It is going to start warming up in Yeppoon, 27 deg forecast later next week, 31 deg in Rocky and 33 deg in Emerald.

29 deg in Perth today....eek.

If EC has its way Sydney could easily exceed 35deg before the end of this month. 850 temps of 20 with strong NW winds, could even nudge 37deg.

Sydney recorded 37.4 on 4th October 1942 and Sydney Airport recorded 38.2 on the same day, so it could happen.

I have seen temps of 38 in Barnsley west of Newcastle in late September 1980, so I agree it can get hot, all it takes is a westerly and some inland heat build up.

The Alice going for 37 today, 23.2 and 16% RH at 6am. Saturday already looks a little hotter and could already nudge a September record.

Before the possible 35C, in the meantime it's looking likely that 30C will be reached in most of Sydney on Sunday. Beyond that it's too early to call, but yes it looks like some more heat is on the way. On the EC I looked at just now, the 20C 850 temps reach western NSW above 31S (next Thursday the 27th) but not quite to Sydney.

Alice Springs still near 5deg up on yesterday so far this morning. Saturday has to give the all time September record a a pretty close nudge. Dry record also will be broken now.

Really not seeing any heat for this location anytime soon, yes 850T’s are warm next week, however it also looks like we will be clouded out at the same time, which is typical really.

There's no 850temps of 20.. it barely nudges 12C before crashing down to 0-2C.. and if it gets to 37C with single figure 850 temps it'll be the first time that's ever happened here.. so let's see how right you are.

CMK, PD made that post on Tuesday evening when EC was showing this

What are 850 temps ?

The 850 represents the air pressure of 850 hpa (as in high pressure/low pressure etc. This pressure in our region won't occur at sea level.

We are used to seeing air pressure readings BUT the normal readings we see are the pressure at SEA LEVEL eg 990 hpa for a very strong low or say 1030 for a high pressure system.

Above the sea level as we rise through the atmosphere the pressure reduces as we move upwards. At some point in altitude we will cross a point in space where it may be 1030 at sea level but up at a certain altitude that may be down to 850hpa.

That height where you find the 850 will vary from closer to sea level or higher at different places.

The 850 temp is simply the actual air temp at whatever the height where you have the pressure of 850hpa.

Working out the surface temperature is then a matter of using temperature lapse rates and coming from the altitude of the 850 pressure line to your elevation.

Hope this helps a bit.

Well PD hit the nail on the end as far as Alice Springs' temps go, they copped a real skawrcha' (as my American friend would say) today at 38C, 35's also in far western NSW. Luckily this sort of heat isn't making it's way down here just yet, but it probably will in October.

Mild days have prevailed since the 6th of September, but this will change tomorrow and Sunday, the latter will probably top 30.

It's a long shot ATM, but what can Perth expect in terms of maximum temperatures in mid to late October this year, considering the El Nino conditions? I ask this because I'm going to be in Perth during that time.

On a related note, here's a link to the article from the SMH website: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/hot-dry-summer-predicted-20120920-268ns.html

Got relatively close to cracking the first 20C here today, although still comfortably short with 19.0C. It looks like maybe next Wednesday or Thursday will be the day. Late September/early October is fairly normal for the first 20C here.

You have beaten me, 18.5 is my highest so far, normally the first 20 here is also either end September or early October.

I lived there for 7 years and have recently moved.

Mid October in most of those years I was there was when you would see the first 30 deg temp. This seems to already have happened.

Generally days are around 23 deg and mins are around 11 (Quite pleasant) . You wouldn't usually see say a week of 30 deg temps, however you could see one or two mid 30 deg temps but it would be back to low 20's again quite soon. (eg 32 or 33 deg one day, 22 deg the next !) October is the last wet month 51mm and generally is the driest before November 22mm.

Should add that I recall being told when I was in Perth, that El Nino and La Nina doesn't really impact this part of Australia it's the Indian Ocean Dipole and other factors.

The El Nino-ish drier conditions in Central and Northern Aust. will contribute to how early Perth sees 30 Deg's . Adding to this is the Positive IOD that would also contrinute to Drier conditions in WA's NW .....

So ENSO will effect Perth Temps ... But not Precipitation , and could even contribute to their Storm season as dry Hot winds pre - front-trough meet super Moist WNW winds from mid Indian Ocean + SST Anomalies .

Alice Springs has exactly tied the all time record for September today of 38.8.

Looks like this near record breaking heat in the centre will ease a little from late next week according to GFS, long weekend looking quite cool at this stage. Of course how much it cools down could change but the general pattern should not. Obs Hill unlikely to reach 30 deg tomorrow as NE'ly winds have been introduced, but Penrith, Richmond and possibly Parramatta should reach it. Here should be high 20's, unfortunately the local weather station is malfunctioning atm. Friday is looking like another warm one.