Tuesday, 18 December was Australia’s hottest day on record, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
The Bureau of Meteorology said “extensive” heat on Tuesday tipped the mercury past the previous record of 40.3C set on 7 January 2013.
Temperatures got up to well over 45C for much of the interior — the location record (50.7C at Oodnadatta) is still safe — but the wide spread of exceptional heat meant the national average record was broken.
The heat is expected to keep building over the next few days as the air mass moves across the country.
The heat this week is result of widespread drought combined with a late onset of the monsoon in the north.
Without moisture around to cool things down, temperatures have continued to build as summer sets in. Both the delayed monsoon and the drought are linked to a climate driver called the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which directs the flow of moisture over the Indian Ocean.
Authorities in Australia have issued fresh warnings about a “mega blaze” after it spread beyond containment lines and razed 20 houses near Sydney. The fire, burning over about 400,000 hectares, has moved further into the Blue Mountains – a popular tourist area which lies west of the city.
It is a blow to crews who are already battling over 100 fires and bracing for extreme temperatures this week.
Temperatures could steep up to 50.7C (123.26F) record set in Oodnadatta, South Australia, in 1960, the Bureau of Meteorology forecasted.
Since September, six people have died in a bushfire crisis that has engulfed the eastern states of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland.
Bushfires are an intrinsic part of Australia’s environment. Natural ecosystems have evolved with fire, and the landscape, along with its biological diversity, has been shaped by both historic and recent fires. Many of Australia’s native plants are fire prone and very combustible, while numerous species depend on fire to regenerate. Indigenous Australians have long used fire as a land management tool and it continues to be used to clear land for agricultural purposes and to protect properties from intense, uncontrolled fires.
The blazes have destroyed more than 700 homes and blanketed towns and cities in smoke.
The bushfires and extreme weather has sparkled public debate about the need for stronger climate action.
Andrew Watkins, a senior climatologist at BoM said “The warming trend which has seen Australian temperatures increase by more than 1C in the last 100 years also contributed to the unusually warm conditions.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his opponents have faced a mounting backlash over their climate policies.
The heat also became a national security risk and mr. Morrison called them a “national disaster” this week, but he has often been accused of downplaying the severity of the crisis.
He has readily offered “thoughts and prayers” to victims , toured fire zones and praised crews – most of whom are trained but unpaid volunteers.
Earlier this week, Mr Morrison rejected calls for greater funding of firefighters, saying existing resources were sufficient and that volunteers “want to be there”.
More recently, Mr Morrison has acknowledged climate change as one of “many other factors” in fuelling the bushfires.
The study, which is updated every two years, found that Australia’s fire seasons have lengthened – in places by months – and become more severe. From April to October, there has been a broad shift to more arid conditions in south-eastern and south-western Australia. Sea levels have already risen by 20cm and ocean temperatures are up by 1C, which is causing acidification – 10 times faster than at any time in 300m years – which has damaged the corals of the Great Barrier Reef.
The meteorological agency has warned that temperatures are set to rise further in the years ahead as a result of climate change.
People are seeking serious action by the authorities as it is taking toll on humans and wildlife.
