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Monday, January 14, 2019

Take 2: Climate Diary of an Australian heatwave - January 2019

Round two for extreme heat roasting of Australia this summer.

The first heatwave round ocurred over the Christmas New Year period for which I did a daily climate blog. I followed this up with some simple analysis of the Maximum temperatures for capital cities and a number of regional towns. A further article looked at Mapping the heat trend in Australia's capital cities for 2018 and future projections.

While Sydney's eastern suburbs temperatures will be in the low 30s in the coming week, residents of Penrith and Richmond in Western #Sydney will swelter through four or five days above 40C says Dean Narramore a meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology.

The heatwave will impact large regions of inland Australia with lesser impact of perhaps some extreme heat days for coastal cities and towns. Major international sporting events such as the Australian Tennis Open in Melbourne and the Tour Down Under cycling event in South Australia will see their extreme heat policies implemented.

“Particularly northern South Australia, they’re looking at maybe five days in a row above 45 and normally they might only get five or 10 a year,” meteorologist Dean Narramore said on Sunday, according to The Guardian report.

It is well past time to take rapid action on climate, to reduce emissions and set ambituous targets that are our fair share of the Paris Agreement climate goals to keep global temperatures well below 2 degrees celcius and strive to meet a 1.5C target.


  • Heatwave Forewarning
  • Monday January 14 - Impact on Down Under Tour (cycling) in Adelaide, Australian Open (tennis) in Melbourne, and a round up from NSW, Victoria, South Australia and some general climate info. Even the fate of koalas affected by heat stress and climate change makes an appearance courtesy of the Australian Academy of Science.
  • Tuesday January 15 - Horse racing meetings cancelled, Heat to kick off Tamworth Country Music Festival, 40C and 45C days in NSW Central Plans and Riverina this week, Northern Victoria also baking, Suburban development model needs to change to anticipate urban heat island amplifying extreme heat, Fish die-off at Lake Hume
  • Wednesday January 16 - Menindee Lakes eco-catastrophe, SA heat stress rising, Ozone Pollution warning in Sydney, Planned power outages?, Yass pool, Heat respite charity for vulnerable, Australia had the hottest 15 places on earth, Western Sydney Councils want urban heat a gov priority, Canberra heat, NSW grid short of power, Suicides rates can rise RUOK?, Worksafe on Heathealth, Heathealth warning from Dr Broome of NSW Health, The past 4 days are in Australia's top 10 warmest days on record
  • Thursday January 17 - 16 Jan Temps for northern SA and Riverina compared, stone fruit cooking from the inside out, Heat health risk of using pram covers, hot night in Tibooburra, climate denial from the Australian, Temps in Menindee and Mildura, Queensland: persistence of heat records broken in Camooweal and Cloncurry, NSW: New Heat records for Cobar and Young, BOM issues special climate statement
  • Friday January 18 - How to diagnose if you are dehydrated, Australia's highest minimum temperature on record broken, warning on playground equipment surfaces,32 NSW Tmax records broken on Wednesday, mandatory graded temperature threshold needed for certain outside work heat health,
  • Saturday January 19 - Australia's hottest tourist locations this week, Tmin heat records in South Africa, Chile feels heat+wildfires, Cool change reaches NSW but low intensity heatwave temperatures persist, Helping Aussie wildlife in heat stress, BBC Weather's Nick Miller interviewed, WA 40C heat, Moomba heat remains, Weekly Tmax and Tmin to 18 Jan well above average, Heatwave retreats for a breather


Heatwave Forewarning

Bureau of Meteorology explainer: "Like previous heatwaves over the south-east this summer, hot air will move down from the Pilbara in Western Australia, where it has been sitting quite stagnant over an extended period of time. The town of Marble Bar has now recorded 22 consecutive days above 40 degrees, including the highest temperature anywhere in Australia for 2018, reaching 49.3 degrees on December 27. Marble Bar ended the month with an average maximum temperature of 44.1 – a new national record for December." Read more



Algal Blooms in the Darling River and Menindee Lakes?


