By ABC meteorologist Tom Saunders
Photo: ABC News / Marcus Stimson
The heatwave which has engulfed southern Australia this week has become one of the most intense on record.
And while a cool change has now brought relief to South Australia and Victoria, eastern New South Wales faces both a peak in temperature and fire danger on Saturday, with many Sydney suburbs likely to swelter through the hottest day in years.
In the meantime, widespread warnings for rain, flooding and wind have been issued for northern Queensland as a developing tropical low approaches from the Coral Sea.
NSW heatwave and fire risk to peak on Saturday
A cool change has now flushed out the heat from Victoria and SA, however for much of NSW, the heatwave will peak on Saturday as a north-westerly airstream from the outback
Continue Reading on RNZ
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.