Raymond Terrace is expected to be the area in Port Stephens hardest hit by the extreme heat due to sweep through the state on Friday.
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The NSW Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) predicts the temperature will rise to 41 degrees in the Terrace on January 18 before it dips to the mid-30s and 20s through the weekend, also bringing showers.
Nelson Bay is expected to be slightly cooler on Friday, remaining around 30 degrees through to the weekend.
Temperatures for Nelson Bay are predicted to top 32 degrees on Friday and 31 degrees on Saturday before dropping down to 25 degrees on Sunday. The Bay can also expect showers on Saturday and Sunday.
In response to the extreme heat forecast for Friday, Port Stephens Council has extended the opening hours of Raymond Terrace Library and pool.
“Council's library and pool at Raymond Terrace will open for longer on Friday, January 18 to give locals that live away from the cooler coastal areas some reprieve from the heatwave effecting the state,” a council spokesperson said.
Raymond Terrace Library will stay open for an hour longer, closing at 7pm on Friday.
Lakeside Leisure Centre will stay open until 8pm, a further two hours than usual, providing a chance for people to enjoy a twilight swim when the sun has eased up a little. Entry fees still apply at the centre.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has declared a total fire ban across the Hunter on Friday, and warned that the fire danger would be “very high”.
A southerly change is predicted for Saturday, bringing temperatures down somewhat in the afternoon.
That being the case, normal opening hours for the library and pool will be retained for Saturday.
Extreme heatwave conditions are forecast for central and southeastern parts of NSW.
The majority of the state was forecast to exceed 41 degrees Celsius between Wednesday and Friday, something the BOM said has not been seen in 80 years.
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Heatwaves or long periods of extreme heat can have serious impacts on people’s health and planning ahead is vital, NSW Health says.
During extremely hot weather, it is easy to become dehydrated (lose too much water from your body) or for your body to overheat.
If this happens people can develop heat cramps, heat exhaustion or even heatstroke.
“Heat-related illness includes dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and worsening of existing medical conditions,” NSW Health said.
“Everyone needs to take care in hot weather but some people are at higher risk of heat illness, especially if they live alone or are socially isolated.”
The following people are most at risk:
- Those over the age of 75
- Infants and young children
- Overweight or obese
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Not very mobile
- Not drinking enough water
- Living by themselves or homeless
- Socially isolated
- Working in a hot environment (for example labourers, gardeners, fire fighters)
- Exercising vigorously in the heat
- People who have a chronic illness such as: heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer or kidney disease, mental illness, dementia, alcohol or other drug use
- People who have an acute illness such as: an infection with fever, gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and/or vomiting)
How to stay healthy in the heat
Drink plenty of water
- Drink plenty of water even if you do not feel thirsty – check the colour of your wee – if it’s pale you’re drinking enough (check out the urine colour chart).
- If your doctor normally limits your fluids, check how much to drink during hot weather.
- Avoid alcoholic, hot or sugary drinks including tea and coffee (they can make dehydration worse).
- If you go outside, carry a bottle of water with you.
- Stock your fridge with cold water and freezer with ice.
Keep cool
- Drink cold drinks and eat smaller cold meals such as salads and fruit.
- Wear light coloured, loose fitting clothes made from natural fibres like cotton.
- Stay out of the sun.
- If you must go outside, apply sunscreen, wear a hat.
- Plan your day around the heat – avoid being outdoors between 11am and 5pm.
- Put wet towels or cool packs on your arms or neck or put your feet in cool water.
- Take cool showers or baths.
- Minimise physical activity, do all household chores early in the morning when it is cools
Keep your house cool
- Cool your house by closing windows, shutting curtains and blinds, opening windows at night if you can to let in cool air.
- Use air-conditioning if you have it (make sure it’s set to cool).
- If you don’t have air-conditioning, spend time in a cool place like a library, shopping centre or cinema.
- Know which room in your house is the coolest (this will often be on the ground floor on the south side).
- If there is no power or you can’t get to an air-conditioned space, spend time in the coolest part of your house.
- Use your stove and oven as little as possible.
Take care of others
- Visit or telephone elderly friends, neighbours and relatives, at least once a day.
- Check that they have water in the fridge.
- Encourage them to drink.
- Help them to find the coolest room in the house.
- Consider taking them to a cool place (e.g. shopping centre, library or cinema).
- Take particular care to keep children cool and get them to drink lots as they won’t often do this by themselves.
- Never leave babies, children or animals alone in a car even if the air-conditioner is on.
Have a plan
- Know who to call if you need help.
- Follow your doctor’s advice if you have any medical conditions.
- If you feel unwell, seek medical advice from your doctor or nearest hospital.
- Know where to find your emergency kit in case of a power failure.
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast.
- Know what to do in case of a bushfire. Information on bushfire preparedness is available from the NSW Rural Fire Service.
After the heat has passed
- Continue to drink plenty of fluids so your body can get back in balance.
- Take time to rest and recover as coping with extremely hot weather can be very tiring.
- Go to your doctor if you feel unwell after the heat has passed.
- Open windows and doors to let your house cool down but make sure you don’t compromise the security of your home.
- Contact family and friends to see if they have coped during the heat and if they now need help with anything.
- Think about how well you coped during this time of extreme heat and what, if anything, you would do differently next time.
- Make any changes in your home so it will be more comfortable for you during another time of extreme heat (see How to prepare for a heat wave).
