Aussie Sizzle: January Set The Bar for Heat
On Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology announced that January rolled off the planet with a blazing record, predicting that the Aussie summer will keep cooking through April.
What Caused The Burning Big Bang?
It all boiled down to a stubborn high‑pressure system hanging out off the southeast coast. This atmospheric wall blocked the chill from the north, forcing temperatures to do a jump‑start past 40 °C in several spots.
- Delayed monsoon means no refreshing moist air from the north.
- A hundred‑year warming streak has nudged Aussie temperatures by more than 1 °C, giving the heat an extra boost.
Consequences of the Scorching Spell
The relentless heat drove power outages in some regions, ramped up electricity costs, and burned out homes in Tasmania’s southern island state.
A Temperature Record-Breaker
Dr. Andrew Watkins, a senior climatologist at the bureau, told viewers that all three metrics—maximum, minimum, and mean—topped their charts, marking the first time Australia has been hotter in a single month since records began in 1910.
His bolstered forecast: the heat wave is expected to soldier on at least through February, slipping into March and spilling into April.
January’s Meteoric Numbers
The overall mean temperature across the country soared past 30 °C.
New South Wales and Victoria, the twin powerhouses of pop, marked their warmest averages, lows, and highs for January.
- New South Wales: one of the driest Januarys ever.
- Victoria: rainfall dipped below 20 % of its usual January total.
- Tasmania: the driest January recorded, which ruffled its hydropower reliance.
- Western Australia: its driest January since 2005.
Predicting the West Coast Weather
The bureau warned that the western coast will likely face dry, hot weather over the next three months—something that could dent wheat yields in Australia, the world’s fourth‑largest exporter.
So if you’re planning to celebrate your in‑country potluck, remember it’s the very hottest month on record. Grab the cooler foods, bring extra fans, and stay hydrated!
