Australia is experiencing one of its hottest end-of-year periods ever, as fire bans are effected and health warnings are issued across the country, while big crowds find different ways to cool off—be it on the beach, the local pool or at an ice rink.
Forecasters said the heat is headed to southeast Australia where the big cities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide would endure monthly average temperatures some 10 to 14 degrees Celsius higher than usual.
That means temperatures are expected to pass 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Farenheit) in many parts of the country.
He added that “there’s no sign of a cool change before New Year’s Eve.”
“New Year’s Day will be day nine of that heatwave,” he said. “We won’t see a cool change until the middle of next week—it could be after that or another full week.”
“Low-intensity conditions spread out around this and include far northern parts of VIC, southwestern parts of QLD, central NT and southern interior WA.”
“It’s a very stable situation with not a lot changing, meaning everywhere is pretty much going to be hot and we don’t see a strong change coming yet.”
‘The Fire Risk is Very Real’
Health authorities have issued warnings for pregnant women, babies, and people aged over 65.NSW Health executive director Jeremy McAnulty warned people to be prepared.
Authorities have also issued warnings to people with lung conditions since the heat can erode air quality.
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said people need to stay vigilant.
“While we haven’t got total fire bans in place, this hot air mass is having a baking effect on the landscape that is rapidly drying out and curing the vegetation, which makes the vegetation susceptible to rapid fire spread,” he said, according to news.com.au.
“We don’t need to wait for severe, extreme or catastrophic fire conditions to have a fire risk. The fire risk is very real and that’s why it is very high in such large geographic areas.”
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