The draining of the Menindee lakes twice in 4 years by the NSW government and the Murray Darling Basin Authority has caused immense damage to the local ecosystem and it's resilience to withstand drought conditions.

The extreme heat in the coming week will likely dry up the last of the water in the Menindee Lakes in western NSW, near where up to a million fish suffered a catastrophic die-off due to low water levels, and an algal bloom die-off due to sudden temperature drop causing oxygen levels to plummet.


Bureau of Meteorology with animation of heatwave through the coming week:


Australian Apartments are like leaky tents, a heat health hazard.


Take care if you live near grasslands


Heatwave will Test the new extreme heat policy for Australian Open tennis grandslam


Heat Health alerts issued for multiple Victorian regions

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#heathealth alerts issued for most Victorian regions for this week. Stay cool and hydrated, take rests especially if working outside. Put out water💦 for wildlife.
I shouldn't have to say this, but DO NOT leave children or pets in cars. #heatwave🔥 pic.twitter.com/KfOqNbO2rB

— John Englart EAM (@takvera) January 13, 2019

Meanwhile, a marine heatwave off the southern coast and Tasman Sea is ocurring...


Victoria, South Australia, NSW in severe heatwave conditions from Monday


January 14

Australia: Every state to be hit by heatwave - SBS News

Northern Victoria to Swelter:
Northern Victorian towns brace for hot days in mid-40s and possible heat records - ABC News
46 degrees: Victoria set for week of extreme heat, sticky nights - The Age

Multiple #heathealth alerts issued for northern Victorian regions...


Hunter Region, NSW: alert issued for bites from heat stressed flying foxes.
"Hot weather has resulted in some bats suffering ill health and getting caught in wires or other strange places, and people trying to assist them have unfortunately got scratched or bitten," Dr Durrheim told the ABC. "New South Wales health officials have issued a bat attack alert for the Hunter New England region with a person bitten or scratched every second day, including two by animals infected with a virus similar to rabies." High temperature events cause heat streess in flying fox species with Black flying foxes start dying above about 42 degrees Celsius, and grey-headed flying foxes above about 43C. - ABC News.

Menindee, Western NSW - further mass fish kill expected along Darling River
Heatwave temperatures likely to cause further mass fish die-off in the Darling River as temperatures soar in NSW - ABC News.


Heatwave to affect Tour Down Under Cycling event

The Tour Down Under likely to use a heat protocol, with at least one stage shortened this week. The Tour Down Under is conducted in Adelaide and surrounding hinterland. - SMH.

Race director Mike Turtur confirmed at a Sunday press conference that the race heat policy would be implemented with Wednesday's stage from suburban Norwood to Angaston in the Barossa to be cut by 26.9km, reducing the distance to 122km. The first stage on Tuesday from North Adelaide to Port is already a shorter race at 132km.

The temperature is forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday to hit 40-plus degrees for the first two stages, followed by a cool change to reduce temperatures the rest of the week.

"The safety and welfare of the riders, spectators and everyone involved with the race is always our primary concern," Turtur said in a statement. "We consulted with rider representative Adam Hansen, team director representative Matthew White and with our chief commissaire, and all parties have agreed it would be sensible to shorten the stage."

Bushfire warnings might also affect the race. Race director Michael Turtur told the Sydney Morning Herald, "Everyone needs to understand - if there was a catastrophic rating for any region, then the race cannot enter that region," he said. "We need to also bear that in mind, but that will be considered when and if that happens - it's one of those things we can't control. But certainly we have all the necessary protocols in place to deal with it." -


Australian Open tennis grandslam to open in 37 degree heat

"Tennis stars at the Australian Open will still sizzle on court as the city reaches for 35C today and tomorrow." says Weatherzone.
Suburban areas in the northern suburbs of Melbourne like Essendon and Watsonia, where sea breeze will not reach, are likely to hit 37C today.

Scorcher tests new extreme-heat policy at Australian Open 2019 - Sydney Morning Herald
'Playing in a giant kiln': how tennis players deal with heat at the Australian Open - Sydney Morning Herald
Australia set to swelter through heatwave, testing Tour Down Under and Australian Open heat policy - ABC News

Farm heat and rainfall update
We need to listen to our farmers...Time to Act on climate for our food security.


