Australia has been warned to brace for record-breaking heatwave

Central Australia has been warned to prepare for potentially record-breaking temperatures.

With much of Australia set to experience sweltering heat in the lead-up to Christmas on December 25, the Bureau of Meteorology on Wednesday warned that temperature records could tumble in the nation’s arid center, which is otherwise known as the Outback.

“We could see temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius (C) and possibly a new record in Alice Springs,” senior forecaster Angeline Prasad told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“Alice Springs’s record temperature is currently 45.6C.

“Temperatures in Alice Springs over the next week are forecast for 44C, 44C, 41C, 42C, 43C, 43C and 45C,” she said.

A similar warning has been issued for South Australia where soaring temperatures have increased pressure on the hospital system.

According to research published by Adelaide University on Wednesday, high-intensity heatwaves result in a 15 percent increase in ambulance callouts in the state.