Forecast as heatwave in Western Australia ravages Perth as floods and bushfires hit South Australia
A record heat wave in the west has rocked the records as Perth endured its fifth consecutive day with temperatures of 40°C or more as floods, wildfires and storms ravaged other parts of the country.
The blistering heat wave in Western Australia is expected to enter a sixth day with a predicted high of 39 in the state capital – but weathermen admit it could easily break through 40C again.
Previously, the city had only had four days of intense 40C heat in a row — and the latest streak of rising mercury is rewriting the history books.
Saturday was the 10th day this summer for the heat to break the 40C mark, which is also a record.
A record heat wave in the west has set records tumbling as Perth endured its fifth consecutive day with temperatures of 40°C or more (pictured, beachgoers shelter from the sun at Cottesloe Beach in Perth and cool off with an ice cream cone)
The blistering heatwave in Western Australia is expected to enter a sixth day with a predicted maximum of 39 in the state capital – but weathermen admit it could easily break through 40C again (pictured, sunbathers play bocce on the Cottesloe beach in Perth)
And it comes after the small WA outback town of Onslow recorded Australia’s highest-ever temperature when it reached 50.7°C last week.
Locals flocked to the beaches to cool off, with ambulances on hand in case of heat stroke.
Intense heat and high winds have fueled a bushfire in neighboring South Australia that claimed the life of a woman firewoman Louise Hincks on Friday.
She was killed when a burning tree fell on her while fighting the out-of-control fire near Lucindale, 347 km south east of Adelaide.
A colleague in his 60s was also seriously injured in the tragedy, but survived.
Senior firefighter Louise Hincks (pictured) has died in a severe bushfire in South Australia after a burning tree fell on her on Friday.
Ms Hincks served 28 years with the South Australia Country Fire Service when she went to assist in the blaze near Lucindale, 347km south east of Adelaide (pictured)
The fire (pictured) has been burning since Wednesday and has destroyed 4,000 hectares of blue gum plantations, scrub and grassland
Since Wednesday, the wildfire has destroyed more than 4,000 hectares of blue gum plantations, scrub and grassland.
More than 200 firefighters are still on site to fight the blaze, which was finally brought under control on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, tropical rainfall has led to severe flooding in western and northern South Africa.
The manager of Spud’s Roadhouse in Pimba, 483km north of Adelaide, reported 160mm of rain on Saturday, breaking the road to Woomera and Roxby Downs in two.
Several other roads have been closed due to flooding on the Eyre Peninsula.
Tropical rainfall has led to severe flooding in the western and northern parts of South Africa and several roads have been closed and destroyed (pictured)
A farm in the west of the state has also reported record rainfall, with 181.4mm of rain in 24 hours before 9am on Saturday — the most seen in one day in 53 years.
Senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology Tom Boeck said rainfall has been unlike any for a long time — and warned more was on the way.
“It’s been very heavy in places and we’ve seen rain records break for January in several areas of the Eyre Peninsula,” he said.
“It’s very unique and unusual for this time of year.”
A flood watch has been issued for the Mid North, Flinders Ranges, West Coast, Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and parts of the North West and North East Pastoral districts.
An additional severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the Eyre Peninsula.
Emergency services have warned people in the area to stay alert and plan ahead.
The heat wave is expected to finally subside for Perth on Monday, with temperatures dropping back to an almost icy 33C
Residents flocked to Perth’s beaches to cool off, where ambulances waited on the sidelines in case of heat stroke (pictured)
The heat wave is expected to finally subside for Perth on Monday, with temperatures dropping back to a nearly icy 33C.
But the heat will move inland and east instead, leading to hot and sticky conditions in many other parts of the country.