Hottest place on Earth tomorrow? 47C in Austral

[KrispyKoala]

Hottest place on Earth tomorrow? 47C in Australia


By “hot” we mean that even the flies and birds try to get out of the heat. Kangaroos won’t graze, because they use up more energy eating than they get out of their food.

In one case, a child who stepped on a metal grate suffered second degree burns to her feet.

Temperatures of up to 47C are expected in New South Wales, and Sydney is expecting the low to mid 40s.

These big heat waves are becoming a bit more common, but the prolonged heat waves are quite new. One of the reasons Australians tend to be cynical about Global Warming skeptics is that we can see it for ourselves. We’ve just had the longest, worst, drought in history, and it’s no theory.

Some areas haven’t been out of drought since the early 90s. Those who haven't experienced a drought can't imagine the sheer physical brutality of a completely desiccated landscape. A desert looks comparatively natural, a drought looks like the land is being murdered.

I’ve only ever once experienced 47C, and I was crossing a road. At one point I didn’t think I was going to make it across the road.

Warnings are now being issued in the papers and elsewhere, which is partly a result of the South Australian and Victorian experiences, where train tracks buckled, power grids overloaded, and one substation even exploded.

The warnings are quite right in saying that young kids and older people are at risk, but there are a few things for everyone:

1. Keep water handy, and stay properly hydrated. I’ve had dehydration and kidney stones in these temperatures, and it’s not something you want to do.

2. Don’t stay in direct sunlight at these temperatures. Sunstroke and heat stroke are quite common.

3. Wear sunglasses. The glare is appalling, and can cause severe headaches.

4. Don’t drink alcohol until the sun goes down, unless you’re in air conditioning. If you have to go out after drinking, drink some water first. You can sweat profusely, and become dehydrated almost instantly.

5. Don’t exert yourself physically in the worst of the heat. Again, dehydration is a real risk, but if you’re exhausted as well, you can’t deal with other risks well.

6. If you’re a foreigner traveling in Australia, and anyone mentions the word “bushfire”, get the hell out as soon as possible. Emergency services will give you evacuation directions. Don’t guess about where to go. You can run straight into a bushfire.

Where I live in Sydney, we have a lot of West Africans. In a recent heat wave, I, of course, had to go out, and saw that even they were suffering in the heat. I walked three blocks to find out all the frozen stuff in the local supermarket had been cleaned out, completely. Rows of fridges were stripped bare.

If anyone wants me I’ll be living underwater in the bath tub

www.digitaljournal.com/article/266683

These type of days are unbearable, we've just cleaned out our backup generator just in case, we had a blackout during a heatwave back in 2006, our fridge defrosted in 25 minutes, and that one was in a cellar 2 floors from street level, we've watched both Adelaide and Melbourne suffer these temps in recent days and weeks and have been thankful for avoiding them, until now. February is hideous in Sydney, in any summer because of the oppressive humidity. Coupled with temps of 47C and it's worse than anything that Asia and Africa can dish up. All but a few schools in the city will be closed, those lucky to have air conditioning fingers crossed that the power grid holds out. Dozens of people have succumbed to the heat in both VIC and SA in the past two weeks. Hopefully contingency plans and advice will be heeded. The other hellish scenario more frightening is Bushfires. One has just been announced out of control in the royal national park south of the city. News reports just now say that 5 tanker helicopters are being utilised and upto 10,000 firefighters have been put on standby. The Govt has said that anyone caught lighting fires will face upto 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Our worst firestorm in recent years saw 500 homes lost in Canberra in a matter of hours.

[KrispyKoala]

Bushfire conditions 'worse than Ash Wednesday

06 February 2009 | 11:45:44 AM | Source: SBS staff with agencies


Victoria faces a never-before-seen bushfire risk which could eclipse the deadly Ash Wednesday fires of 1983, as temperatures are expected to reach 46 degrees across south-east Australia this weekend.


Bushfires: How to prepare your home

The big sweat to continue

Extreme heat returning to Adelaide

Farmers feeling the heat in SA

Victoria fire authorities say a fire burning in a state park southeast of Melbourne is likely to break control lines and threaten nearby communities as temperatures are expected to hit the mid-40s by tomorrow backed by high winds.

The fire, in the Bunyip State Park, is currently five kilometres north of Tonimbuk near Pakenham and the towns of Labertouche and Tonimbuk are also in the firing line.

Jindivick, Bunyip, Drouin West and Longwarry have also been warned of the possibility of smoke falling embers and fire.

Temperatures to reach 46

Temperatures of up to 46 degrees are forecast for Mildura and Swan Hill tomorrow with high winds.

Victorians are urged to stay away from parks and bushland some parks will be closed.

Fire fears in NSW

Fire crews across NSW also fear bushfire outbreaks as temperatures will soar from today and remain high until late on Sunday, when a southerly change is expected to bring cooler conditions.

