Australia swelters - heatwave shuts down power
A severe heatwave sweeping across parts of Australia has caused widespread blackouts in Adelaide overnight as the city braces itself for another 42-degree day on Thursday.
Melbourne is in for a top of 37 degrees while similar conditions will hit Sydney on Friday before temperatures in the harbour city hover around 40C over the weekend.
On Wednesday night 40,000 South Australian homes were forced to swelter through 42 degree heat without air conditioning.
Picture of me right now #adelaideblackout pic.twitter.com/4kHrOREt7C
— Jacki (@m1ss_jack5) February 8, 2017
Still 35 degrees at 9pm in Adelaide. #prayforadelaide #heatwave ☀️ #boiling
— Dan Arthur (@chickenman_dan) February 8, 2017
AEMO has called end to load shedding, we are restoring power. Should take 10 to 15 minutes. Approx 40,000 customers affected about 30mins.
— SA Power Networks (@SAPowerNetworks) February 8, 2017
The power has since been restored to homes after it was deliberately cut during Wednesday’s heatwave, as authorities imposed load shedding to deal with high demand on supplies, however more power shedding is expected to occur today as the state continues to swelter.
The Bureau of Meteorology says the city can expect a top temperature of 41C on Thursday after the mercury hit 42.4C on Wednesday.
A top near 40C was also forecast for Friday with no relief until a cool change late on Saturday or early on Sunday.
In regional centres maximum temperatures are expected to go even higher with Tarcoola set to have 47C and Port Augusta, Moomba, Marree, Coober Pedy and Oodnadatta all forecast to hit 46C.
Today's maximum in Adelaide of 42.4°C at 4.27 pm & 5:04 pm was the highest since the 19th December 2015 when the max was 43.2°C. #sweltering
— BOM South Australia (@BOM_SA) February 8, 2017
The Bureau of Meterology has blamed a fast moving weather system and the influence of the northern Australian monsoon for Adelaide's extreme summer weather with SA sweltering just days after soaking rain.
South Australian hospitals have put special measures in place to deal with extra heat-related presentations and people struggling with the heat have been urged to seek out somewhere cool such as a library or shopping centre.
The State Emergency Service will also have volunteers at Adelaide Airport on Thursday to offer heat advice to international visitors.
Despite the heat, a severe bushfire warning has been issued for only three districts, including the Riverland and the northeast pastoral.
Meanwhile, southeast of Perth more than 130 firefighters are continuing an all-night battle to bring a dangerous bushfire under control.
Authorities early on Thursday reissued an emergency warning for people in the eastern part of Bedfordale, urging residents to leave because lives and homes are at risk.
Emergency services have had to ground aerial support during the night, because they cannot operate in the dark.
Across the nation however, in some parts of Sydney, the heatwave temperatures could peak at 46C in what meteorologists have dubbed the summer's "last big hurrah" for heat in the region.
Higgins Storm Chasing described the heatwave sweeping across Australia's southern and eastern states as the worst of the season.
"Welcome to hell on Earth in Australia," a post from the group read.
Sydney was pelted with rain on Tuesday morning, with the inner-west suburb of Marrickville receiving 53mm of rain falling in just one hour between 10am and 11am as the storm cell hit.
Intense heat and sunshine is expected to follow the rain with Penrith and Richmond in Sydney's west expecting record-breaking temperatures at the weekend, Weatherzone Meteorologist Rob Sharp said.
"For Richmond the current record is 43.7C and Penrith is 45C. The current forecasts are for 43C on Friday and Saturday but on Saturday in particular we believe it could be a hotter than that," Mr Sharp told the Daily Mail.
The records for Richmond and Penrith's hottest days were set in 1977 and 2004, respectively.
"The three day run from Friday to Sunday for western Sydney is likely to be the hottest three consecutive days in February on record," Mr Sharp said.
"It's not the hottest summer run on record, although that cannot be ruled out yet."
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The heat wave will be moving up from Australia's southern states on Thursday, where Melbourne will clock days in the mid to high 30s, with a maximum temperature of 37C on Thursday.
Melbourne will finally cool off again on Friday, only reaching a temperature of 26C.
Meanwhile a cool change is expected to hit Sydney on Sunday that will push the heat pocket north into Queensland.
Brisbane will be scorched with temperatures expected to be in the high 30s from Friday, continuing over the weekend.
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