Southern Queensland weather forecast to bring severe fire danger and 40-degree heatwave.

Temperatures are expected to build, with Tuesday
 forecast to be especially hot and windy.

A wave of dangerous severe fire weather is about to hit southern Queensland with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecasting heatwave conditions as temperatures soar up to 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the state. 

The BOM said tomorrow's public holiday and Tuesday would be the hottest days with very dry, windy conditions.

Gusts of over 50 kilometres an hour are expected to wreak havoc over the south-east region with 15 fires already burning, three in rugged and difficult terrain. 

Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley will be among the regions most at risk tomorrow.

Read the story from ABC News by Next Hamilton-Smith - “Southern Queensland weather forecast to bring severe fire danger and 40-degree heatwave.”

State of the Climate: Thank goodness for ocean sinks currently holding more warming extremes at bay

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and CSIRO's joint biennial State of the Climate report has just been released and it is not the kind of report card you would want to take home to your parents just before Christmas.

Trends in sea surface temperatures from 1950 to 2017.

An extra two years has firmed-up the data to demonstrate that climate change is happening now.

Dr Helen Cleugh, the director of the climate science centre at CSIRO, said the last time the planet saw levels of CO2 this high was at least 800,000 years ago.

Read the ABC News story by Kate Doyle - “State of the Climate: Thank goodness for ocean sinks currently holding more warming extremes at bay.”

Coral Sea tropical low 'unlikely' to intensify into cyclone, but heavy weather still on the way

A tropical low in the Coral Sea is continuing to move towards Queensland's south-east, but the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says it is unlikely to intensify into a cyclone.

Mike McMaster and Max Wilson head into the surf on
the Sunshine Coast which has wild winds expected.

But gale-force winds and dangerous surf are still expected to impact the southern coastline from Wednesday.

The system is about 1,300 kilometres north-east of the Sunshine Coast and will keep tracking south on Tuesday, but is not expected to cross the coast.

On Tuesday afternoon, BOM forecaster Dean Narramore said winds would pick up on Tuesday night around the Fraser Island coast area.

Read the ABC News story - “Coral Sea tropical low 'unlikely' to intensify into cyclone, but heavy weather still on the way.”

Considering Australia's changing weather patterns

There are important considerations to be aware of when using climate change projections.

These pages, from the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), and the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) help people obtain information on how to use projections data, get help finding the information they want, obtain resources to assist communication efforts or learn more about what is contained within the website

This section also explores frequently asked questions (FAQs) and provides a “Decision Tree” tool to guide people to information they might be looking for. This tool is particularly useful if undertaking an impact assessment or project that requires climate information and/or data.

Check out the website -  ”Climate change in Australia.”

Many swelter in unseasonally hot weather

The beach was a great place to be, but
you needed an umbrella to protect
you from the sweltering conditions.

Australia is grappling with a seemingly endless summer, as every state and territory swelter through an unseasonally hot start to autumn.

The country is experiencing warm weather as the mercury climbs above average in most areas, during a month usually reserved for a cool change, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has said.

Only small areas along the southern coast of Western Australia and along the central Queensland coast have recorded below average maximum temperatures so far this month.

Read the ABC story - “Australia-wide unseasonally hot weather break records, heat set to continue, BoM says.”

Perth in day one of scorching five-day heatwave

Perth is heading for a scorching 40 degrees Celsius on day one of a heatwave that is expected to last for at least five days.

The temperature is forecast to climb to 42C on Monday and Tuesday, a slightly cooler 41C on Wednesday and 39C on Thursday.

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) duty forecaster Steve McInerney said the hot spell was being caused by a strong high pressure system.

Read the ABC story - “BoM forecasts 40C for Perth as expected five-day heatwave begins.”

(Those still living with what once was and who confuse 100 degrees Fahrenheit with 40 degrees Celsius, need to update their thinking for 40°C is actually 104°F – a marked difference and most certainly when you get to upper end of the temperature scale, and so what is occurring in Perth can easily bring consequences that will see people die – Robert McLean).

BoM report helps us understand the ferocity of October

A

ustralia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is a wonderful resource for a comprehensive and clear oversight of what is happening with our country’s weather.

The bureau has just released “Special Climate Statement 52 –Early-season heat across southern Australia” giving a clear picture of the ferocity of October.

Another 'really hot' warning

T

he weather bureau has warned that Australia is about to get hotter and drier than predicted, with higher than average temperatures forecast for October through to December.

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) climate prediction manager Andrew Watkins said Australia had already experienced high temperatures, with Melbourne about 16 degrees above the average on Monday.

People across the country hit the beaches this week, while cafes and pubs were filled with patrons basking in the much-welcomed sunshine.

Read The New Daily story - “Brace yourself Australia, it’s about to get really hot”.