Much of Australia can expect mild weather on Christmas Day, with parts of central Australia expecting their coolest Christmas in years after recent rain.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting storms in the north of the country, cool and rainy conditions in the south and east, and a continued run of dry, hot weather in the south-west of Western Australia.
Alice Springs, which recorded a maximum of 45.7C on Christmas Day last year, will reach only 26C this year, just 1.9C above its coldest Christmas on record of 24.1C in 2006.
In Sydney, persistent cloudy and wet conditions due to La Niña will continue, with showers possible in both the morning and afternoon on Friday and temperatures reaching a maximum of 23C.
Melbourne is also forecast to be mild and partly cloudy on Christmas Day, reaching a maximum of 21C.
“It looks like it’s going to be a mild Christmas Day, pretty much right across the country, unless you’re in Perth,” said Sarah Scully, a meteorologist with the bureau.
South-western WA has been experiencing a heatwave, with Perth reaching 40C on Christmas Eve and 35C forecast for Christmas day.
Residents of inland and central Queensland have been asked to monitor weather warnings and flood watches, with Scully saying there was potential for heavy rainfall of up to 150mm in some areas.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to bring heavy rain and flash flooding broadly to the central and tropical interior from late this afternoon, with a focus on the Coalfields & northern Central West later tonight. For the latest warnings visit https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o #QLDWeather pic.twitter.com/omBJi0zmBx
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) December 24, 2020
She said an onshore flow would bring more showers to parts of the east coast on Boxing Day, with the potential for heavy falls in the tropics.
Temperatures in Sydney and Melbourne are expected to be slightly warmer on Boxing Day, however, with 27C forecast for Sydney and 30C with sunshine in Melbourne.
NSW Health has also issued an alert asking residents of the state to monitor for snakes and spiders and seek medical assistance for bites.
Snake season typically peaks in late December and January.
Symptoms from a venomous snake bite can include nausea, vomiting and a headache.
“If someone is bitten by a snake you should keep them still, call an ambulance and apply a pressure immobilisation bandage,” said Genevieve Adamo, a senior specialist at the NSW Poisons Information Centre. “Tight tourniquets should not be applied and the bite site should not be washed, cut or sucked.”
Each local health district manages supplies of antivenom for the local hospitals, according to location and snake and spider populations.
Spiders are a concern during the summer months, particularly funnel webs, which are found in gardens around the Sydney basin, Blue Mountains, the Hunter and central and south coasts.
Bites cause severe pain, sweating, vomiting, difficulty breathing and muscle twitching.
“A person should be kept still, while you apply a pressure immobilisation bandage around the bite and a bandage to the entire limb. An ambulance should also be called immediately and the patient taken to the nearest hospital for treatment,” Adamo said.
