Australia swelters in spring heat wave, temperatures set to break records

FILE PHOTO: Crowds of people enjoy the beach as parts of Australia's east reached their hottest day in more than two years amid temperatures which rose to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A spring heat wave across large parts of Australia's southeast, including Sydney, will intensify on Monday, the weather bureau said, with temperatures expected to peak up to 16 degrees Celsius (60 Fahrenheit) above the September average.

Australia is baking through a rising heat wave which has been building in the country's outback interior over the weekend and is likely last until Wednesday across the states of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.