Weather in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth: Warning issued
Temperatures could be 'unseasonably warm' this autumn season, with warmer days and nights forecast for most of Australia.
The Bureau of Meteorology released its long-range forecast for March and May on Thursday.
Most of the country is expected to have above-average daily maximum and minimum temperatures in the coming months.
“From March to May, days and nights across Australia are very likely to be warmer than normal,” the long-term forecast said.
'In most areas there is a greater chance of unusually warm days from March to May.
'Nights also have an increased chance of being unusually warm for many areas.'
Record warm global ocean temperatures are likely contributing to the forecast of hot conditions.
Temperatures could be 'unusually warm' this autumn season, with warmer days and nights forecast for almost all of Australia, the Bureau's long-term forecast suggests
Damaging storms in eastern Victoria left as many as 500,000 homes without power this week
As for rainfall, the weather bureau said El Niño conditions would persist before the Pacific returns to neutral conditions in the fall.
Northern Australia, including parts of North Queensland, is likely to experience below average rainfall.
Conditions could become even drier in parts of western Queensland and north-west New South Wales.
However, the weather bureau warned that the cyclone and monsoon seasons coincide with autumn, meaning heavy rainfall could still fall in these areas – even if total rainfall over the three-month period was lower than normal.
January temperatures were above average in most parts of Australia.
Weather forecast for this weekend
Temperatures in WA are forecast to reach the 30s and 40s this weekend as residents prepare bushfire survival plans.
Severe to extreme heat wave conditions are expected to develop across much of the state on Saturday, Sunday and early next week.
Parts of northern Australia, including parts of north Queensland, are likely to receive below-average rainfall in March and May, the Bureau's long-term forecast shows.
In Victoria, bushfires in the Grampian region destroyed up to 25 homes on Tuesday, with the town of Pomonal worst hit by the damage.
Damaging storms claimed the life of a farmer on Tuesday, with as many as 530,000 homes losing power during the peak of the wild weather.
As of 3pm on Thursday, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action said 59,951 homes, mainly AusNet customers, were still affected.
Residents in eastern Victoria will continue their clean-up efforts this weekend, with firefighters hoping to extinguish the fires before warm conditions return.
Homes and businesses are still without power after storms destroyed cell towers
Meanwhile, Queenslanders are bracing for another possible cyclone as meteorologists monitor a tropical low in the Gulf of Carpentaria that could develop into a cyclone on Thursday or Friday.
A cyclone watch has been issued for communities from Port Roper in the Northern Territory to Burketown in Queensland.
It will be the third cyclone to hit the Sunshine State this summer.
Even if a cyclone does not develop, residents have been warned to brace for heavy rain and damaging winds.
In Brisbane, skies will partly clear over the city on Saturday, before further showers are expected from Sunday.
Further south in NSW, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for areas near Tamworth, Bourke, Walgett and Dubbo on Thursday evening.
Damaging winds and heavy rain were expected to hit affected areas, with Sydney also expected to receive a few showers during the evening.
The rest of the week is also looking gray in the Harbor City, with showers forecast for the entire weekend and into the middle of next week.
The rest of the week looks gray in Sydney, with showers forecast for the whole weekend and into the middle of next week (photo: people sheltering from the rain)
Melbourne is expected to see clear and sunny skies on Thursday, before partly cloudy conditions move over the city from Friday.
Highs are expected to remain around 20 degrees.
Temperatures have continued to rise in Adelaide through the end of the week.
A high of 28C on Thursday is followed by 31C on Friday, 33C on Saturday and 35C on Sunday.
The high temperatures are accompanied by clear and sunny skies.
Canberra will be hit by a possible thunderstorm on Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures remaining high, with highs around 30 degrees Celsius.
Cloud cover over Hobart is expected to continue until next week.
High temperatures in the city are expected to remain around 20 degrees Celsius, while low temperatures will remain in the low to mid teens.
Workers inspect a damaged transmission tower near Anakie in Victoria on Tuesday
In Darwin, storms fueled by a developing tropical low that has formed over the Northern Territory's Top End will continue on Friday.
Tropical Low 07U is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to the southern Gulf of Carpentaria.
The next tropical cyclone to be declared in Australian waters will be named Lincoln.
“07U is expected to move slowly and continue to develop on Thursday and Friday, with an increasing risk of becoming a tropical cyclone,” the weather bureau said.
“On Friday, 07H will likely move southwest toward the Gulf Coast and then move inland and weaken on Saturday.
'Even if it does not develop into a tropical cyclone, parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria coast may experience strong to gale force winds and heavy rainfall.'
Darwin will see showers and a possible storm on Friday, while wet conditions will continue throughout the weekend and into next week.