Sydney forecast for record breaking extreme heat conditions
Bureau of Meteorology Duty Forecaster Rob Taggart said the Bureau has declared a "severe" heatwave for the Sydney basin, with Western Sydney expected to see "extreme" heatwave levels. "There is a high-pressure system forming over the Tasman sea, and at the same time there is an inland trough coming from Central Australia," he said. "The system is basically not allowing cold fronts to come through and the trough is directing the hot air mass."

Due to higher humidity levels this heatwave is expected to be worse than the Christmas/ New Year heatwave according to Mr Taggart.

"Until we get to Saturday, it will really get bad in terms of humidity with particularly horrid, muggy days expected," he said. "During the Christmas period we had a dry heatwave, but this time we are getting light easterly winds off the ocean which makes it feel a lot worse," he told the Sydney Morning Herald: 'Horrid, muggy days': Sydney to swelter through record-breaking heatwave.

5 days over 40C forecast for Penrith


Heatwave will move into SE Queensland


Impressive maximum temperatures being recorded in the Riverina by mid afternoon


Scorcher today for Melbourne's northern suburbs


A breeze can make a 10 degree difference in Melbourne


Extreme Heatwave warning for South Australia:


Canberra to swelter in string of 40 degree days


Heatwave deaths forecast to grow due to climate change


Australia exports 44 tonnes of GHG pollution per person every year, making heatwaves worse


Koalas are one native species feeling the heat stress and under threat from climate change and urban development


January 15

Horse Racing meetings cancelled
High temperatures of above 40C forecast in the Yarra Valley caused the cancellation of a horse racing meeting scheduled for Tuesday, according to Racenet. The Corowa race meeting on Tuesday has also been postponed due to the heat. The town of Corowa near the Murray river on the NSW/Victorian border has maximum temperatures forecast for Tuesday 45C, Wednesday 46C, Thursday 43C, and Friday 44C, before a change to drop maximum temperatures to around 30C on Saturday.

Heat to kick off Tamworth Country Music Festival
Tamworth has four 40C days lined up this week, with the Tamworth Country Music Festival due to kick off on Friday 18 January in the 40C heat. Forecast maximum temperatures for Tamworth are Tuesday 39C, Wednesday 42C, Thursday 42C, Friday 41C, Saturday 40C, followed by a slight drop in temperature for Sunday 35C, and Monday 33C. See Northern Daily Leader: Tamworth Country Music Festival weather forecast: extreme heat on the way

While we are talking about Tamworth, 2018 was the hottest year on record in Tamworth, according to a Weatherzone meteorologist who did the calculations for the Northern Leader..

Weatherzone senior meteorologist Brett Dutschke told The Leader: “Temperature records go back 62 years, and 2018 will probably beat 2014 as the hottest on record,” Mr Dutschke said. “That is combining nights’ and days’ average temperatures.”

The average maximum daytime temperature for Tamworth throughout the entire year was 26.7 degrees. The figure is a staggering 1.9 degrees above the long-term average of 24.8 degrees. Nights in Tamworth got down to an average of 10.1 degrees, only 0.3 degrees higher than the norm.

These figures combined to make the 2018 overall average temperature in Tamworth 18.4 degrees; the highest on record for the city and 1.1 degrees greater than the 62-year mean. The stats spell out a sweltering year for the city, which saw records broken even in the colder seasons.

“July’s days were almost 2.5 degrees above the normal,” Mr Dutschke said. “So July’s days were the warmest in at least 20 years. October nights were the warmest in at least 20 years and they were 2 degrees above the norm.”

Moree: First 40-degree heatwave of 2019: Moree set for four days above 40 degrees as weather heats up - Moree Champion. The forecast expects 40 degrees for Tuesday, 41C for Tuesday and Wednesday, 40C for Thursday and Friday, dropping to 39C for Saturday and 37C Sunday.

