Unprecedented April heat affecting parts of Australia

Summer-like temperatures are stretching well into autumn this year, as record heat continues to affect parts of Australia over the next several days.

Bathurst in NSW is averaging 30 degrees this month, more than nine degrees above the April average. The town has already seen four days above 30 degrees, with four more days forecast to reach 30 or above across the next week. To put this in perspective, the town has only had eight days of 30 degrees or above across the last 108 Aprils put together.

Southern parts of the country have largely been spared so far, however the heat will start affecting the region from the weekend, with Adelaide forecast to have five consecutive days reaching 30 or above. Monday and Tuesday have potential to creep into the mid 30s, and if the city exceeds 34.4 degrees it will be the hottest day this late in the season on record.

Melbourne will see the mercury reaching around 30 degrees on Sunday and Tuesday, whilst western Sydney is likely to see a record stretch of 30 degree heat for April, with five consecutive days likely by Monday.

Temperatures are unlikely to return closer to average until at least mid way through the month, giving many places a good shot of seeing their hottest April on record.

Image: Maximum temperature anomalies across the last week. Source: Bureau of Meteorology