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Australia Day forecast: ‘Classic Perth summer’ conditions predicted with top of 31

Peter DevlinThe West Australian
VideoA tropical low north of the Kimberley is expected to develop into a category 3 cyclone before making landfall near Port Hedland on Friday

As Australia Day fast approaches, Aussies are checking the weather forecast hoping the skies are clear for a barbecue or a swim.

And Perth locals will be happy to know they can expect a “very pleasant” Australia Day with a sunny 31C predicted.

“It should be a very pleasant day, it couldn’t get any better,” Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Neil Bennett said.

“There will be a bit of an afternoon breeze. A classic Perth summer day.”

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Friends celebrate Australia Day 2020.
Camera IconFriends celebrate Australia Day 2020. Credit: Nic Ellis/The West Australian

The afternoon breeze will be welcomed by locals, who have sweated through hot and humid conditions over the past week.

“The humidity we have been seeing is from a feed of moisture coming in from the North West, which has also brought some thunderstorm activity,” Bennett said.

The temperatures are expected to climb to 34C on Thursday and 36C on Friday, but then cool dramatically by Saturday to 27C.

“The muggy weather should start to clear in the coming days,” Bennet said.

“It will still be hot on Thursday and Friday, but we will see a cool change on Saturday, and more of a sea breeze coming in.”

The weather in the state’s north will be dramatically different, with a tropical cyclone expected to bring damaging winds and heavy rain to parts of Western Australia's Pilbara region.

A tropical cyclone could bring damaging winds and heavy rain to parts of Western Australia's Pilbara region in the state's north.

Residents and travellers along the coast from Roebourne, near Karratha, to Bidyadanga, south of Broome, are being urged to prepare for a potentially severe impact on Friday or Saturday.

Anyone without appropriate housing should leave immediately or find suitable accommodation, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said on Wednesday.

A tropical low heading towards the coast is expected to intensify and develop into a tropical cyclone in coming days, with a Category 3 impact possible.

It would be the first tropical cyclone to hit the West Australian coast this season.

A tropical cyclone could bring damaging winds and heavy rain to parts of Western Australia's Pilbara region in the state's north.
Camera IconA tropical cyclone could bring damaging winds and heavy rain to parts of Western Australia's Pilbara region in the state's north. Credit: BOM

"A storm surge is not going to be too much of an issue for us in this instance; it's more the destructive winds, particularly if it's a Cat 3," DFES assistant commissioner Paul Ryan told reporters.

"We're expecting the rainfall... will be concentrated around the cell. It won't be widespread flooding to the area.

"We do have some at-risk areas that we have identified and we're planning towards what we need to do to respond accordingly."

A Category 3 cyclone would be expected to deliver up to 200mm of rain and wind gusts up to 200km/h.

Anyone in the affected area is encouraged to assess their properties for loose items, tie down boats or caravans and prepare a survival kit including a radio, torch, mobile phone charger, food, water and any necessary medication.

Holiday-makers camping or travelling in caravans are being urged to leave the Pilbara immediately.

"A cyclone is not a place you would want to be in a caravan or camping," Mr Ryan said.

"It's probably going to take you a couple of days but we need to start planning and moving now."

Additional emergency crews could be deployed from Perth to the state's north on Friday depending on the severity of the impact.

Another tropical cyclone could hit the remote Cocos Keeling Islands, 900km from Christmas Island, in coming days.

AUSTRALIA DAY FORECAST

Perth: Mostly sunny, 19C – 31C. Winds shifting south to south-westerly during the morning.

Sydney: Partly cloudy, 22C – 29C. Medium (40 per cent) chance of showers, most likely later in the day.

Melbourne: Cloudy, 15C – 20C. Medium (50 per cent) chance of showers.

Brisbane: Cloudy, 21C – 29C. Medium (40 per cent) chance of showers.

Canberra: Partly cloudy, 20C – 33C. Medium (50 per cent) chance of showers.

Adelaide: Partly cloudy, 17C – 26C. Slight (30 per cent) chance of a shower.

Hobart: Cloudy, 11C – 17C. Slight (30 per cent) chance of a shower.

Darwin: Cloudy, 25C – 32C. High (80 per cent) chance of showers and possible thunderstorm.

WITH AAP

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