Western Sydney to Swelter while many parts of regional NSW expecting 45 degree temperatures
Parts of regional NSW to hit extreme temperatures with Sydney not spared - Sydney Morning Herald
"Even parts of the Snowy Mountains at Bombala and Cooma are likely to be very hot," Weatherzone senior meteorologist Jacob Cronje said.

Bombala will experience Maximum temperatures in the mid to high 30s this week, while Cooma will experience maximum temperatures of 37 and 38 degrees.

The hottest part of NSW is likely to be the Riverina:
  • Hay expected to reach 47 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 46 degrees on Thursday and Frday before dropping to 31 on Saturday.
  • Griffith is expecting 45 degrees on Tuesday, 47C on Wednesday, 46C on Thursday, 45C on Friday, before dropping to 32 on Saturday.
  • Wagga Wagga is expecting 44C on Tuesday, 45 on Wednesday, 44C on Thursday and Friday, before dropping to 31 on Saturday.
  • Narrandera is expecting 45 degrees on Tuesday, 46C on Wednesday and Thursday, 45C on Friday, and dropping to 30C on Saturday.

On the NSW central west slopes:
  • Dubbo is forecast to reach 43 degrees on Tuesday, 45C on Wednesday and Thursday, 44C on Friday, 41C on Saturday, before a slight drop to 35C on Sunday.
  • Parkes forecast is for 42 degrees on Tuesday, 44C on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with a slight drop to 36C for Saturday and 32C on Sunday.
  • Condobolin is expecting 45 degrees on Tuesday, 46C Wednesday, 47C Thursday, 46C Friday, before dropping to 34C on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Cowra is expecting 42C on Tuesday, 44C on Wednesday Thursday and Friday, before dropping to 36C on Saturday and 33C on Sunday.

The Town of Walgett, near the dried up junction of the Barwon and Namoi rivers where once paddle steamers used to navigate to, with salty bore water that exceeds National water guidelines, is trucking in drinking water. During the Christmas New Year heatwave a lightning strike hit the bore water pumping station which meant town water was turned off producing a water crisis while emergency repairs were made. The forecast this week is for 42C on Tuesday, 45C on Wednesday, 44C on Thursday, 43C on Friday, 42C on Saturday, 41C on Sunday, and 38C on Monday.

See also Heatwave conditions across New South Wales set to topple state's temperature records - ABC News

Suburban development model needs to change to anticipate urban heat island amplifying extreme heat

At the end of the ABC News article the need to change our residential development model quoting from Urban heat and ecosystem scientist at Western Sydney University, Dr Sebastian Pfautsch. He said that Sydney needed to prepare for a future of more heatwaves that were longer lasting and more intense. He regularly records urban heat island differences of up to 8C in new developments compared to nearby bush land.

"At the moment we're seeing developments for lot sizes that don't even allow to have trees anymore around your house because … there's no space left for trees that could actually help cooling the entire area," he said.

"One thing that we already see is that people become more isolated because there is less and less outdoor life particularly during summer — it's just too hot."

Continuously using air-conditioning on large homes, the use of black roofs and black bitumen on roads also prevents surfaces from cooling down.

Dr Pfautsch said local councils and governments needed to start implementing new strategies to create a "model suburb, where people can actually go and experience how it would feel if you have cool pavement, if you have green streets, everything is tree lined, if you have passive cooling in your house, if you have double glazed windows".

"All of these things I think would be much easier to convey to the public once you can experience them, at the moment I think we are lacking that."

