Australians in the country’s south-east have woken up overnight to a sharp drop in temperatures to 20 degrees Celsius, ending the heatwave.
Several states saw maximum temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in the past week, contributing to life-threatening heat devastating forest fires.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is now warning Australians of a new threat as warnings of severe storms and flood risks follow the tail end of the heatwave.
Why a cool change often follows heat waves
Residents in the east who endured temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius on Saturday found relief on Sunday morning as a cool change brought the mercury to around 20 degrees Celsius.
In NSW, Sydney’s Observatory Hill went from a high of 41.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday afternoon to 21.6 degrees Celsius in the space of twelve hours overnight. Residents of the town of Borrona Downs were hit by a high of 44.1 degrees Celsius on Saturday, dropping to 24.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning.
According to the BoM, it is common for a period of prolonged high temperatures to be followed by a cool change that causes temperature drops.
“This cool change passed through South Australia and Victoria on Friday and passed through New South Wales on Saturday,” a BoM spokesperson told SBS News.
“The cool change causes the wind to swing around and come from the south. Winds from this direction bring in much cooler air from the Southern Ocean and sweep away the heat.”
Colder, windier conditions are now expected to move through Sydney on Sunday and work their way along the NSW north coast.
“As the cool change continues northwards along the NSW coast today, fresh and gusty winds are expected over parts of the northern NSW coast,” the spokesperson added.
Thunderstorms are forecast to develop across northern NSW from Sunday afternoon in the wake of the heatwave and could become “severe” around the western slopes, mountain ranges and northern interior.
“These could bring the risk of damaging winds, heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding, or large hailstones,” the spokesperson said.
Communities should watch for severe thunderstorm warnings during this period, the BoM said.
Sydneysiders see smog from southern fires
More than a dozen fires are still burning across the state, while authorities say at least 300 buildings have been destroyed, including homes and agricultural properties.
Authorities have described losses from major fires in Walwa, Otway and Longwood as significant.
As fires continue to burn in Victoria, smog from fires in NSW has blanketed Sydney and the surrounding area.
The BoM confirmed that smoke had come from a fire in the south of the state, near Yowrie.
Tropical cyclone makes landfall
In Queensland, Tropical Cyclone Koji is expected to make landfall near Townsville on Sunday, where it will “weaken over land”.
The BoM expects “the system may bottom out through north-west Queensland on Tuesday and Wednesday”.
A monsoon trough will extend across northern Queensland and will last for several days, bringing scattered to widespread showers.
Prime Minister David Crisafulli was adamant on Saturday that the already hard-hit region was “better prepared than ever” to take on the challenge.
Koji is expected to bring heavy rains to the already soaked catchments.
Despite the concerns, Crisafulli said swift water rescue vessels, police, SES officers and paramedics were in position and would work with residents on the ground.
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