Australia’s south-east faced an intense heatwave on Sunday, prompting officials to advise extra caution for young children. Forecasts predicted temperatures surpassing 40°C in parts of regional Victoria and South Australia.
Melbourne experienced its hottest day of summer, reaching 37.1°C before 5 pm, surpassing the Bureau of Meteorology’s 35°C threshold for a “hot” day. Regional areas of Victoria saw even higher temperatures, with Shepparton at 38.4°C and Mildura hitting 40.8°C.
The Country Fire Authority issued a total fire ban for north-east Victoria due to challenging wind conditions of up to 40 km/h.
Adelaide reaches 39.6°C, with Port Augusta soaring to a blistering 44.2°C on Sunday.Sydney’s western suburbs also sweltered, with Penrith reaching 39.2°C and the city itself at 31°C. In north-western NSW, Wilcannia recorded a scorching 44.5°C shortly before 2 pm. Adelaide peaked at 39.6°C, while Port Augusta in South Australia’s west soared to 44.2°C.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology explained that the heat was being dragged eastward by north-westerly winds from Western Australia. He noted that a cooler change was anticipated later in the evening, bringing south-westerly winds.
Melbourne’s temperature was expected to drop to 22°C on Monday, with mid-20s predicted for the rest of the week. South Australia should also experience cooler temperatures. However, western Sydney would remain hot, with Penrith expected to reach 38°C.
Health experts urged the public to stay cool, avoid sun exposure, and protect themselves with sunscreen, hats, and loose clothing. The UV index was expected to reach extreme levels until around 5:30 pm.
The NSW Health Department highlighted that high temperatures could pose serious health risks, particularly for the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing conditions. They recommended keeping homes cool by closing doors and windows and using air conditioning or fans.