The hot conditions which saw the temperature in Orange reach 36.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday are set to continue in the coming months, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
BoM meteorologist Ash Lange said Friday could reach 38 degrees, close to the 50-year record for January: 38.1 degrees set in 2013.
She said Saturday is predicted reach 33 degrees, Sunday could reach 29 degrees and Monday is predicted to be 30 degrees.
Days and nights are very likely to be warmer than average across the country continuing what we’ve already experienced so far this summer.
- Dr Linden Ashcroft
According to Weatherzone, Orange reached 37.3 degrees on Wednesday at Orange Regional Airport.
The average minimum temperature this month is 18.2 degrees, which is 4.8 degrees above the 50-year mean, while the typical maximum temperature so far in January has been 31.7 degrees – a full 5.1 degrees above average.
According to the BoM the Central West can expect more hot and dry weather to come in the next few months.
The climate outlook for February to April released by the BoM on Thursday shows there is an 80 per cent chance of the Central West exceeding median maximum temperatures.
VIDEO: Dogs enjoyed taking a dip in the hot weather.
The same forecasting data also showed there was only a 35 per cent chance of exceeding the median long-term rainfall during the three month period.
BoM climatologist Dr Linden Ashcroft said with an El Nino yet to become established, local factors were driving this current outlook.
“The Pacific Ocean remains at near El Nino levels, but the atmospheric part of what we consider an El Nino event is not present, so an El Nino is yet to become established,” she said.“The outlook is showing little of the influence from any of the typical Australia climate drivers meaning that local factors are largely affecting the outlook this time.”
Dr Ashcroft confirmed the likelihood of ongoing warm and dry conditions.
“Days and nights are very likely to be warmer than average across the country continuing what we’ve already experienced so far this summer,” she said.
“The rainfall outlook shows an increased chance of drier-than-average conditions.”
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...