Australia: Australia reportedly is experiencing an El Niño weather pattern, with an uncommon September heatwave causing high temperatures in the southeast. This has led to the first total fire ban in three years.
“We are already seeing extreme conditions in some parts of the continent, particularly in the duration of heat,” Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecaster Mr. Karl Braganza said.
In recent days, New South Wales (NSW) has seen temperatures up to 16°C (60°F) higher than the usual September average.
On September 18, 2023, Sydney, Australia’s most populated city, experienced a temperature of 34.4°C (93.9°F), approaching the historic September high of 34.6°C (94.3°F) set in 1965.
As of September 18, 2023, morning, authorities reported 61 bushfires in NSW, with 13 of them yet to be contained.
“Due to stronger than forecast winds along the far South Coast, catastrophic fire danger is expected this afternoon in the region,” the NSW Rural Fire Service remarked in a statement.
Forecasters predict that September 20, 2023, will maintain high temperatures, and the strong winds pose a significant risk for bushfires.
This situation is among the most dangerous for bushfires since the devastating events of 2019. Fires ravaged southeastern Australia, in 2019, resulting in the loss of hundreds of millions of native animals, extensive forest damage, and the destruction of numerous rural homes
“We’re in for a tough couple of days, and we need the community to be very vigilant,” NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Mr. Rob Rogers remarked.
Due to the fire threat, twenty-one schools in NSW, mainly located along the southern coast of the state, have been shut down.
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