East coast Australians thinking about donning the ugly Christmas jumpers may want to think again as warm temperatures hit the capitals across the country.
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra are all expecting temperatures from the high-20 degrees Celsius to the low-30 degrees Celsius on Christmas Day.
Across the country Adelaide, Perth and Hobart are expecting sunny skies and maximum temperatures from the mid-20 degrees Celsius to low-30 degrees Celsius.
In the Top End, Darwin is expecting a storm and a maximum of 32 degrees Celsius.
People looking to cool off at Australian beaches are being urged to stay safe and swim between the flags at patrolled beaches.
The past 12 months have been the deadliest across the country’s coastline, with 141 coastal drowning deaths. Three in four of those were at least one kilometre away from a lifesaving service.
Surf Lifesaving Australia general manager Shane Daw said people who ended up at unpatrolled locations should be vigilant for rips and other hazards.
“The safest way for all Australians to enjoy our coastline this summer is to find a patrolled beach and swim between the red and yellow flags,” Daw said.
Christmas Day’s warmer weather marks the start of a low-intensity heat wave that is expected to sit across the south of the continent, including Tasmania, until Wednesday.
It will also mean a continuation of the hot weather Western Australia has seen in December, sparking several bushfires.
The Bureau of Meteorology has already issued a heat wave warning for WA, with high temperatures gripping parts of the state from the north to the south.
Back east, temperatures are expected to peak as high as 36 degrees Celsius in Melbourne and 40 degrees Celsius in Adelaide on Tuesday; as high as 28 degrees Celsius in Sydney and 32 degrees Celsius in Canberra on Monday; and as high as 32 degrees Celsius in Hobart on Wednesday.
Despite the warmer spell, flood warnings across NSW and Victoria remain as South Australia braces for the floodwater to flow down the Murray River.
Christmas Day forecasts:
Melbourne, 30 degrees Celsius max, sunny
Sydney, 28 degrees Celsius, partly cloudy and chance of thunderstorms
Darwin, 32 degrees Celsius max, storms
Canberra, 31 degrees Celsius max, sunny
Hobart, 26 degrees Celsius max, sunny
Adelaide, 32 degrees Celsius max, sunny
Perth, 30 degrees Celsius max, sunny
Brisbane, 28 degrees Celsius max, partly cloudy and a high chance of showers
