People across significant parts of western New South Wales, south-western Queensland and Victoria have suffered through another day of sweltering conditions, with more local records tumbling around the country and temperatures in some alpine areas exceeding 30C for the first time.
Temperatures reached the high 40s again in the west of NSW, climbing to 49.2C at Borrona Downs in the far-west. All-time heat records were set at Tibooburra (48.7C), Hay Airport in south-western NSW (48.4C) and White Cliffs, which at 48.3C broke the record of 48.2C set the previous day. Yarrawonga in north-east Victoria had its hottest day, reaching 46C.
Temperatures in the alpine areas of Falls Creek in Victoria and the Perisher Valley in NSW hit 30.5C, marking the first time temperatures above 30C have been recorded at either location. The average maximum January temperature at Falls Creek is 18C, while Perisher is 16.5C.
“It just shows you how hot the air mass is that even in alpine areas at the top of the mountains, it’s still 30.5C,” Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said.
Narramore said no records were broken in Queensland but the hottest temperature in the state by Wednesday afternoon was at Thargomindah in the south west, which sweltered through 48.5C.
On Wednesday afternoon, Victoria’s emergency management commissioner said 11,000 homes were without electricity due to heat stress on power infrastructure.
‘Climate change in real time’
Residents of several cities and towns in NSW have now endured several days of temperatures above 40C.
Mel Gray is a resident of the central western NSW city of Dubbo, which has sweltered through temperatures above 40C since Saturday, with maximums not forecast to drop below 40C until Monday.
Gray, who works for the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, said Dubbo residents were experiencing “climate change in real time”.
The city broke its all time heat record on Monday, reaching 46.1C. The temperature on Wednesday had climbed to 43C by the afternoon, with a maximum of 44C forecast. Dubbo’s average January maximum is in the low 30s. The city hasn’t recorded a single day below 30C this month.
She said the enduring nature of the heat was “scary”.
“The town is quiet. Of an afternoon no-one is around. Everyone stays inside,” she said.
Graeme McCrabb is a resident of the western NSW town of Menindee, where temperatures reached 49.1C on Tuesday and well into the 40s on Wednesday, with official data not available until Thursday morning.
McCrabb said the standout feature of the heatwave was the duration of the heat each day without relief.
Q&A
What happens to the body during a heatwave?
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Heatwaves put intense stress on the body – particularly the cardiovascular system and kidneys. The heart has to work hard to deliver oxygen and nutrients to organs while also increasing blood flow to extremities. Cardiovascular collapse – the heart suddenly failing – is a main cause of heat-related death in Australia.
Symptoms to watch out for:
– Hot skin
– Confusion
– Weakness
– Cramps
– Dizziness
– Vomiting
– Fainting
“I’ve been here in 47s before but it is very hot. Air conditioners are struggling. Everyone just ducks for cover. They get off the streets, get inside and in front of air con.
“You can see the birdlife struggling. You can see the wildlife and kangaroos are taking refuge in any shade they can find.”
Wednesday’s conditions come a day after two locations in Victoria set an all-time heat record for the state of 48.9C. Narrmore said the heat would shift back to northern South Australia on Thursday and would persist in south-western Queensland and north-western NSW. Some areas would not see any relief until Sunday.
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Bushfires continue
Major fires also continue to burn out of control in Victoria with residents of Gellibrand warned on Tuesday night that the town’s water treatment plant would be unable to continue to supply water because of bushfire damage.
Gellibrand River General Store owner Cherry Smith said they had been told the power and water would soon go off, but they were not sure how long that would last.
“Fingers crossed we can get that restored quickly,” Smith said. “Because if we do get impacted here at the store, it’ll mean we can’t service anyone.”
Smith had kept the store open, cooking meals for CFA volunteers and locals, until Tuesday night, when her family had to defend their farm close by.
“Last night we were out trying to protect our property, but we’ve stayed open during the day just to provide shelter or somewhere to have a bit of food,” she said.
They managed to save their farmhouse, but the fire came within 500 meters of the general store. She said CFA worked constantly through the night to put out spot fires and flying embers.
“They’ve worked very, very, hard throughout the night,” she said.
She had spoken to one person who lost their house last week, and said the community was bracing for more property losses.
“There’s been a lot of people that are not quite so lucky… but a lot of people that haven’t come back to town yet,” she said.
“We’re not sure what properties have been lost. But we are all very grateful no lives have been lost.”
Tonight, they are making up bowls of pesto pasta and boxes of fresh produce for the locals to take away.
An emergency warning remained in place for Otways communities threatened by the Carlise River fire which has been burning for days.
Wednesday marked the first day of school for many government school students in Victoria. But several schools and educational facilities in south and north-eastern regions were closed due to the fires.
“We know how important a return to routine as soon as possible is for students – that’s why we’re been working hard to ensure schools impacted by these devastating fires will be open as soon as possible,” education minister Ben Carroll said.
Shannon Randall is a CFA volunteer firefighter in Birregurra, a town just outside the emergency advice zone for the Carlisle River fire.
Birregurra was a “special little town”, he said. “We’ve got a really good sense of community and we all get behind each other and help each other out in times of need.”
He said the local brigade had been working overtime but firefighters from other districts were now flowing in to give the locals a break to recover from fatigue.
Australia is experiencing its second major heatwave for January, off the back of another earlier in the month, which analysts said was made five times more likely due to global heating.
The climate crisis has increased the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves and bushfires.
Hotter-than-average days and nights were expected to continue until April for much of the country, according to the latest long-range forecast. Sea surface temperatures would remain warmer than average globally, including around Australia.
– additional reporting by Petra Stock
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