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Extreme heat and raging wildfires have devastated the dry landscape of Western Australia. With mercury levels forecast to persist climbing above 40C (104F) over the next few days, a major alert for extreme heat has been issued across much of the southwestern region.

Broad Heatwave Warnings Across the Region

These conditions follow recent fires in New South Wales, which resulted in the destruction of properties and loss of life. Intense heat alerts have additionally been issued for the coming days in areas within South Australia and New South Wales, as a ridge of high pressure moves to the east, delivering intense sunshine to a broad swath of the area.

The mix of tinder-dry vegetation and unbroken high temperatures creates a dangerous situation for firefighters.

Global Weather Extremes Cause Chaos

In another part of the world, a major city was plunged into darkness last week after strong winds compromised the city’s electrical network, with toppled trees bringing down electricity cables. The stormy weather also caused major transport delays at a major airport, where hundreds of air services were grounded. Substantial impact on power systems is anticipated to create further issues as service providers work urgently to reconnect electricity to more than 1 million residents.

Atypical Fog Covers Sunny Area

Meanwhile, a valley famed for its clear skies and abundant sunlight has experienced one of its grayest and foggiest periods on recorded history. A specific type of low cloud, which usually lingers for only a short time, has been unusually widespread and persistent this year, keeping the mercury at a key transport hub under 8C for over a week – the longest such streak in over three decades. The extended fog has been driven by exceptional autumn precipitation that left the ground saturated.

• Primary Driver: Record autumn rainfall saturated the ground.
• Outcome: Extended and dense mist development.
• Effect: Temperatures stayed unseasonably low for an lengthy time.

Storm Delivers Wintry Weather to Tourist Islands

And in Spain, a powerful storm has brought heavy rain, strong gales and even snow to a group of islands – weather many would not connect with this favored holiday destination. While wintry precipitation is not unheard of at higher ground, the storm brought some of the heaviest snow depths since 2016 to a national park, compelling its closure.

In addition to the snowfall, strong winds from the north swept across the island chain, with wind gusts reaching 50mph observed on multiple islands. The influence of the storm is forecast to ease this week with more seasonal weather returning.