'Weather whiplash': southeast to sweat as mercury rises

Severe heat is sweeping southeast Australia, with temperatures forecast to hit record highs as fire risks rise. Melbourne is set to hit 27C on Sunday, while Canberra could see 25C - their highest September temperatures in three years. Hobart is expected to experience its warmest September day since 2019 at 27C. Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore from the Bureau of Meteorology attributes the heat to a high-pressure system in the Tasman Sea and a front crossing Western Australia, pushing northerly winds to the region.

Parts of Western Australia recorded their warmest September day on Friday, with Albany reaching 31.8C. Strong winds of 60-80km/h are expected in Melbourne and 80-100km/h in Hobart on Sunday, with potential gusts higher in elevated areas. Damaging wind warnings are likely for Sunday, contributing to elevated fire dangers. While Victoria and South Australia are less prone to fires due to recent rainfall, eastern Tasmania and NSW have been fairly dry, making hot, dry winds and fuel loads a high fire risk.

The unseasonal warmth will be followed by a rapid cooling, with temperatures dropping back into the mid-teens on Monday and Tuesday before rebounding into the mid-20s later in the week. Australians are experiencing a "weather whiplash," with rapid temperature swings.