According to Reuters, vast areas of Australia are currently experiencing extreme heat waves, particularly in the state of Western Australia. The nation’s weather forecaster has issued heat wave alerts for this state as well as the neighbouring Northern Territory, with temperatures expected to soar to around 45 degrees Celsius. In the capital city of Perth, a maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius was forecasted for Sunday, which is more than five degrees above the December average.
El Nino, a climate pattern characterized by unusually warm Pacific Ocean temperatures, is said to be the cause of the scorching conditions in Australia’s east, resulting in heat waves, cyclones, droughts, and wildfires. In Western Australia alone, over 20 bushfires were reported to be burning on Sunday, with one near Pemberton remaining uncontrolled. Pemberton is a town with around 5,000 residents, situated about 320 kilometers south of Perth.
A high fire danger warning has been issued for many parts of Western Australia, which is known for being a mining state that covers the western third of the Australian continent. The state’s emergency services agency is closely monitoring the situation and providing updates on the fires on its website.
This situation occurred on a Sunday, and the news was reported by Sam McKeith in Sydney, with editing conducted by Richard Chang.
