‘Not very happy': Tasman Sea warmth puts the heat on key fisheries

Back-to-back summer heatwaves in the Tasman Sea that have affected marine life and seafood industries in Australia and New Zealand could be another sign of the warming climate, scientists say.

The Tasman Sea has endured back-to-back summer
marine heatwaves - with consequences that could
take time to play out.CREDIT

Australia has just had its warmest summer by far, with the role of so-called blocking highs in the Tasman seen by meteorologists as key to the build-up of record-breaking heat over the country's south-east.

Read the story from The Age by Peter Hannam - “‘Not very happy': Tasman Sea warmth puts the heat on key fisheries.”

Melbourne weather: Winter warmth set fair as high pressure keeps cold at bay

Forget about four seasons in one day.

Sunrise on Bourke Street, Melbourne on Thursday.

Melbourne is meant to be in the grip of chilly midwinter but the mercury has already topped 17 degrees today and forecasters are expecting the mild spell to continue for the next week.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a top of 15 for tomorrow, the day after – and all the days until Wednesday.

Michael Efron, the Bureau's senior forecaster puts the blame fairly and squarely on a high pressure system over the Tasman Sea.

"It is a really settled pattern that we have across south-eastern Australia," Mr Efron said.

Read Neelima Choahan’s story in the Melbourne Age - “Melbourne weather: Winter warmth set fair as high pressure keeps cold at bay.”

'Don't fret' - the warm weather's here to stay

The Sydney Morning declares the unfolding
weather conditions will be perfect for a dip.

Can't make it to the beach because of work?

Don't fret. For those with some time, there's some excellent seaside weather ahead for this weekend - and all the way through to the next one.

"We've got a blocking high pressure system in the Tasman Sea, and that is what's causing this patch of unusually warm weather," Rob Sharpe, a meteorologist at Weatherzone, said.

"We're not going to see any [cold] fronts in the next week and a half."

Most days for next week will have the mercury nudging 30 degrees in the city, and several degrees warmer in the western suburbs. Ocean temperatures off Sydney are sitting on a mild 24 degrees.

Read the story in today’s Sydney Morning Herald – “Sydney weather: No end in sight for unusual early autumn heat.”