Temperature high as heatwave hits Bendigo, first of 2018's summer
High forecast temperatures have seen Bendigo RSL’s Friday night Twilight Market cancelled.
The city’s temperatures are forecast to hit a high of 39 degrees on Friday, with a predicted low of just 25 overnight.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Richard Russell attributed the high daytime and night-time temperatures to a hot air mass sitting above Victoria, preventing the weather from cooling down.
On Thursday the mercury did not drop below 30 degrees until 9pm.
Temperatures hovered in the mid to high 20s for most of the night, dropping to a low of 20.2 degrees a little after 6am. By 9.30am Friday it was already above 30 degrees.
Mr Russell said Thursday night’s low was well above the average December minimum of 11.9 degrees.
Possible elevated storms in the afternoon and evening for parts of Western #Vic with the arrival of the trough. Surface based storms possible for the eastern parts of Gippsland this afternoon.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) December 7, 2018
Check the forecast at https://t.co/inHDv0mfVGpic.twitter.com/Ltt7vLTt9j
Sadly it was unlikely there would be a break in the heat on Friday night, he said.
The combination of high daytime and night-time temperatures have triggered the Bureau to declare a heatwave.
“Unfortunately we’ve got a another warm night expected tonight as well,” Mr Russell said.
“It looks like relief will finally reach the Bendigo area sometime late Saturday.”
Friday’s Greyhound meet has also been rescheduled from Friday December 7 because of the forecast.
Instead the meet will take place on Saturday December 8, from 9.30am to 1pm.
Greyhound Racing Victoria said the morning meeting would allow the dogs to race before peak daily temperatures, preventing overheating.
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