Western Sydney is enduring another extreme heatwave, with temperatures in parts of the region forecast to soar above 35°C for the fifth consecutive day, a record since spring records began in 1995.
While the east of Sydney enjoys cooling sea breezes, the western suburbs, including Campbelltown, Liverpool, and Penrith, are sweltering under much higher temperatures.
This stark contrast has become a growing concern for the 2.7 million residents of western Sydney.
Why Is Western Sydney So Much Hotter?
There are several reasons why western Sydney experiences higher temperatures than other parts of the city.
Geographically, the area sits within a bowl-shaped floodplain, with heat moving southeast from inland Australia getting trapped.
As heat accumulates in this low-lying region, it becomes nearly impossible to push the warm air over the surrounding ridge lines.
This trapped heat, combined with desert winds, prevents cooling and results in consistently higher temperatures.
Urban Design and Climate Impact
Urban design also plays a crucial role in intensifying the heat.
The urban heat island effect, where cities are significantly warmer than rural areas, is exacerbated by the abundance of hard surfaces such as asphalt and concrete.
Adapting with more greenery and climate-responsive design is crucial to combating extreme heat.These surfaces absorb and retain heat, unlike green areas which help cool the environment.
While western Sydney has some natural green cover, it lacks the necessary rainfall to sustain it, unlike the eastern suburbs which receive much more rain annually.
The Future: A Scorching Scenario
Unfortunately, the situation is expected to worsen due to climate change.
By 2070, western Sydney could face an additional 10 to 20 days each year where temperatures exceed 35°C, with worst-case scenarios predicting up to 160 days annually above 35°C by 2060.
This increase in extreme heat days could lead to months of consecutive heatwaves, posing a severe health risk.
Adapting to Extreme Heat
The need for action is urgent.
Experts argue that while it is too late to prevent these extreme heat events, adapting to them is essential. Solutions include increasing canopy cover, improving irrigation, and using climate-responsive urban design.
The creation of shade, using lighter-colored materials, and incorporating green roofs in new developments can help mitigate the heat.
The Cool Suburbs initiative, launched in 2022, has already begun to guide urban planning to improve heat resilience.