Northern Victoria forecast extreme temperatures are likely to run till the weekend when temperatures will drop slightly:
  • Mildura: 46C degrees Tuesday, 46C on Wednesday, 45C Thursday, 39C Friday, 31C Saturday, 33C Sunday.
  • Swan Hil: Forecast of 45C degrees Tuesday, 46C on Wednesday, 43C Thursday, 40C Friday, 31C Saturday, 33C Sunday.l
  • Kerang: 45C degrees Tuesday, 46C on Wednesday, 42C Thursday, 39C Friday, 32C Saturday, 34C Sunday.
  • Bendigo: 43C degrees Tuesday, 44C on Wednesday, 40C Thursday, 35C Friday, 29C Saturday, 31C Sunday.
  • Echuca: 45C degrees Tuesday, 46C on Wednesday, 42C Thursday, 40C Friday, 31C Saturday, 34C Sunday.
  • Shepparton: 44C degrees Tuesday, 46C on Wednesday, 41C Thursday, 40C Friday, 30C Saturday, 33C Sunday.
  • Wangaratta: 43C degrees Tuesday, 45C on Wednesday, 41C Thursday, 42C Friday, 30C Saturday, 33C Sunday.
  • Albury: 44C degrees Tuesday, 45C on Wednesday, 42C Thursday, 44C Friday, 31C Saturday, 33C Sunday.
  • Horsham:44C degrees Tuesday, 42C on Wednesday, 38C Thursday, 31C Friday, 29C Saturday, 32C Sunday.
  • Seymour: 43C degrees Tuesday, 43C on Wednesday, 39C Thursday, 37C Friday, 28C Saturday, 30C Sunday.

Fish Die-offs, algal blooms, drought and water mismanagement

NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair revealed the latest fish die-off has occurred at Lake Hume on the NSW Victorian border with up to 1800 fish dead, although the cause is still being investigated. Lake Hume is controlled by the Murray Darling Basin Authority and is currently 30 per cent full.

Other recent fish die-off events that Mr Blair listed include outside Port Macquarie on Friday and yesterday at Lake Burrendong near Dubbo, as well as the much publicised massive fish deaths due to an algal bloom along the Darling River near the Menindee Lakes.
See Climate change, Fish Die-offs, algal blooms, drought and water mismanagement in the Murray Darling Basin

Menindee: 46 degrees in the shade
Shadow Minister for Environment and Water Tony Burke visits Menindee where the recent mass fish deaths occurred and hear from local mothers: “The water coming through our air conditioners is absolutely putrid”, “We’re still paying for stagnant water”, “Family days out just don’t exist any more”


South Australia heat records falling



Port Augusta hits 48.9C - new record


New heat record at 49C for Tarcoola


BOM update on extreme heatwave, 1pm Tuesday


Heat records falling in Western Australia:
On Sunday, Marble Bar set a new Jan record (49.1°C), Norseman a new all time record (46.5°C) and last night
Meekatharra set a new night time min record (33°C)


So hot in Broken Hill they need to add ice to the petrol bowser to get it to pump petrol


Heat related emergencies on the rise.
The Age reports: Cardiac arrests spike, deaths likely as state swelters through heatwave, with “We’re in the second day of this," Justin Dunlop, Victoria’s state controller for heat, said on Tuesday. ''And we know the third, fourth and fifth day is when we expect to see a lot of people becoming unwell, and possibly dying.” Reports of Ambulances and emergency departments across the state were already treating increasing numbers of people with chest pain and heart problems, he said.

Every state bar Tassie had at least 1 place over 45C



January 16

Fireweather warning with extreme heat across NSW for Wednesday:


Victorian inland heat records forecast to be broken


Extent of the heat:


David Spratt warned us a decade ago it was a climate emergency...


By the end of the century the tropics will become mostly unliveable due to extreme heat, this includes northern Australia:


Aerators to be used to keep fish on life support in heatwave


The other Murray Darling disaster - the decline of birdlife as wetlands and river ecosystem collapse due to water mismanagement


Extreme heatwave putting pressure on bird breeding in wetlands, and the Victorian Premier continues to authorise Duck Hunting...


... while the water bureaucrats refuse to take responsibility


South Australia: signs of increasing heat stress in emergency presentations to hospital


This is the tip of the heat health iceberg. Probably many more ringing for advice, consulting GPs.



Ozone pollution health warning for Sydney in heatwave conditions


Some genuine acts of business generosity in Adelaide


Why are Electricity Operators even considering planned outages during an extreme heatwave?


Yass pool sees a doubling of numbers with people seeking heat respite


Yesterday (15 January 2019) Australia had the hottest 15 places on earth...


This Adelaide charity deserves extra special mention...


