🔗 Share this article

Extreme heat and intense bushfires have devastated the parched landscape of Western Australia. As mercury levels forecast to persist climbing above 40C (104F) over the next few days, a major alert for extreme heat has been declared across much of the south-west.

Widespread Heatwave Alerts Throughout the Region

This situation come after this month's bushfires in another state, which resulted in the destruction of homes and loss of life. Intense heat alerts have also been issued for later this week in parts of SA and New South Wales, as a system of atmospheric pressure shifts to the east, bringing blazing heat to a broad swath of the region.

The mix of tinder-dry vegetation and relentless heat creates a dangerous scenario for emergency crews.

Worldwide Weather Extremes Trigger Chaos

In another part of the world, a metropolis was left in darkness recently after strong winds damaged the city’s electrical network, with falling trees knocking out power lines. The weather conditions also caused significant travel disruption at a major airport, where hundreds of flights were cancelled. Severe damage to power systems is anticipated to create ongoing issues as service providers scramble to restore power to over 1 million residents.

Atypical Fog Blankets Typically Clear Region

At the same time, a region known for its clear skies and plentiful sunlight has endured one of its dullest and most overcast periods on recorded history. A particular form of fog, which usually lasts for only a few days, has been remarkably extensive and long-lasting this year, holding the mercury at a key transport hub below 8C for over a week – the most prolonged period in more than three decades. The extended fog has been fuelled by unprecedented fall precipitation that left the ground waterlogged.

• Primary Driver: Record fall rains soaked the ground.
• Outcome: Prolonged and dense fog development.
• Impact: Temperatures remained below average for an extended period.

Severe Weather Delivers Snow to Holiday Islands

And in another country, a powerful storm has ushered in heavy rainfall, powerful winds and even snowfall to a set of islands – weather many would not connect with this popular holiday destination. While snow is not unknown at elevated areas, the storm brought some of the deepest accumulations in 2016 to a national park, forcing its temporary shutdown.

In addition to the snow, strong northerly winds swept across the island chain, with gusts exceeding 50mph observed on several locations. The influence of the weather event is expected to diminish this week with more typical conditions returning.