SYDNEY: Over the weekend, large parts of Australia experienced an unexpected and uncommon spring heatwave, with the nation’s weather forecaster predicting the possibility of record-breaking temperatures on Sunday (tomorrow).
In what is usually a temperate season, the heat surged across the continent, sparking concerns and warnings from meteorological authorities.
Sydney, the capital of New South Wales and Australia’s most populous state, witnessed temperatures soaring to 34.2 degrees Celsius (93.5 degrees Fahrenheit) at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which was more than 12 degrees above the September average. This abrupt rise in temperature defied expectations and raised eyebrows, prompting the Bureau of Meteorology to closely monitor the situation.
This unexpected heatwave follows the recent strengthening of indicators pointing towards the development of an El Niño weather event. The weather bureau had previously indicated that this event was likely to manifest between September and November, potentially bringing hotter and drier conditions to Australia. The bureau described the current early heatwave as highly unusual for September and projected a further intensification of temperatures from Sunday through Tuesday, with readings expected to be 8 to 16 degrees Celsius (46.4 to 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above the average.
Moreover, the forecast suggests that record daytime and nighttime temperatures for September are anticipated across inland areas of South Australia, New South Wales, and northeast Victoria during the upcoming week. The spectre of El Niño looms large, as it often triggers extreme weather events such as wildfires, cyclones, and prolonged droughts. Consequently, Australian authorities have already issued warnings about heightened bushfire risks for the impending summer.
The city of Sydney experienced a thick haze of smoke over the past week due to hazard reduction burns carried out by firefighters in preparation for the approaching bushfire season. Concerns have been voiced by residents about the potential escalation of heat in the coming months, necessitating extra precautions such as the use of stronger sunscreens. In particular, participants and spectators of the Sydney marathon, scheduled for Sunday, face a challenging situation due to the soaring temperatures.
Reflecting on the recent climate trends, Australians remain mindful of the devastating “Black Summer” of 2019-2020, marked by catastrophic bushfires that ravaged vast areas of the country, comparable in size to Turkey, and claimed 33 lives. As the nation grapples with this unexpected heatwave, preparations and vigilance are heightened, bearing in mind the lessons from previous challenging seasons.
