The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings of a severe to extreme heatwave affecting the states of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, alongside alerts of extreme bushfire danger in Victoria and South Australia.
South Australia experienced extreme heat on Wednesday, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in several cities.
The soaring temperatures prompted health warnings, placed heavy strain on electricity networks, and triggered multiple bushfires across the region.
Meteorologists described the current conditions as the worst in six years, recalling the devastating “Black Summer” bushfires that ravaged large parts of southeastern Australia, killing 33 people.
According to Sarah Scully, Senior Meteorologist, the heightened fire risk is due to an intensely hot air mass moving in from Western Australia, where maximum temperatures have exceeded 45°C.
In Victoria, temperatures climbed to 44°C, while Melbourne recorded 41°C. Authorities advised residents to remain indoors, stay hydrated, and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities.
Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, said firefighters are battling several blazes across the state, warning that weather conditions are expected to worsen by Friday.
“We have already issued a statewide warning for a severe to extreme heatwave, and we are now seeing the impacts of these conditions across Victoria,” he said, urging residents to remain vigilant and stay in cool environments.
Elsewhere, temperatures reached 31°C in Sydney, 32°C in Perth, and 43°C in Adelaide.
To help residents cope with the heat, some public facilities such as libraries extended their opening hours, while others, including the Monarto Safari Park, were forced to close for a day.
Power outages affected more than 2,000 homes in Adelaide as demand on the electricity grid surged.
Follow the latest news on Google News
