A severe cyclone is heading toward northern Queensland as a heatwave begins to spread across the country this weekend.
Tropical Cyclone Jasper has intensified to a severe category 3 as it moves over the ocean 1390km east of Cairns and could make landfall early next week.
The cyclone is expected to strengthen further as it tracks south, and will possibly become a category 5 by Thursday night, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Over the weekend, it will likely weaken but remain on course towards the coast with the “highest risk of cyclone impact” to be north of Mackay.
However, the timing and severity of coastal impact are highly uncertain at this stage.
Communities in the region are advised to brace for the potential impact by reviewing their cyclone plan.
Meanwhile, a heatwave is spreading across the country with Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, NSW and the ACT.
Queensland
From the northern tip of the state and reaching from the east to west border in the south, a severe heatwave warning is in place until Saturday.
Maximum temperatures will climb to the mid to high thirties, increasing to the low to mid forties over inland Queensland.
Little relief will arrive in the evening, as minimum temperatures stay in the mid twenties.
Locations likely to be impacted include Aurukun, Birdsville, Cunnamulla, Goondiwindi, Mapoon, Quilpie, St George, Thursday Island, Thargomindah and Weipa.
Conditions will begin to ease over the south towards the end of the week and into the weekend.
NSW
Sydney is expected to reach a high of 42C in the city’s west on Saturday – the highest temperature in almost four years when the Black Summer bushfires were wrecking havoc.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in any Australian capital city suburb was 48.9C in Penrith during January 2020.
The city is forecast to reach 38C on Saturday, with pools and beaches likely to attract massive crowds across the coast.
Fire danger will be extreme in the city, the lower central west plains and southern slope regions, with high fire danger in most other parts of the state.