AUSTRALIA SWELTERING UNDER RECORD HEAT WAVE

In a development ominously similar to the events that led to 2019-20’s devastating wildfires, millions of Australians are sweltering through a record-shattering heat wave that has set off hundreds of wildfires in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

The heat has been more notable than the bush fires at this point, with Sydney seeing back-to-back days with temperatures exceeding 104 degrees over the weekend, a feat that had not been accomplished before during November in 160 years of record-keeping.

Sydney also saw its hottest November night on record, with the temperature dropping to just 77.5 degrees on Sunday. In the afternoon, the temperature reached 108.7 degrees as fire danger reached extreme levels in southeastern New South Wales.

Typically, Australia’s hottest weather comes during January, which is the height of the summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

The ongoing heat wave is forecast to continue through at least midweek across New South Wales and Queensland, according to Dean Narramore, a meteorologist at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

Narramore said the heat is expected to peak in southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales on Wednesday, with temperatures up to 32 degrees above average for this time of year. Temperatures in inland areas are expected to soar above 113 degrees.

A few locations set spring records over the weekend, including Andamooka in South Australia, which reached 118.4 degrees.

More temperature records are expected to fall during this event.