South Australia on the brink of new heatwave
South Australia has been suffering in the scorching heat this last week, in a heatwave which is currently on track to become their longest on record. The heatwave is made even more extraordinary in that it has arrived in what is now the start of autumn across Australia.
On Monday temperatures in Adelaide reached 37C (99F) in the city and 38C (100F) at Adelaide Airport. This makes it the eighth consecutive day that temperatures in Adelaide have exceeded 35C (95F). In doing so it has equalled the record set in 1934, making it Adelaide’s longest hot spell in over 70 years.
However, records go back to the 1860’s and if the city reaches 35C (95F) on Tuesday, it will set a new all time record for the state. It may be a close call though since the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a high of 34C (93F) on Tuesday. Tomorrow is expected to be the “cooler” of the week, with the sweltering heat expected to carry on into the weekend. Temperatures from Wednesday are expected to be in the mid to high 30C’s (95-102F).
The hot, dry weather is very much in contrast to cool and wet conditions being experienced further north, across Queensland and parts of New South Wales. Here, low pressure has brought frequent storms across the region and severe floods.
