Australia’s 47°C Heatwave Brings Fires, Storms, and Record Rainfall

[{"selector":"#anim-32f4fb38-a966-4ab7-8af4-95722699496e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71fd6eb8-e684-4ddc-8a06-6b8417d1e166","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-96c28211-c728-4eb8-b5d4-86137c0a9910","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c53b38a4-3906-4b5a-aca7-967348d1e2cf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-124.75728%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Australia’s 47°C Heatwave Brings Fires, Storms, and Record Rainfall Karmactive Staff

Half of Australia faces scorching temperatures from Darwin to Victoria, with temperatures exceeding 40°C across the country.

[{"selector":"#anim-b47f5d46-decf-4209-8e01-02fcf97ab173","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f10b5a0-0060-4968-ac4e-453e33c63919","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2759c6d-e758-4387-bbf0-b1ebaee15254","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5eaf1ff-e50c-480c-8a78-c43967e61e3a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d2fa742-8cb9-47ac-a646-93a794c7ee39","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Andrea Piacquadio (Pexels) Photo Source: Andrea Piacquadio (Pexels)

Temperatures will soar up to 15 degrees Celsius above average during the coming days in south-east Australia.

[{"selector":"#anim-26256f36-1c7d-4446-a4ca-4a820d68e155","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60f741df-b64f-41ce-b01f-d93977876b1b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 249.72502%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a5a6684-fb3a-44c9-b804-11789523e384","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20a57731-1daf-49ac-83d6-cfd3bd13a363","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-821a1146-2f0b-4eed-98d6-a8dd7a2d9d16","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Anna Urlapova (Pexels) Photo Source: Anna Urlapova (Pexels)

Melbourne anticipates 41°C while Canberra expects 38°C on Monday, marking their warmest days since January 2020.

[{"selector":"#anim-1d515fdb-83e2-4ed7-9ab5-07c7e6f281ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6b7d2b6-f26b-4ed0-abda-0a0301b48bb5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65de16fe-e445-495e-85fc-aa11a8c6ef2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a172059-0710-4add-9d92-55affb8e689e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f56a1746-12ca-4647-b839-6547310d6a28","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: George Becker (Freerange) Photo Source: George Becker (Freerange)

Western towns like Ivanhoe and Wilcannia could break December records with blistering temperatures reaching 47°C.

[{"selector":"#anim-7c426247-5be1-47ce-b5c5-1e5f952d5fae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed64c285-7543-4794-acd6-25c0a0792215","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.52108%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df9418f1-8737-46fc-9ec5-efddf940b12c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-458f53e0-0945-4dd4-8998-12a16ffa719f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76ab58a2-ed46-4ac3-93b4-002dfe834279","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Link576 (CC BY-NC 2.0) Photo Source: Link576 (CC BY-NC 2.0)

A heat dome over tropical and central Australia causes air to sink, compress and warm while limiting air mixing.

[{"selector":"#anim-afd8751f-2bd8-45bb-9a0e-8969271c4f00","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75cf3f15-2db7-4163-9e64-486bf2da107e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1e0f7f9-dd9f-4afd-8d3a-c0703295fb33","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-def2558d-b501-4d52-9058-cfdc19c613da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30b3d722-0f76-42ec-9ea7-dbb89fba727e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Marian Pollock (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Photo Source: Marian Pollock (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Perth already hit 40.4°C on Wednesday, recording its hottest December day in three years.

[{"selector":"#anim-d3ff0ddc-ba74-4ff1-9cf7-d2785c0321b7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3721ab6-99d2-41b7-be42-f7ce997d4da1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 249.72502%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43d0d2cd-d44b-42d4-84b1-bbf5ee7b5800","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6870c623-8869-4796-8fff-dd8b1c36426e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09634c05-640e-4cfe-af8f-95f441b39d95","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Peter Thoeny (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Photo Source: Peter Thoeny (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Extreme fire dangers loom over eastern SA and central Victoria, with winds averaging 40 kilometers per hour and humidity below 10%.

[{"selector":"#anim-49eb0591-96de-4388-87ef-5bf92721a513","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-abd6e485-6cc3-4a81-81f2-d9a4797835cb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dac9b944-af5b-4c1a-80b5-a259f9d9338d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a90bd955-54e7-45da-b2ea-d67a932cb8fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38678620-e357-45ef-9312-ffabb7de7f1e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: New Matlida (CC BY 2.0) Photo Source: New Matlida (CC BY 2.0)

Queensland and Western Australia experience thunderstorms, with Black River recording 182mm rainfall in 24 hours.

[{"selector":"#anim-ce1c082b-62d7-404a-8619-526650e4a48d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be84ca96-3816-4d12-8e18-bf32636e98bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.52108%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ad867ed0-e1de-4080-aa24-860344bb227e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb0f77c0-6937-4432-9af9-5a10a7a50f49","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e440e640-924e-4038-9913-136e5b6fd7b2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Jonwestra (CC BY 2.0) Photo Source: Jonwestra (CC BY 2.0)

The Bureau of Meteorology warns of severe-to-low-intensity heatwave conditions, particularly affecting WA's Kimberley region.

[{"selector":"#anim-b9ef2d9e-6b89-4c68-86cf-0db9fd489188","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1d057a8-7731-41bd-a1e3-a15082017231","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcb08f40-199a-4135-bb71-9516c8617756","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e133ba67-7357-403d-bac4-e94508de734e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d691f957-7457-4e53-813b-56d8c06082df","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Sacha Fremandez (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Photo Source: Sacha Fremandez (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Medium-range predictions suggest continued hot and dry conditions through Christmas, with elevated risks of additional heatwaves.

[{"selector":"#anim-776c3958-88ce-4ae5-becb-e9776085065a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5f68ebf-5baa-4f19-b480-7c39d5866add","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.52108%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f99a5a2-ac34-4e29-b890-c2cc9b88c54c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d2bde8a-38f8-4319-a9bb-94eb9a6191d2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ed9a6fb-8fe0-4a66-bb41-0091a040b57d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: kgbo (CC BY-SA 4.0) Photo Source: kgbo (CC BY-SA 4.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-b66cb697-ea46-42f6-8d26-a2c8f5be395d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f56aeb78-e67d-41d0-8143-c79ff4c80167","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56901ed4-1da5-4636-b517-28835dd72be7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f53e7be9-94cd-4ddb-85dd-c6da02195d83","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f064d5e-0dab-47eb-b717-4cab737bac41","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.87301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Australia Bans Social Media for Kids Under 16 with $49.5M Fines for Violations Learn more