Even normally shy wildlife will seek out water in 40C+ temperatures


Western Sydney Councils want urban heat considered as a priority in health and urban development..


NSW grid short of power...hurry up with new solar and wind farms NSW


Even New Zealanders talking about Australia's heatwave


Suicides rates can rise during heatwaves...


Heat health is a major concern for workers outside. Heatwaves also cost the economy in lost productivity


Dr Richard Broome from NSW Health said that last major extreme heatwave there was a 13 percent increase in mortality and a 14 percent increase in emergency presentations. Take heat health care.


BOM at the NSW press conference...


The past 4 days are in Australia's top 10 warmest days on record...


Heat health Warning from Dr Brett Sutton Victorian Depatment of Health


Victoria:
Some locations forecast for 6 days above 40C


seabreeze cools temperatures in Melbourne


Records broken: #Albury (45.3C) and #HuntersHill (38.3C) have recorded their hottest day since records began, while #Mangalore (44.8C) and #MtHotham (32.9C) recorded their hottest January day.


Current Victorian Heat health alerts:

New South Wales:
Total Fire Bans:


NSW records broken:
Broken Hill (46.3C), White Cliffs (48.2C), Wilcannia (48.1C), Ivanhoe (47.9C), Albury (45.3C) and Narrandera (46.3C) have all broken their all time maximum temp records today. While Deniliquin (46.4C), Yanco (45.6C) and Condobolin (46.3C) have set new records for the month January.


South Australia:
Tuesday records broken...


Tuesday max temp and Anomaly maps...


Tarcoola is hot to trot...


Western Australia:
Perth has mostly dodged extreme heat, but this weekend...


ACT:
Total fire Ban for Canberra and ACT...


Canberra Tmax so far is 41.6°C, and Tmin overnight was 20.1°C. The average of the two is 30.85 °C, hotter than 100% of daily average temperatures at Canberra Airport for time of year 1939–2017.
Canberra Way out in front on the extreme heat density bell curve. Shooting for a record in sequential days over 40C. Australia still failing on climate policy action in #auspol

Alice Springs, NT:
The mean temperature is way up on one end of the bell curve for Alice Springs today. Today's maximum temperature so far is 44.1°C, and the minimum overnight was 27.9°C. The average of the two is 36 °C , which is hotter than 100% of daily average temperatures at Alice Springs Airport for this time of year over the period 1910–2017.


January 17

Northern South Australia:


NSW Riverina:


Agriculture: stone fruit cooking from the inside out on the trees in the heatwave.
"The stone burns them, which means they burn on the inside, they become squashy and you can't use them," Mr Werner said. Estimates of fruit losses due to the heat range up to 30 percent of the crop this season. Stone fruit grower Dino Cerrachi says "There will be quite a lot of damage from direct sunlight, especially on the north-western side of the trees, or any exposed areas at the wrong time of that sun position. Basically, it just sort of cooks that side or that part of the fruit that has the direct sunlight for a length of time and it gives you an impression that it is soft, but it has actually gone jammy from being cooked." More at ABC News: Extreme temperatures burn stone fruit from inside out, causing severe loss

Sydney temperature comparison....


the heat from 15th January mapped...


Heat health risk of using pram covers in heatwave conditions...


Victorian Heat health alerts...


Hot night in Tibooburra...


and climate denial from the Australian while many towns swelter in an extreme heatwave...


Staying safe in the long term means taking climate action....


Menindee, NSW:
The town of Menindee on the Darling River on Wednesday reached 47.6C, the third day in a row of reaching 47 degrees, and six straight days above 40 degree maximum temperatures. Thursday was forecast to hit 48C and back to 43C on Friday.

The town has had ten days in total above 40C to 16th January, when the long term mean for January is 5 days above 40C.

Mildura, Victoria:
MILDURA has already recorded 45C+ temperatures on two consecutive days: with temperatures on Tuesday 45.8C, and Wednesday 45.7C, with a Bureau of Meteorology forecast of 45C on Thursday.

According to the Sunraysia Daily, "since the town’s weather station moved to Mildura Airport in 1949, only twice – in 2004 and 2017 – has there been two straight days reaching 45C."

