Monitoring heat waves over Christmas

Most areas will experience mild temperatures over the Christmas long weekend. A low intensity heatwave condition is forecast North and South of Cairns, with easing heat around Perth and persisting heat in Western Australia’s Central West.

Heatwave forecast starting Thursday 24 December through to Tuesday 29 December 2020

About heat waves

Heatwaves are calculated using the forecast maximum and minimum temperatures over the next three days, comparing this to actual temperatures over the previous thirty days, and then comparing these same three days to the 'normal' temperatures expected for that particular location. Using this calculation takes into account people's ability to adapt to the heat. For example, the same high temperature will be felt differently by residents in Moree compared to those in Orange, who are not used to the higher range of temperatures experienced in Moree. The full forecast can be accessed here: http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/heatwave/