Autumn heatwave, Sydney swelters

Sydney, March 6

Parts of Australia’s east, including Sydney, recorded their hottest day in more than two years on Monday with autumn temperatures hitting more than 40°C, raising the risk of bushfires.

Firefighters are working to contain nearly 40 bushfires across New South Wales, the home state of one-third of Australians, with crews on the ground supported by aircraft. One fire near Mudgee, more than 250 km northwest of Sydney, is at emergency warning level. Emergency crews urged residents there to seek shelter as it was too late to leave.

Total fire bans are now in place for multiple regions across most of New South Wales (NSW), while 35 public schools, mostly in inland regions, have been closed due to the severe heat. “If a fire does start, it’s going to keep burning under those difficult conditions,” Angela Burford, operational officer at the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. — Reuters

Records hottest day in two years

Penrith, a suburb in western Sydney, recorded 40.1°C on Monday — the hottest day since January 26, 2021