Southeastern Australia faces unusually high April temperatures

Southeastern Australia is set to experience an unusually warm weekend, with temperatures reaching up to 12°C above average. In Melbourne, highs are expected to hit 30°C on Saturday and 32°C on Sunday, while Adelaide could see temperatures soar to 34°C. Meteorologists attribute this heat wave to a large high-pressure system directing warm air from the interior of Australia, along with influences from a developing tropical cyclone in the Arafura Sea. This forecast follows a record-breaking March and a notable warm start to April, with Australia experiencing its hottest 12-month period on record. As temperatures rise, fire dangers are increasing across several districts in South Australia and parts of Victoria. The Bureau of Meteorology warns that this trend of above-average temperatures may continue into the winter months ahead.