Territorians will be warned days in advance of expected extreme heat conditions and heatwaves hitting the Territory thanks to a new warning system developed by the Bureau of Meteorology and NT Health.

The warnings will be made over the bureau’s website and weather app, and through NT Health, if there are uninterrupted days of unusually hot temperatures anticipated within the next four days.

It is expected there could be around 50 heatwave warnings issued in the NT next year, BoM Hazard Preparedness and Response manager Shenagh Gamble said.

The extreme heat warning system has been specifically designed for the Territory, where life-threatening heat conditions can happen between October and March.

The system is also part of a new Australian Warning System expected to provide a more reliable approach to emergency warnings for bushfires, floods, storms and cyclones, the government said.

Heatwaves occur when there were at least three straight days of unusually hot day-time and night-time temperatures, Ms Gamble said.

“You can now use the BOM Weather app to receive notifications of heatwaves and other warnings directly to your phone,” she said. “To receive notifications through the app, visit the notifications setting menu to get the warning information you need when it matters most.”

NT Health said heat stress symptoms include: tiredness and lethargy, headaches, dizziness or fainting, confusion, muscle cramps, thirstiness, and infrequent urination.

Experts also advised the public to lessen strenuous physical activities, try to stay in air-conditioned places or seek out shady areas, drink plenty of cold water and apply cold substances to the body, and look after those who are most at risk, such as children and older people.

Ms Gamble said the Territory has three levels of a heatwave.

“The first is a low-intensity heatwave which is common during summer months and doesn’t usually after people badly,” she said.

“Severe and extreme heatwaves though are the heatwaves with which we will be warning, which affect people with underlying health conditions. Extreme heatwaves have the potential to impact anybody and particularly those people who work or exercise outside during the day.”

“Extreme heat can be very dangerous for humans,” said NT chief health officer Dr Charles Pain. “Heatwaves kill more people in Australia than any other extreme forms of weather.”

“The groups most at risk in extreme heat conditions include children, people aged over 65 years, people living alone, people who are socially isolated and people who are taking medications that affect the body’s ability to cope with the heat,” Dr Pain said.