Sydney weather: how hot it will get if there is a risk of power outages

Australia’s energy regulator is warning of the possibility of power cuts as sweltering east coast residents turn on their air conditioners to beat the heat.

The energy regulator is scrambling to shore up electricity supplies after issuing a power outage warning as the east coast is hit by a late spring heatwave.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has issued its most serious ‘lack of reserve’ notice, predicting an electricity shortage in NSW between 3.30pm and 5pm on Wednesday.

That coincides with the peak of the state’s heatwave and forecast highs of almost 40 degrees Celsius in much of Sydney’s western suburbs, prompting people to turn on their air conditioners as they return home in the afternoon.

The statement urged the industry to generate as much power as possible and restore all available power lines to the grid to meet rising demand.

“AEMO is working with industry to manage electricity supply reliability during high demand heatwave conditions in NSW, with major power stations unavailable due to forced and planned outages,” an operator spokesperson said.

‘In addition, AEMO wants to acquire additional reserves… to best deal with the low electricity supply forecasts this afternoon and early evening.’

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe heatwave warnings for large parts of coastal NSW, including the Sydney metropolitan area, the Hunter region and the south coast.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has issued its most serious ‘lack of reserve’ notice, predicting electricity shortages as residents of NSW’s east coast turn to their air conditioners to beat the heatwave

The energy warning coincides with the peak of the state’s heatwave, with temperatures reaching almost 40 degrees Celsius in much of Sydney’s western suburbs.

Warnings also remain in place for parts of the ACT and Queensland, including an extreme heatwave for Australia’s far north.

Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen stressed there is enough electricity in reserve to get through Wednesday, adding that the system was functioning as intended.

He noted that five coal-fired power stations were out of service, with only three expected.

“Loss of reserves notifications are not a blackout… they are an indication that AEMO is getting more electricity into the system, which is working,” he said.

‘It is clear that AEMO is always looking for unexpected events to prepare for. They have taken all necessary protective measures at this time.”

Sydney’s city center is forecast to reach 34 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, but the western suburbs are set to suffer even worse, with 39 degrees Celsius in Richmond and Penrith and a high of 38 degrees in Parramatta.

Forecasts in western Sydney are more than 10 degrees Celsius above average highs in November, the weather bureau’s senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.

“While these temperatures are abnormally high, they are not expected to break any records, but it is more the duration of the warm conditions, including those warm nights, that is more important,” she said.

“It’s also worth noting that ‘feels like’ temperatures will be oppressive due to high humidity.”

Rain is forecast to fall across eastern NSW on Thursday, although warm, humid conditions will persist.