In 1939 at the old Mildura Post Office weather station in the town centre there were four consecutive days of 45C temperatures recorded.

For Mildura the mean number of days exceeding 40C in January is 2.7, and in 2019 so far (16th January) the town has already experienced 6 days above this temperature.

The temperature is forecast to drop slightly to 39C on Friday and further to 33C and 35C on the weekend, before rising again for 40 degree temperatures next week. - Sunraysia Daily - Mildura set to sweat through third straight 45C day

Queensland: persistence of heat records broken
In north western Queensland its not so much the intensity (although it is very hot), but the length and persistence of the heat. Climate change is making it hotter for longer. Check out Camooweal and Cluncurry in the north west of Queensland.

Camooweal has had 32 consecutive days above 40°C. The mean number of days for this towm for January ≥ 40 °C is 8.3. Up to 17 days this month over 40°C with nearly half a month still to go. The all time heat record for Camooweal is 46.6 on 23 Dec 1990. In the current run of maximum temperatures the top was 44.3C on 10 January.

Cloncurry has also recorded 32 consecutive days with max temps equal to or above 40°C. The Mean number of days ≥ 40 °C for Cloncurry is 6.8, well exceeded being now in the 17th day of the #heatwave. The all time heat record at Cloncurry is 46.9C set 1 Dec 2006. In the current run of maximum temperatures the top was 46.1C on 21 December.

Here is the ABC News report on this: Weather records broken as Queensland nears three dozen consecutive days over 40 degrees



NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley promises heat refuges...



Preview of BOM quarterly climate outlook? Too Darn hot


NSW: New Heat records for Cobar and Young for January.

The temperature for the NSW Western plains town of Cobar soared to 46.8C today, eclipsing it's previous record at Cobar Airport by 0.1C, a temperature of 46.7C on 12 Jan 2013. Cobar has now had 6 consecutive days over 40C, more than the mean of 4.8 for January. The minimum temperature overnight got down to 31C.

The town of Young on the south west slopes also set a new heat record for January of 42.8C. The previous record for January was 42.6C on 18 Jan 2013.



Special Climate Statement issued on December-January heatwaves

The Bureau of Meteorology have published a detailed climate statement on the Christmas - New Year heatwave event and the current heatwave event. This lists all heat records broken to date, as well as describing the climatology driving the event. The Statement will be updated with more information as the event proceeds and concludes.
Special Climate Statement 68—widespread heatwaves during December 2018 and January 2019 (PDF)

Care for wildlife




When will the cool change arrive?


Friday January 18

How to diagnose if you are dehydrated


Canberra looking forward to a change...


Australia's highest minimum temperature on record broken:
"Two locations in western NSW appear to have just broken Australia's high minimum temperature record.

The lowest temperature observed at Noona and Borrona Downs and during the 24 hours to 9am on Friday January 18th were 35.9 degrees and 35.6 degrees respectively.

These 'low' overnight temperatures beat Australia's previous high minimum temperature record of 35.5 degrees, which occurred in WA's Wittenoom in 2003 and SA's Arkaroola in 1982." More at Weatherzone: Australia's highest minimum temperature on record

Noona is a locality with about 14 residents. Cobar, 94km away, is a larger town (Pop 3990) which had a Tmin of 32.7C, breaking it's previous all-time highest Tmin on record of 32.6 on 01 Jan 2006

Sydney Morning Herald: Temperatures still rising as heatwave peaks after record-breaking night
The Guardian: Australia heatwave: overnight minimum of 35.9C in Noona sets new record
ABC News: Last night was Australia's hottest on record



Warning on Playground equipment surfaces
ABC News - Playground star rating to measure safety during summer when temperatures are 'hazardous'


NSW: 32 Tmax records broken on Wednesday 16 Jan
"32 maximum temperature records were broken around the state on Wednesday, and Ms Pyne said there was a possibility of more being broken on Thursday and Friday."

The town of Whitecliffs (Pop 150) "broke its own record on Wednesday with a temperature of 48.2C, dropping only marginally on Thursday with a high of 47C just after 3pm." Locals described it as a ghost town.

