Hobart could see two 30°C days this week as a severe heatwave continues to affect parts of southern and eastern Tasmania, although a cold change is on the way.

An early-season heatwave is affecting parts of Tasmania this week as a near-stationary high pressure system centred over the Tasman Sea directs warm northerly winds across the state.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, a severe heatwave will affect parts of southern and eastern Tasmania between Wednesday and Friday.

This week's heatwave is being caused by maximum temperatures reaching the high twenties to low thirties over several consecutive days, combined with overnight minimum temperatures also remaining above average during this period.

The Bureau warns that “severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.”

Heat record possible for Hobart

Hobart has been unusually hot since the start of this week and will continue to feel this summer-like warmth until Friday.

After reaching around 29°C on Monday, the city’s maximum temperature hit 30.4°C on Tuesday, which was Hobart’s hottest October day in nine years.

Based on current forecasts, maximum temperatures in Hobart will briefly dip to the mid twenties on Wednesday – still well above the October average of 17°C – before climbing back to around 30°C on Thursday and 29°C on Friday.

Image: Daily forecast for Hobart in the Weatherzone app. Forecast valid at 11am AEDT on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.

If Hobart reaches 30°C twice this week, it will be only the third time in 145 years of records that the city has registered two 30°C days in October. If it manages to get three days at or above 30°C this week, it will be a new October record.

Hobart is also on track for a new October record of more than six consecutive days reaching at least 20°C. This Wednesday, October 21, will be the sixth consecutive day over 20°C, which will match the existing record from 1933, 1922, 1894 and 1891 (part of the 1891 record started in late September). This week’s heat should extend the record to eight days by Friday.

Cold change on the way

Computer models suggest that this week’s heatwave will end abruptly later this week when rain and a cold front sweep over the state this weekend.

Image: Forecast 850 hPa temperature and mean sea level pressure over Australia on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, showing cold air spreading over Tasmania. Source: Weatherzone.

Hobart’s maximum temperatures are currently forecast to drop to the high teens on Saturday and around 16°C by Sunday. This colder weather is expected to linger into early next week as a cool air mass lingers over the state.

Some computer models even indicate that snow could settle on higher parts of central and western Tasmania on Monday or Tuesday next week.