Having some fun in the sun at the First Basin are the Eilander cousins - Beau, of Perth, WA, and Devin, of Launceston, taking the plunge, watched by Shannon, Zane, 5, Amber and Denni. Picture: PHILLIP BIGGS
LAUNCESTON will be one of the warmest areas in the state this weekend, offering perfect conditions for beach-goers - and bushfires.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, temperatures are expected to climb into the 30s in coming days, with Campania expected to hit a state high of 39 degrees tomorrow.
Senior forecaster Malcolm Downing said Launceston should reach 28 degrees today, with partly cloudy skies and a north-westerly breeze also expected.
"On Friday, Launceston city will reach 33 degrees; it will be mostly sunny and once again, there will be quite a fresh north-westerly wind. On Saturday the winds will be lighter and the temperature will hit 32; on Sunday it should be in the high 20s," Mr Downing said.
He said St Helens would reach 29 degrees today and 31 tomorrow, before it cooled on the weekend, while Swansea would hit 32 degrees today and 35 tomorrow.
He said the North-West Coast would be milder, with Devonport expected to reach 22 degrees today, 26 tomorrow, 25 on Saturday and 23 on Sunday.
The Tasmania Fire Service yesterday warned that the expected heat, dry winds and low humidities meant fire danger ratings would rise to very high and severe across much of the state.