Just five days after the all-time highest recorded temperatures in NSW for September were broken, another heatwave will hit northern NSW on Wednesday, set to create new records.
Last Saturday, Wilcannia took the crown as the hottest ever September location in NSW when the mercury hit 40.5 degrees taking the record away from Wanaaring, which recorded 39.6 degrees in September 2004.
But Wanaaring is expected to take back its highest temp record mantle with temperatures set to hit a desert-like 42 degrees in the small outback town, which has about 80 people living in the area.
Bourke is also set to smash its previous record having hit 40 degrees on Saturday, with predictions it will hit 41 degrees on Wednesday.
The heatwave in northern NSW and southern Queensland will be quickly followed by a low pressure system moving across the state, but it is only predicted to bring small amounts of rain of up to 5mm, not even enough to settle the dust.
The rain should last into Friday, and will fall in many parts west of the ranges in NSW, but rain gauges will hardly be rattling.
The high temperatures and weak winter rainfall have already decimated many crops in marginal areas.
Many cities and towns in NSW broke all-time September records on Saturday, with Griffith recording 38.2 degrees (prev record 35) and Orange 26.8 (prev record 24.3). Bourke recorded 40 degrees, compared to previous record of 38.9, according to Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain.
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
