Brett Dutschke, 21 Oct 2014, 6:37 AM UTC
Western NSW feeling the heat
Much of western New South Wales has begun a heat wave, reaching at least five degrees above average for at least five days, averaging a maximum of 35 degrees or more.
The hottest area between last Monday and next Monday will be west and north from about Wyalong, Hillston, Condobolin, Trangie where maximum temperatures will average 35-to-40 degrees, 10 degrees above the October average and close to October records.
Very little or no cooling is likely north and west from Broken Hill to Bourke with the temperature reaching the high thirties and low forties by early next week just ahead of a cooler change. With temperatures rising from the mid thirties to the high thirties and low forties heat-related stress is possible. Thankfully, most nights will cool down to a comfortable level, providing some temporary recovery.
Another form of recovery will be showers and thunderstorms which have potential to cool by more than 10 degrees for an hour or so.
The showers and storms will develop in the west on Wednesday then mainly on the slopes, ranges and coast almost every day through to early next week.
Some places may pick up more than 30 millimetres from multiple showers and storms and cool down significantly a few times between now and early next week.
The early-season heat has been brought about by a reduction in the strength of cold fronts over Western Australia this month, allowing heat to build over the Pilbara and Kimberley with help from sunnier than normal days. The heat has been allowed to exceed average levels with the aid of a warmer-than-normal sea surface surrounding western, southern and southeastern Australia.
In the east of the state more significant relief from the heat will arrive on the weekend, and on the coast sea breezes will bring cooling each afternoon.
The main cool change looks like arriving next Monday and Tuesday, causing temperatures to drop by as much as 15 degrees.
Note to media: You are welcome to republish text from the above news article as direct quotes from Weatherzone. When doing so, please reference www.weatherzone.com.au in the credit.