In Sydney, the only places to be right now are in the shade or in the water.
Bondi beach in the city’s eastern suburbs is providing respite from the extreme heat with thousands taking to the ocean as temperatures in parts of greater Sydney reach 43C.
The famous beach was busy by 8am and has only got busier since.
A cool change is expected later in the afternoon.
Sydney airport reaches 43C at 1pm
Residents in New South Wales are being urged to keep a check on vulnerable friends and neighbours, as temperatures hit above 40C.
The temperature at Sydney airport reached 43C at 1pm.
Badgerys Creek was at 42.6C, Olympics Park recorded 41.4C and Bankstown 41.2C.
Heatwave warnings are current across parts of all mainland states, with high to catastrophic fire danger alerts issued for sections of South Australia, northern Victoria, outback NSW and greater Sydney.
Sydney’s beaches are packed, with the ocean delivering some cool relief from today’s extreme heat.
It’s not just people who are lapping it up – dogs down at MacKenzies beach in the city’s eastern suburbs are making the most of the ocean, too.
I’m feeling quite envious of them!
A note of interest, MacKenzies is an ephemeral beach and only appears once every few years or so. It’s also one of the area’s only dog beaches.
It’s official: 2023 is hottest year on record
Penrith in New South Wales has just hit 40.7C – and today’s extreme heat has helped 2023 to become the hottest year on record, says the Climate Council.
“2023 has officially been declared as the hottest year on record, weeks before the year’s end”, tweeted the council.
Earlier, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said the heatwave was “a reminder that there just might be something in this climate change stuff”.
Heavy rain coming to South Australia a day after extreme heat
From the heat in New South Wales to severe weather warnings of a different kind in South Australia, where the Bureau of Meteorology has just issued a notice about heavy rainfall in parts of the state.
Heavy rainfall is expected in Lower Eyre Peninsula, Eastern Eyre Peninsula and parts of west coast and NW pastoral districts.
The change in weather comes after extreme heat in the state – yesterday it was in the grip of what the Country Fire Service said was “one of the most significant fire weather days in several years”.
