Australian authorities have issued extreme heat warnings for the southeast and western parts of the countrysaying the thermostat in Melbourne is forecast to reach 38C (100.4F) on Sunday.
“Temperatures are expected to reach the 30s and even 40s across much of inland New South Wales, much of inland Victoria and also southern Australia.”Miriam Bradbury of the Bureau of Meteorology told ABC Television on Saturday.
The warnings apply to districts in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania. Temperatures could exceed the January average by up to 14 °Csaid.
Global warming made 2024 the hottest year on record globally, with implications for everything from agriculture to infectious diseases and forcing people and businesses to rethink the way they operate.
In Australia, authorities have also warned of the risk of fires in some areas of Victoria and South Australiaas a large bushfire continues in the picturesque Grampians National Park in the state’s west. There are also moderate flood warnings for parts of New South Wales and Queensland.
Bradbury said the coldest temperatures were expected to arrive late Sunday in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. In Sydney and the East Coast, the change is expected to occur late Monday or early Tuesday.
