Hot weather: Canberra breaks record for longest run of 30 degree-plus March days
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Canberra has sweated through the longest stretch of 30 degree-plus March days since 1983, and the late heatwave is expected to continue.
Thursday was the 10th day in a row to see the temperature break into the 30s, and Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Agata Imielska said stable, dry conditions were to blame.
"[We are] also still in El Nino, which generally results in warmer daytime temperatures and increased numbers of heatwaves," she said.
"Another thing that's been unusual is the lack of cool outbreaks; it's been persistent but also quite unusual that we haven't seen any cool weather coming through.
"Climate change also plays a factor here ... again, more likely to see warmer days, less likely to see those cool outbreaks."
Ms Imielska said the run of hot days had been felt across much of the country.
"This has been quite unusual in terms of the persistence of the heat conditions that we've experienced, and it's not just Canberra," she said.
"These conditions have been broadly experienced across south-east Australia.
"Australia-wide we have set a record for the warmest March day, which was March 2."
Despite the heat stretching into the start of Autumn, acting head of the Rural Fire Service Joe Murphy said fire dangers were not particularly affected.
"This is business-as-usual activity for us — the fire danger ratings aren't particularly high right now," he said.
"We're expecting maybe a bit of rain over the weekend, we'd really like some rain ... but we're not seeing any elevated fire danger.
"We'd really like people to stay vigilant, but don't overreact."
Ms Imielska said a predicted wet April meant relief was on the way.
"We are expecting wetter conditions coming through in April, and this is something that we've seen previously with the breakdown of El Nino events."
However, in the immediate future, the stretch of warm weather is set to continue with the bureau forecasting a maximum of 32 degrees for both Friday and Saturday, and 30 degrees on Sunday.
Topics: weather, canberra-2600, act, australia
