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Scorching autumn weekend in four capital cities

Source Weatherzone Wed 12 Mar 2025

Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra will all reach the mid-thirties this weekend, with temperatures nudging 40°C in the suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. The hot weather will reach Adelaide first, where tops of 37°C and 38°C are expected on Friday and Saturday, while Elizabeth in the city's outer north should reach 40°C. After a brief burst of midweek heat in Melbourne this Wednesday, temps will again soar on Saturday, with a top of 37°C predicted in the city, while several suburbs including Tullamarine can expect 39°C. While the heat will dissipate in Adelaide and Melbourne by Sunday, both weekend days will be hot in Canberra, with maximums of 35°C and 34°C on Saturday and Sunday respectively. After a soggy start to this week, Sydney will dry out and warm up over the next few days, with heat peaking on Sunday with a max of 35°C in the city and temps reaching 38°C in the outer west. The heat across the southeast will be caused by warm, dry northwesterly winds ahead of a much cooler southwesterly change expected early next week. So the autumn heat shouldn't be too uncomfortable in terms of humidity, although major weekend sport could still be affected. Stay tuned... ???? There's more to come from the Piastri and McLaren partnership! ???? ???? #F1 pic.twitter.com/kTuXAcEl71 — Formula 1 (@F1) March 11, 2025 The Australian Grand Prix The main race of the big Formula One event in Melbourne starts at 3pm on Sunday, which is more or less when the southwesterly change is expected with rain and cooler temperatures. It’s Melbourne, so dressing for four seasons is all part of a day out, but this Sunday will remind everybody why.  As for the key Saturday qualifying at 4pm, that takes place when temperatures will be close to the hottest of the weekend. Our first GMHBA Stadium game of the 2025 AFL season is just around the corner ???? #WeAreGeelong pic.twitter.com/GngxXeow8s — Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) March 9, 2025 AFL The main match affected by this weekend’s hot weather will be the Geelong vs Fremantle clash in Geelong starting at 1:20pm on Saturday. Geelong could reach as high as 36°C on Saturday, although sea breezes may knock a degree or two off that. That’s what fans and players will be hoping for, as the AFL’s heat policy allows it to delay or even postpone a match when temperatures are 36°C or higher. Weekend heat expected across south east Australia, before an abrupt cool change. pic.twitter.com/ixS2FgiD50 — Andrew Miskelly (@andrewmiskelly) March 11, 2025 NRL The main NRL match to watch from a heat perspective will be the Parramatta Eels vs the Wests Tigers encounter in Parramatta on Sunday. Parramatta's maximum of 37°C is expected to occur around kickoff at 4:05pm. Like the AFL’s Geelong game on Saturday, this match will likely feature additional drinks breaks.  - Weatherzone © Weatherzone 2025