WEB DESK: Southern Australia endured an intense heatwave on Wednesday, with temperatures surging past 40 degrees Celsius in several cities. The extreme heat prompted health warnings, stressed power grids, and ignited bushfires across multiple regions.
Meteorologists described the conditions as the most severe since the catastrophic bushfires six years ago during the “Black Summer,” which devastated large parts of southeastern Australia and claimed 33 lives.
Severe to extreme heat alerts were issued by the national weather bureau for the states of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. Authorities also flagged an elevated risk of wildfires in Victoria and South Australia due to the scorching temperatures.
Senior Meteorologist Sarah Scully explained that the high fire risk was linked to a massive hot air mass originating in Western Australia, with temperatures soaring beyond 45 degrees.
In Victoria, temperatures reached up to 44 degrees Celsius in some areas, including the state capital Melbourne. Residents were urged to stay indoors and remain hydrated. Tim Wiebusch, Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner, noted that several fires were already burning across the state and that conditions were expected to deteriorate further by Friday.
“We’ve issued a statewide alert for severe to extreme heatwave conditions, which are now taking effect,” Wiebusch said. “Victorians need to stay informed, look out for their immediate surroundings, and remain in cool environments.”
Elsewhere, Adelaide sweltered under 43 degrees Celsius, while temperatures hit 32 degrees in Perth and 31 degrees in Sydney. Public facilities such as libraries extended operating hours to provide cool shelters for residents. Conversely, venues like Monarto Safari Park had no choice but to temporarily shut down due to the heat. In Adelaide, power outages affected more than 2,000 homes.
Adelaide resident Valdine Tuckwell shared her coping strategy with national broadcaster ABC: “You just have to keep calm and not let the heat get to you psychologically. It’s only for a couple of days, and then it subsides again.”