"(The heat) hits you like a brick wall, it's just really hot and you sweat and it's suffocating, you breathe in and it's not normal air, it's just super, super hot." White Cliffs Hotel staff member Lauren Byrne told AAP in this Herald report Soaring heat turns outback into ghost town

Tibooburra...


Adelaide gets a cool change


New Record for latest starting game in Aus Open tennis tournament (not a heat record)


Heatwave conditions: mandatory graded temperature threshold needed for certain outside work

Good to see the work of Dr Liz Hanna and other health professionals raising heat health and work issues. ABC News - Heatwave conditions could be fatal for outdoor workers if temperature cut-off not introduced, expert says

Dr Liz Hanna from the Australian National University said the legal obligations for employers to send their workers home in hot weather varied between jurisdictions and were often poorly enforced.

Some health and safety guidelines — as well as certain construction unions — required outdoor business owners to send their staff home when the temperature reached 37 degrees Celsius.

The CFMEU's ACT branch has this policy in place.

Dr Hanna admitted that the reality of a functioning society meant that not all work could simply stop at a certain temperature, but through her research came up with a suggestion for non-essential work.

Dr Hanna studied outdoor workers from all over Australia to see at what point heat-related illness affected them, and in turn has called for a mandatory graded temperature threshold for certain construction jobs.

She said the "graded scale" would consider heat, humidity, apparent temperature and the physical intensity of work, among other factors.



NSW: Oxley Highway melting
Walcha Council using water from the Yarrowitch River in water carts to cool the bitumen pavement.- Macleay Argus: Oxley Highway melting in extreme heath



Rutherglen winemakers nursing vines with extra water
2019 wine grapes threatened by heat


Queensland: persistent heat


Bendigo get some good reporting on climate trend
"Bendigo used to experience fewer than one January day of above 40 degrees on average before 1991, but has sweated through five so far just 18 days into the month." The srticle quotes Bureau of Meteorologist Dr Trewin that heatwaves are becoming more frequent in Bendigo, as with the rest of Australia.

“Particularly in inland south east Australia we’ve seen a sharp increase in the number of hot days,” Dr Trewin said. “We see a substantial long term warming trend through Australia as we do globally. Australia has warmed by over a degree since 1910. With higher average temperatures you’d expect to see more heat extremes and that’s what we are seeing.”
Bendigo Advertisier: Bendigo heatwave part of trend for more frequent hot days

Cycling in 40 degree heat?


Some all time records...


Canberra sets new record of 4 days > 40C


For our electricity grid interconection is key


View the NEM in real time as heatwave demand peaks


Good to see Labor's climate spokeperson connection the dots...


We export coal, now we also export heat...



Saturday January 19

Australia's hottest tourist locations this week...




The Southern Hemisphere is burning with heat:
Chile in South America had temperatures on Friday up to 43C


South Africa had some highest minimum temperatures records broken this week:


Cool change moving through lower NSW...


But low intensity heatwave temperatures persist in Canberra


Need to help Aussie wildlife in heatwave conditions


BBC Weather's Nick Miller talks to the Impact programme on BBC World about why it's been so hot and how long it's expected to continue. BBC Weather - Australia Heatwave

"But along with that natural variability there is the background of climate change, and climate science telling us when it is hot, its likely to be hotter, and hotter for longer as well. So, yes, heatwaves, but with climate change they become more extreme."

Western Australia: heat developing...






Moomba in South Australia...heat persists...


Australian mean maximum temperatures for the last week...


Minimum temperatures for last week also well above average....


Heatwave retreats for a breather...

"For pretty much most locations in the southern part of Australia, the heatwave is over,” said the Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Dean Narramore. “So it should be a much cooler weekend for many areas, but then we’ll start seeing the heat return at least in Adelaide as we move into Monday, back into the high 30s."

"The rest of South Australia will be much much hotter, getting into the mid 40s probably from around Tuesday.” Read more at The Guardian Great Australian heatwave takes a breather – only to return again soon

on Climate attribution of heat records...






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