Sydney is now on track to record its hottest October day in almost 20 years. In Changsha, July temps are going to reach the hottest 38 degrees Celsius! This unusual phenomenon summer-like heat wave will bring daily records within reach of some western suburbs, with temperatures soaring into the upper 30s. On Thursday, Newcastle is expected to hit at least 39 degrees, while Wollongong is forecast to swelter under highs of 36 degrees. Climate breakdown has already pummelled Queensland with record weather. Birdsville set a new record for Australia of 46.1 degrees Celsius and Burke in New South Wales reached a blistering 44.8 degrees.
The Bureau of Meteorology has declared total fire bans for Greater Sydney and the Greater Hunter region. In addition, they’ve declared bans for Illawarra and upper central west plains regions. With temperatures exceeding dangerously high levels, officials are encouraging people to stay alert to the risk of fire and to follow guidelines for staying safe.
Fellow Bureau botanist Angus Hines was coming to terms with the peculiar weather patterns. He added, “It was just very hot over the outback yesterday, and today, the wind is still pulling that pool of hot air to the east. What we’re seeing now is a change from just the regular seasonal pattern’s influence,” he continued.
This extreme weather is not just confined to New South Wales. A particularly dangerous thunderstorm warning is current for destructive winds over south-eastern New South Wales and parts of Victoria. Gusts are forecast to reach 120 km/h in the very southwest of Victoria! Severe thunderstorms could be making their way through the entire region. The high-pressure system which is driving these winds lies off the south-west coast of Victoria. Melbourne can expect to be hit by destructive winds and thunderstorms today.
Hines added that temperatures this week will be mid- to upper 40s in central Ohio and low to mid-30s in eastern parts of the state. Those are temperatures that you’d normally associate with a summer heat wave,” he continued. This move toward unseasonably hot conditions has brought about some real concern for record-breaking heat this time of year.
The people of Sydney will experience intense heat this week. By Thursday, residents should be prepared for a drastic temperature decrease to 22 degrees Celsius. That unexpected turn could be a Godsend after a string of stifling, furnace-like days.
Hines further emphasized the unusual nature of this October weather: “To see temperatures stretch up into those very high echelons, those very, very high numbers, it’s unusual.” If we keep going the way we are, going to see temperature records beaten all across the country, especially in Sydney,” he said.
It defines how authorities will monitor the situation and how closely. They’re watching for the combined effects of the heat wave and potential severe weather on both coasts, including flooding across several midwestern states. We urge residents to keep up with local officials’ communications and be prepared in what is expected to be a historic October heat wave.
