Hume Highway cut by bushfire, temperature records tumble as east coast swelters
24
September, 2017
The
main highway between Sydney and Canberra was cut by a bushfire and
parts of New South Wales reached 40 degrees Celsius in September for
the first time on record.
The
New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) said the blaze at Paddy's
River, near Wingello, crossed the highway but the threat to property
had eased. It was downgraded to Advice level at 6:00m.
After
several hours of closure about 160 kilometres west of Sydney and east
of Canberra, the Hume Highway has reopened.
Meanwhile,
temperature records are being broken as the east coast swelters
through a heatwave.
In
Sydney's west, it was 36.4C at Richmond, and records were set in
other parts of the state.
PHOTO: The
grassfire at Paddys River near Wingello is causing lengthy traffic
delays (Twitter:
Adam Mobbs)
Northern
Victoria and south-western NSW experienced above-average
temperatures, with hot north-westerly winds turning gusty
west-south-westerly on Saturday afternoon and bringing possible dust
storms and damaging winds.
The
hottest September day on record in New South Wales was set in 2004 at
39.6C, however Andrew Hague from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said
several towns had reached 40C and beyond.
"Wilcania airport has reached 40.5C, Whitecliffe has reached 40.3C, Delta has reached 40.2C and Bourke 40 degrees," he said.
In
Queensland, Thargomindah had its hottest September day on record,
hitting 40.4 degrees while everywhere west of Roma experienced
temperatures 12 to 14 degrees above average.
The
heat is expected to push further east on Sunday ahead of a trough,
with more temperature records likely to all.
The
mercury at Tibooburra, in north-western NSW, reached about 39C and
Mavis Jackson from the Granites Hotel told ABC News it was miserable
and dusty.
"Very,
very dusty even inside on the floor blowing in at the moment, it's
all dust so it's not a real pleasant type of atmosphere here just at
present," she said.
PHOTO: Bondi
Beach, in Sydney's east, was a popular place to escape the
heat. 
Just
when you think it couldn't get any worse, check out Thursday's max
temp for Brisbane currently suggested by the average of the main
models!
*IF* that max temp is reached, it would break the all-time record for hottest Sep max temp in Brisbane & would also be 8C hotter than our average midsummer max temp.
However trying to predict max temps for Brisbane on hot days can often be VERY hard because they depend heavily on if/when a seabreeze can come in.
State heat records for Sep have also already been broken in NSW and VIC.
For more info about the heat, possible inland raised dust & fire dangers, refer to:https://www.facebook.com/SevereWeatherAustralia/posts/10155711565142505
THEY
predicted this spring would go down in history in Australia, and they
were dead right.
RECORDS
are tumbling around the country as the forecast spring scorcher lived
up to its billing.
People
living in NSW are already feeling the heat with a first ever 40C
September day registered in the state.
Climatologist
Andrew Watkins said Victoria had also experienced a new state record,
with a top of 37.7C in Mildura.
New Victorian state record for September - 37.7C (99.9F) at Mildura and a few hours to go... http://www.bom.gov.au/places/vic/
Sydney
topped out at 32.2 degrees, but it was Bourke that set the new mark
for the state when the mercury hit 40C at 1.40pm.
Firefighters
were bracing for the hot conditions over the weekend and danger
ratings could reach extreme levels as a result of abnormally hot
conditions, dry vegetation and a lack of rainfall.
A
total fire ban has been declared for much of NSW.
The
weekend also marks the beginning of the beach season and the return
of lifesaver patrols with Surf Life Saving NSW reminding beachgoers
to swim at patrolled beaches and between flags.
Queenslanders
were also experiencing summer-like conditions.
In
Brisbane, the
temperature gauge will just keep rising through the weekend, topping
out at 35C in the CBD on Monday and not dipping below 30C all next
week.Brisbane’s
inland suburbs can expect a massive 37C on Sunday.
Sydney
is expected to be stinking hot today with some inland regions
expected to reach 40C. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAPSource:AAP
But
look further west, to Perth, and it couldn’t be a more different
story with gale force winds, thunderstorms, heavy showers and below
average temperatures.
Despite
being worlds apart, the heat in the east and the chill in the west
are all part of the same weather system.
Sky
News forecaster
Tom Saunders said heat spikes were common before an oncoming cold
trough, the trough that is about to wreak havoc in Western Australia.
Record high temps for Sept forecast for Saturday, 41C Wanaaring, 40C Bourke and 36C Dubbo #NSWweather Watch temps at http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/observations/nswall.shtml …
The
Bureau of Meteorology predicted this September could go down in
history.
“It’s
going to be a hot weekend and records will be broken,” a spokesman
told AAP on Friday.
The
sun rises over Captain Cook Bridge as Sydneysiders head toward a hot
weekend. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins.Source:AAP
Shaping up to be a hot day across #NSW with temperatures forecast to break September records in several locations http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/ …
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