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Extreme heat and intense wildfires have swept through the parched landscape of Western Australia. With temperatures forecast to persist climbing above 40C (104F) over the coming days, a severe heatwave warning has been declared across a large portion of the south-west.

Widespread Extreme Heat Alerts Across the Region

This situation come after this month's bushfires in New South Wales, which caused the destruction of properties and loss of life. Intense heatwave warnings have also been issued for the coming days in areas within South Australia and New South Wales, as a system of high pressure moves to the east, bringing intense heat to much of the area.

The combination of extremely dry vegetation and relentless high temperatures presents a volatile situation for emergency crews.

Global Weather Extremes Cause Chaos

In another part of the world, a major city was left in darkness recently after powerful winds compromised the urban electrical network, with toppled trees bringing down power lines. The stormy weather also caused major travel disruption at a key airport, where numerous flights were grounded. Severe impact on power systems is anticipated to cause ongoing problems as utility companies work urgently to restore power to more than 1 million inhabitants.

Atypical Fog Covers Typically Clear Area

At the same time, a region known for its sunny weather and plentiful sunshine has endured one of its dullest and foggiest periods on record. A specific type of low cloud, which usually lasts for only a short time, has been remarkably extensive and long-lasting this year, holding the mercury at a key transport hub under 8C for over a week – the most prolonged period in more than three decades. The prolonged haze has been fuelled by exceptional fall precipitation that resulted in the ground saturated.

• Key Factor: Exceptional fall rains soaked the soil.
• Result: Prolonged and dense fog development.
• Effect: Thermal readings stayed unseasonably low for an extended time.

Storm Delivers Snow to Tourist Destination

And in another country, a weather system has brought heavy rain, strong gales and even snowfall to a group of islands – conditions many would not connect with this favored tourist spot. While wintry precipitation is not unheard of at higher ground, the system delivered some of the heaviest snow depths since 2016 to a protected area, compelling its closure.

Alongside the snow, fierce northerly winds buffeted the archipelago, with wind gusts reaching 50mph recorded on several islands. The influence of the weather event is forecast to ease this week with more typical conditions returning.