Sydney swelters in spring heatwave as authorities warn of extreme bushfire risk

Sydney baked under an early spring heat spell on Sept. 5, with temperatures in Australia’s most populous city forecast to reach 33°C, nearly 13°C above average. The heat prompted authorities to ban the lighting of fires as bushfire danger reached an “extreme” level.

At Sydney Airport, temperatures had already reached 28.6°C by 11:30 a.m. local time, more than seven degrees above the September mean maximum, according to forecaster data. Fresh to strong, gusty northwesterly winds were expected to develop during the morning.

The national weather forecaster warned that the combination of dry, unseasonably warm conditions and strong winds would raise fire danger across the Greater Sydney region. State fire authorities imposed a total fire ban, describing the risk as the second-highest danger rating.

The heat arrived as a powerful El Niño weather pattern in the Pacific was expected to produce hotter and drier conditions across southern Australia during the September to November spring season. The article also linked the growing frequency of extreme heat and fire weather to climate change.

In January, thousands of firefighters battled bushfires in southeastern Australia that destroyed homes, cut power to thousands of households and burned wide areas of bushland.

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Fresh to strong and gusty north-westerly winds developing during the morning, combined with dry, unseasonably warm conditions, will result in elevated fire dangers across the Greater Sydney Region today.