as the airmass cools but tops around the mid thirties are still likely in all three capitals. On Monday cloud and a cooler change will return temperatures closer to average. Tuesday will see a much cooler airmass over the three cities with maximums staying below average, where they will stay for most of the working week.

- Weatherzone

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