Australia’s east faces ‘worst heatwave in two years’ as bushfires continue to rage

Bureau of Meteorology also warns of dry thunderstorms which could lead to new fires sparked by lightning

Bushfires continue to burn across New South Wales (NSW) as Sydney and some other parts of Australia experience a sweltering heatwave that has broken a two-year record.

On Monday, temperatures soared above 40C, leading to the closure of 35 public schools in NSW’s inland regions.

Total fire bans are in place across most of the state as firefighters work to contain almost 40 bushfires, with crews on the ground supported by aircraft.

One fire near Mudgee, over 250km northwest of Sydney, is at an emergency warning level. Residents in the area were urged to seek shelter immediately.

Angela Burford, the operational officer at the NSW Rural Fire Service, warned it would be challenging for firefighters to contain fires that start under these conditions.

“If a fire does start, it’s going to be burning under those difficult conditions... [it’s] harder for our firefighters to get around them, and fire can spread very quickly, particularly in grassland,” Angela Burford, operational officer at the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

She explained that the dry weather and high temperatures make it easier for the fire to spread quickly, especially in grasslands.

Crowds of people enjoy the water at the beach as parts of Australia’s east reached their hottest day in more than two years amid temperatures which rose to 40C (Reuters)

In addition to the risk of bushfires, the Bureau of Meteorology also warned of dry thunderstorms, which could lead to new fires being ignited by lightning.

The hot and dry conditions are likely to persist until Wednesday.

Penrith, a suburb in western Sydney, recorded a 40.1C temperature on Monday afternoon, making it the hottest day since 26 January 2021.

Meanwhile, some inland towns reached nearly 41C.

People line up outside an ice cream truck as parts of Australia’s east reached their hottest day in more than two years (Reuters)

Australia’s east coast has been experiencing the La Nina weather phenomenon for the last two years, which has typically been associated with increased rainfall.

In 2022, Sydney recorded its highest annual rainfall since records began in 1858.

The Bureau of Meteorology, however, recently reported that climate models suggested La Nina was “likely near its end” and neutral conditions are likely to prevail through the southern hemisphere autumn.

Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organisation said there is an increased chance of the El Nino phenomenon taking place this year, which is a weather pattern that can drive up temperatures further and contribute to more heatwaves across the world.

As Australia continues to face the threat of bushfires, emergency services and government agencies are reminding residents to stay alert and be prepared for any emergencies that may arise.

Additional reporting by agencies