Australia & current weather conditions

[Ozzie_Traveller]

G'day all

As many of you will have heard from news reports, much of Oz is being "fried" at the moment. The other day there were 150-odd fires blazing away with 30-odd out of control

Tasmania - which is about 400km north/south x 400km east/west is suffering badly with hundreds of houses lost
The South-eastern corner of mainland Oz, with New South Wales [about 800km n/s x 1500km e/w] western 'outback' areas having temperatures of 45deg C and above for every day of the past week are now warned that next week will be worse

The federal Bureau of Meteorology has just added extra colours to the temperature grid used to colour-code temperatures. The old scale stopped at 50deg C [120deg F] so now it goes to 60deg C [140F] !!!

Today's weather reports are warning of more locations which will reach 50deg C and are advising people to stay indoors and away from the extremes of heat

Going westwards into South Australia, it was so hot in the South Australian outback town of Oodnadatta yesterday that the local servo stopped selling petrol because it was vapourising in the pumps and couldn't be pumped into the cars.

My family are all okay and I believe that most other aussie-Steve's contributors are okay too.

To several members who have posted &/or PM'd me - thankyou for your messages of concern
Regards, Phil

[mtngal]

Wow! I had heard that the fires were bad, but hadn't heard about the extreme heat. Hope all who live down there stay safe.

[corkpix]

Originally Posted by Ozzie_Traveller

My family are all okay and I believe that most other aussie-Steve's contributors are okay too.

I'm glad to hear you guys are ok. 50C is pretty extreme! Here in
Ireland, many of us regard 30C as unbearably hot.

[VTphotog]

It has been a long time since I have experienced temperatures that hot, and at my age, I don't think I would bear up very well. Take care, my friend.

brian

[Ozzie_Traveller]

Thankyou all

Most days this last week it has been over 30deg C at 6am
Lunchtime today it is 39deg - somewhat cooler and "easier" to live with

We'll keep hoping ...
Regards, Phil

[Calicajun]

Stay safe and cool.

[Ozzie_Traveller]

G'day all

Again - thank you for your concerns

Today is a very different day from 3 - 5 days ago: where I am in central New South Wales we've had a cool change, the temperature has dropped to the low 20s C [around 70F] and after the past week, it is now positively chilly

There are still lots of fires blazing around the country, volunteer firefighters are being stood down to give them a break - there were 10,000 on duty a few days ago, now down to 2,000

Almost back to 'normal'

Here's what I saw yesterday ...

[ a 7-image stitched pano covering about 100degrees ]

This is smoke / storm clouds from the fires at Coonabarabran 100km to the west of me. These fires are in the Warrumbungles National Park - a dramatic area of extinct volcanos - and is also where the Anglo-Australian deep space telescope facilities are located

Regards, Phil