Australia's Christmas Day Weather Forecast: Rain, Extreme Heat, and Fire Danger
Eastern states of Australia could see rain on Christmas Day, while Western Australia faces extreme heat. Sydney is expected to reach 23°C, Melbourne 17°C, and Brisbane 34°C. Canberra is forecasted to be fine and mild at 27°C, with Adelaide at 25°C. Darwin may experience a tropical downpour of up to 50mm. Perth is predicted to reach 41°C before temperatures ease to 27°C on Boxing Day.
Western Australia is under heatwave conditions with extreme fire danger in the south-west, coinciding with a longer-term drying trend. Despite some heavy rainfall in northern Australia, which could cause flooding, parts of WA remain at risk. A Category-2 cyclone in the Indian Ocean could affect the Cocos Islands on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Rain is expected to reduce bushfire risk for most capital cities; however, the heat and fire danger persist in parts of Western Australia. Recent events have resulted in about 16 homes lost in NSW, similar losses at Dolphin Sands in Tasmania, and some homes lost in WA, with firefighters having died while combating the blazes.
