Australia’s south sweltered through a brutal heatwave that pushed temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in multiple cities on Thursday, triggering health warnings, straining power grids and igniting bushfires across already parched landscapes.
Meteorologists said the conditions were the worst in six years, invoking comparisons to the 2019–2020 “Black Summer,” when catastrophic bushfires ravaged southeastern Australia and killed 33 people. Authorities warned the current burst of extreme heat could intensify fire risk in Victoria and South Australia, where crews were already battling blazes.
- Advertisement -
The national weather bureau issued severe or extreme heat warnings for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, alongside alerts for extreme fire danger in parts of Victoria and South Australia. The heat settled over the region as a vast mass of hot, dry air pushed in from the west.
“These elevated fire dangers are being driven by a very hot air mass that extends all the way from Western Australia with maximum temperatures in excess of 45 degrees,” Senior Meteorologist Sarah Scully said.
In Victoria, Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said firefighters were working multiple incidents and bracing for worsening conditions on Friday as temperatures and winds combine to elevate risks. He urged residents to act early and stay aware of fast-changing forecasts and warnings.
“We already have a statewide advice warning message out for severe to extreme intensity heatwave, and are now seeing those conditions kick in across the state,” he said. “We are particularly wanting Victorians to make sure they are alert to their conditions, make sure you are staying in cool places.”
Temperatures spiked across the country’s south and west. Sydney reached 31 C, Perth 32 C and Adelaide 43 C, with forecasters warning many inland areas would sit well above seasonal averages through the end of the week.
The heat tested infrastructure and daily routines. In Adelaide, more than 2,000 homes lost power as demand climbed and networks strained. Public facilities such as libraries extended opening hours to help residents find relief, while others shut to protect staff, visitors and animals. The Monarto Safari Park closed for the day.
Residents sought shade, air-conditioning and pragmatic strategies. “I think psychologically you have to keep calm in the heat and not panic. It’s only two or three days. And then it goes down again,” Adelaide resident Valdine Tuckwell told national broadcaster ABC.
Authorities emphasized that even short bursts of extreme heat can be dangerous, especially for older people, young children and those with pre-existing health conditions. They urged people to heed local warnings, check on neighbors and avoid overexertion as the heatwave persists.
With the hottest air still moving east, fire agencies across Victoria and South Australia said they would deploy additional crews and aircraft as needed while the weather bureau maintained its alerts. Officials cautioned that any new ignitions could spread rapidly under the combination of high temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds expected into Friday.
The latest heatwave underscores the volatility of Australia’s summer weather and the compounding hazards that come with prolonged hot spells—from power reliability and public health to the heightened threat of bushfires. As temperatures remain elevated, officials across the affected states urged residents to stay informed, conserve energy where safe and follow all emergency directives.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