The mercury will range from the mid 30s to the mid 40s in western and far western NSW and the Riverina.

Along the north and south coasts temperatures will range from the low-to-mid 30s until the change.

Around Sydney, the city will reach the mid-30s on the weekend with residents of western suburbs having to endure temperatures near 44 degrees.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) is monitoring a number of lighting strikes that may become a problem as hot northwesterly winds strike parts of NSW.

SA expects resurgence of heat

The weather bureau said Adelaide would also have a 41 degree day on Saturday before a cooler change would drop the temperature back to the mid-20s for Sunday.

The extreme heat followed the city sweltering through six consecutive days above 40 degrees from last Tuesday to Sunday.

SA Health chief medical officer Paddy Phillips said people must continue to keep checking on their elderly relatives, friends and neighbours to ensure they are keeping cool and hydrated.

"It is vital that people use their common sense in dealing with the heat," he said.

"Please keep well hydrated with water and avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, use your air conditioners and fans, dress sensibly, stay indoors where you can and seek medical attention if you are feeling unwell."

As Adelaide sweltered last week there was a spike in the number of sudden deaths, filling the city's morgue to near capacity.

South Australian coroner Mark Johns said heat appeared to be a factor in some of those deaths but more investigations would be required to determine if it was a direct cause.

www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1007927/Nation-braces-for-weekend-heatwave#

[sushimo]

It's reading (and knowing) stuff like this that makes me feel glad I am in the deep freeze up here. I always found it simple to get warm, but a nightmare to get cool, don't envy you one jot tbh.

Rub ice cubes on the inside of your wrist to cool the blood down, wear a baseball hat wet and from the fridge, dip flannels in water and mint essence, roll up, keep in fridge, magic on a hot face and body! Wish I could help more!

[yord]

I can remember sitting under an outside running water tap in a bangkok slum all day thinking that I might not make it here lol. It was just over 40 and the humidity was crippling

[sushimo]

What in hell were you doing there Yord?? I have passed by those areas, and know what you mean, the English word 'slum' doesn't come close!

My worst was getting off a plane in July, in Dubai (before the trunks)at 2am, and the heat that hit you was like opening a blast furnace. Some wag suggested we head for the shade!

[yord]

the first time I ever landed in bangkok and got off the plane I had presumed they had just left the planes engines running and they were too close to the departure tunnel. The sweat just poured from me in the airport and then I stepped outside . FECK

[mids]

It's snowing here.

[yord]

another hell of a suprize was going swimming in the sea for the first time there . I swear the water was loads warmer that I would take a bath or shower in back in the UK

[sushimo]

Stopped snowing here Mids, but still have a good 8" lying - more due Monday too we've been told!

The sea is fantastic to swim in out there Yord, it's the clarity of the water too - depending on where you ended up!

[Libby]

Pouring with rain here at the moment, but snow is expected when temperatures drop later this evening!

[yord]

I didnt care much for swimnming off the beaches . It didnt seem to matter much what time of year or where located, the shores was always teeming with shoals of jelly fish

[Sabre]

Ha, Try patrolling in Helmand with 45kg of kit in temps over 50 degrees - now that's emotional.

[sushimo]

Feb 6, 2009 13:15:27 GMT Sabre said:

Ha, Try patrolling in Helmand with 45kg of kit in temps over 50 degrees - now that's emotional.

Definitely! You done that Sabre?

[wetkingcanute]

Yeah!
Well you try snuggling up in bed with a nice hot water bottle.

[Sabre]

Yes Sushi, got back in October.

[sushimo]

Sabre.

[Muz]

Awwww diddums, the convicts are going to get a suntan.

[sushimo]

Yer only jealous Muz!

[vania]

Heat! Woohoo bring it on. I am actually pretty jealous of you Aussies at the moment.

[KrispyKoala]

Fourteen killed in Australian wildfires: police

Fourteen people died in wildfires sweeping through southeastern Australia during a heatwave and arsonists are suspected of starting several of the blazes, police said on Saturday.
"These have been very very significant fires ... the figure could get into the 40s," he reporters.

All those killed were caught up in a raging blaze northwest of Australia's second-biggest city of Melbourne, Walshe said, with six believed to have died in one car trapped in the fire.

Arsonists were believed to be responsible for some of the nine major fires raging through Victoria state.

"We suspect a number of the fires have been deliberately lit," Walshe said.

The most deadly blaze started some 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Melbourne in East Kilmore and swept 30 kilometres eastwards through several small townships including Wandong, Strathewen and Clonbinane to Kinglake.

"The whole township is pretty much on fire," Kinglake resident Peter Mitchell told ABC Radio.

"There was no time to do anything ... it came through in minutes. There'll be a massive loss of houses ... there'll be a lot of us homeless.

"All those who have made it into town will be fine. The others will be sheltering and working on their fire plans, God help them."