Warm Weather Expected for Grand Final Weekend

The AFL Grand Final match between the Collingwood Magpies and the St Kilda Saints at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sept. 25. Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Warm spring temperatures are forecast for the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) grand finals in Melbourne and Sydney this weekend.

Melbourne will also enjoy a long weekend with Friday being a public holiday, with temperatures expected to register among the top five warmest AFL grand finals every played while the NRL could possibly see its warmest weekend on record.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said that Melbourne can expect warm and sunny conditions for the AFL Grand Final.

“We’re expecting clear skies this Saturday, with a maximum temperature into the high 20s for the opening bounce,” he said.

For Friday, residents will celebrate the Grand Final parade during the public holiday with temperatures set to be in the mid-20s.

But for Saturday, the Grand Final Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) warm temperatures are expected into the high 20s.

“We could see a few patches of cloud throughout the afternoon, but conditions are expected to be mostly bright and sunny,” Mr. Hines said.

This would be the fifth AFL Grand Final played in Melbourne on a day reaching 26 degrees Celsius or warmer, with 31.3 Celsius in 2015, 30.7 Celsius in 1987, 29.8 Celsius in 1944, and 26.4 Celsius in 1919.

For the NRL Grand Final on Sunday at Sydney Olympic Park, warm temperatures into the mid-30s are expected with hot, gusty north-westerly winds expected in the afternoon in the Sydney basin, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

If the maximum temperature of 35 Celsius is reached on Sunday, it would make the event the hottest NRL Grand Final day—since records began—at Sydney Olympic Park since the 34.7 Celsius event in 2014.

Temperatures are expected to drop by the kick-off time, however, at 7:30 p.m., reaching the high 20s and decreasing steadily into the evening.

For the latest forecasts and warnings, please visit bom.gov.au or the BOM Weather app.