Australia Breathes Easier as Heatwave Subsides
Millions across Australia can expect relief this week as a prolonged heatwave finally dissipates. The extreme conditions, which gripped large areas of New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia (SA), began to ease on Sunday, signaling the end of a challenging period marked by record-breaking temperatures.
Meteorologist Anthony Sharwood noted that while Australia’s all-time high of 50.7°C—shared by Oodnadatta in SA and Onslow in WA—remains unbroken, this heatwave stood out for its duration, widespread impact, and the cascade of local records it shattered. Coastal Ceduna in SA reached 49.5°C, Victoria’s Mallee district hit 48.9°C at two sites, and Pooncarie in southwest NSW soared to 49.7°C on Tuesday, the state’s hottest day since 1939.
Dust Storm Engulfs Far West NSW
Just as the heat began to lift on Saturday, far west NSW faced a new threat: a colossal dust storm that blanketed the regional city of Broken Hill and surrounding areas. The storm struck around 6 p.m., catching residents off guard after days of scorching heat.
Local photographer Helen Murray, who owns Silverton Photography, found herself trapped in the event while attempting to photograph the approaching dust wall. ‘I first noticed the dust on the horizon around 6 p.m. I decided to go for a drive and try to get some photos in front of the dust, but it caught up very quickly and engulfed me,’ she recounted.
Murray described the intense winds near the town west of Broken Hill, which prevented her from opening her car door. ‘All I could do was get off the road and wait for it to pass over. The wind was incredibly strong. I managed to make my way to the parking area in front of our Silverton welcome sign. I stopped about 20 meters from the sign and for most of the time that I was there, I could hardly see the sign. The wind was really whipping up the sand around me and I could hear it pelting the car.’
She remained stranded for 15 minutes until conditions improved, with the storm lasting about an hour before transitioning into muddy rain. ‘I spent all day today cleaning up tree bark, small branches, and lots of leaves around the garden and hosing down verandas around the house to remove the dust,’ Murray added. ‘These dust storms are not uncommon out here. We don’t get lots, but we get enough. This was a good one. Not really what we needed after a week of temperatures in the high 40s°C.’
Weekly Weather Outlook for Major Cities
With the heatwave fading, forecasts indicate milder conditions nationwide. Here’s what to expect in key cities from Monday to Thursday:
Sydney
Monday: Windy, partly cloudy. Min 17°C, Max 24°C.
Tuesday: Cloudy. Min 19°C, Max 26°C.
Wednesday: Sunny. Min 18°C, Max 29°C.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Min 19°C, Max 31°C.
Melbourne
Monday: Mostly sunny. Min 13°C, Max 21°C.
Tuesday: Sunny. Min 12°C, Max 31°C.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Min 19°C, Max 31°C.
Thursday: Cloudy. Min 16°C, Max 23°C.
Brisbane
Monday: Showers, becoming windy. Min 24°C, Max 31°C.
Tuesday: Cloudy. Min 22°C, Max 27°C.
Wednesday: Cloudy. Min 21°C, Max 28°C.
Thursday: Cloud clearing. Min 20°C, Max 30°C.
Perth
Monday: Sunny. Min 26°C, Max 38°C.
Tuesday: Sunny. Min 20°C, Max 31°C.
Wednesday: Sunny. Min 16°C, Max 33°C.
Thursday: Sunny. Min 17°C, Max 35°C.
Adelaide
Monday: Sunny. Min 11°C, Max 29°C.
Tuesday: Sunny. Min 15°C, Max 32°C.
Wednesday: Sunny. Min 16°C, Max 32°C.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Min 15°C, Max 31°C.
Hobart
Monday: Cloudy. Min 10°C, Max 22°C.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Min 11°C, Max 25°C.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Min 13°C, Max 27°C.
Thursday: Cloudy. Min 15°C, Max 21°C.
Canberra
Monday: Sunny. Min 7°C, Max 24°C.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Min 8°C, Max 28°C.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Min 10°C, Max 33°C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 15°C, Max 35°C.
Darwin
Monday: Showers, possible storm. Min 25°C, Max 31°C.
Tuesday: Showers, possible storm. Min 25°C, Max 31°C.
Wednesday: Showers, storm. Min 24°C, Max 31°C.
Thursday: Showers, storm developing. Min 25°C, Max 31°C.
