Heatwave and fires hit NSW Outback

The summer of 23/24 has begun with surprising rain events, heatwaves and bushfires. Photo TWH

A summer heatwave has seen temperatures soar across The Outback and fires breaking out late last week.

Heatwave conditions are forecasted for all of far western NSW, with top temperatures forecasted to be in the high 30s to low 40s until Christmas.

On Friday, Neale Fraser, Senior Meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), said most inland NSW can expect temperatures to remain high.

“Western regions can expect it to remain quite hot for the next four or five days at least, perhaps even longer,” Mr Fraser said. “Maximum temperatures can be expected in the low to mid-40s right throughout this west of the divide.”

At 1.30 pm last Thursday, a high of 42.9 degrees was recorded at the Bourke weather station, with Walgett recording 41.9 degrees at 4 pm on the same day.

In Brewarrina last Friday, temperatures were expected to reach 43 degrees. The state’s highest maximum last week was 46.4 degrees, recorded at Smithville near the SA border on December 7.

The soaring temperatures have prompted BOM to issue a severe heatwave warning across the NSW Outback, saying that extreme heatwaves can be dangerous for everyone.

“Most of the inland will remain very hot,” Mr Fraser said. “Another heatwave will continue right through into next week.”

Meanwhile, the high temperatures and lightning activity late last week have led to a total of eight bushfires across the Far Western District of NSW. […]

Read more in the printed edition of The Western Herald.

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