Adelaide is in the grip of a classic summer heat surge, with hot, dry conditions dominating the start of the week before a noticeable cool change brings some relief heading into New Year’s Eve.
Monday is shaping up as the hottest day of the period, with temperatures soaring to 38 degrees under sunny skies. Winds will blow east to north-easterly before shifting northwest to south-westerly around the middle of the day, then turning south to south-easterly by late afternoon. UV levels are extreme, reaching an index of 13, with sun protection recommended from mid-morning through to early evening. Fire danger is extreme in the Mount Lofty Ranges and moderate across the Adelaide Metropolitan area.
Tuesday delivers a significant cool-down, with the maximum dropping to 26 degrees. Skies will be cloudy throughout the day, with a slight chance of rain, though any falls are expected to be minimal. Fresh south to south-easterly winds will persist, helping to keep conditions cooler despite UV levels remaining extreme.
Conditions improve further on Wednesday, with sunny skies returning and temperatures topping out at a more comfortable 25 degrees. Winds will remain brisk from the south-east, and while the weather is milder, UV levels are still forecast to reach extreme levels, so sun safety remains important for outdoor plans.
By Thursday, New Year’s Day, temperatures climb again to around 30 degrees with sunny conditions across the city. While the heat rebuilds, it remains less intense than the start of the week, making it more manageable for celebrations and outdoor activities.
Friday sees the mercury rise to 33 degrees, with another sunny day forecast and dry conditions continuing across the metropolitan area.
The weekend brings slightly cooler conditions, with Saturday expected to reach 31 degrees under partly cloudy skies, before Sunday cools further to a top of 28 degrees, also with partly cloudy conditions.
Across South Australia, a trough moving eastwards will drive the early-week temperature change, followed by a persistent ridge of high pressure south of the Bight.
Total fire bans have been declared for today for the Eastern Eyre Peninsula and Mount Lofty Ranges districts. Where fire ban districts have a forecast fire danger rating of extreme, only well prepared, well constructed and actively defended houses are likely to offer safety during a fire.
Marine wind warnings are in place today for the Far West Coast and Spencer Gulf. On Tuesday, the marine wind warnings are for the Far West Coast, Upper West Coast, Lower West Coast, Central Coast, South Central Coast, Spencer Gulf, Gulf St Vincent, Investigator Strait, Upper South East Coast and Lower South East Coast.
ADELAIDE 7-DAY WEATHER FORECAST
- Monday 29 December: Max 38°C – Sunny.
- Tuesday 30 December: Min 18°C, Max 26°C – Cloudy.
- Wednesday 31 December: Min 13°C, Max 25°C – Sunny.
- Thursday 1 January: Min 13°C, Max 30°C – Sunny.
- Friday 2 January: Min 16°C, Max 33°C – Sunny.
- Saturday 3 January: Min 18°C, Max 31°C – Partly cloudy.
- Sunday 4 January: Min 17°C, Max 28°C – Partly cloudy.
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