Australia is burning up
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340118)
Rockingham, Australia
December 19, 2019 7:45am CST
I’ve been telling people that our area doesn’t have too many days of 40C (104F) in summer but this year is proving me very wrong.
The whole of Australia is experiencing increased temperatures with many, many places have maxima over 40C. On Wednesday, the average maximum temperature from around the country was 41.9 degrees Celsius. This beat the record of 40.7C, which was only set the day before. The previous record of 40.3C was set in January 2013.
On Thursday, the Nullarbor weather station in South Australia hit 49.9C (121.82). Roads are melting in some places and there are massive fires in some areas. Gusty conditions are blowing heat and smoke across Sydney in New South Wales, mostly from the fire at Gospers Mountain. This fire has affected about 420,000 hectares (1,037,842 acres) of land.
Parts of Sydney’s south-west recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 673 on Thursday afternoon. Anything over 200 is considered "hazardous" for health.
Locally, someone has been lighting fires to the north of us. Six were deliberately lit about three days ago. There was another fire reported in the same area today but I don’t know if that was due to arson or not.
Photo is of a fire we lit in winter when we were burning leaves and wood that we couldn't salvage for our fire.
41 people like this
40 responses
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
19 Dec 19
People who start fires for destructive purposes are out of their mind. 
5 people like this
@snowy22315 (180793)
• United States
19 Dec 19
I dread the summer. I am much more comfortable in the fall and winter..especially with these days of global warming..summer is the pits. All I can say, is get used to it!
4 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46955)
• India
20 Dec 19
@JudyEv
A lot needs to change and does Sydney's South West has too many vehicles or factories?
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46955)
• India
21 Dec 19
@JudyEv
Oh so the forest fires are causing so much of smoke and pollution!
1 person likes this
@youless (112497)
• Guangzhou, China
20 Dec 19
A few days ago I know it is quite hot in Australia lately. I even think probably it can be even hotter than in the desserts. The global weather has really become strange. I couldn't imagine it would be so hot in Australia in the past.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100296)
• India
20 Dec 19
Deliberately lit? Or carelessly lit? We do not have as many fires. The few we have are essentially due to carelessness. Nature is kinder to our breed...may be it takes care of creations that are ignoramuses. And we do experience almost 44C out here.. but accompanying gust of winds are not there. I am fine till about 36C to 38C, with fan of course. Beyond that I need air conditioner. I do try to minimize usage because it affects AQI. And we have the worst ever quality of all such facilities..
Estimation of perceptions about pollution in Hyderabad. Result of surveys about air pollution, water pollution, greens and parks satisfaction, light and noise pollution, etc.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 19
Some of these are being deliberately lit. And normally air pollution is not such a big deal but because of the fires, the AQI has risen incredibly.
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
19 Dec 19
Oh no! stay safe. That is insane heat.
2 people like this
@mynameiskate (2574)
•
19 Dec 19
These rising temperatures around the world are causing a lot of fire storms. Hope no one gets hurt in any of them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Dec 19
@mynameiskate Sometimes fire-fighters get killed when a tree falls across their escape route. Many people do leave their homes and go somewhere safer.
1 person likes this
@mynameiskate (2574)
•
20 Dec 19
@JudyEv Do you think the deaths could have been avoided. If it was me I would leave my stuff and get as far away as possible.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
27 Dec 19
@JudyEv Let’s see How our summer becomes - we had fiers in some places here too, but not like your country..
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Dec 19
@buenavida Some places have had droughts for years and some of the places are like a tinder-box.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112879)
• El Paso, Texas
8 Feb 20
That's pretty hot. We have years when we too get that hot and so far our record highs were set in the early part of the last decade when we had 15 straight days of over 46c or higher, the good part was that it's a dry heat which makes it much better than if we had had high humidity.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
21 Dec 19
i'm so saddened 't the horrific fires that keep plaguin' the country, hon. i hope the arsonists 're caught 'n face swift 'n painful consequences. those high winds 'n heat make 't that much dangerous. i feel fer all'n 'ts path.
've been hopin' a cool front'll pass through the area'n aide'n the firefighters battles. fingers crossed y'all stay safe.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
24 Dec 19
@JudyEv yer welcome, hon. i confess to worryin' quite a bit. i've seen those, too. most horrific sight :( one'd need to get 't least a mile 'head 'n cut out a minimum 'f 1/2 miles worth 'f land i fear. i keep hopin' fer cooler temps fer yer neck 'f the woods 'n some danged rain. stay safe, my friend! 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Dec 19
@crazyhorseladycx Thank you. With such huge flames, embers can land even a mile ahead of the fire and the flames cause a 'crown fire', leaping across the tops of the trees. But I'm sure you know this.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121596)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec 19
First, California was on fire. Now Australia is on fire. We live in perilous times I suppose. What gets me is why someone would intentionally set fires, especially when it does nothing but contribute to our rapidly increasing climate change. Changes seem to be speeding up exponentially now, and I wonder if we've crossed that point of no return? I hope we as global citizens can all wort together to find a solution to global warming.
I hope the fires don't end up affecting the area where you live!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121596)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Dec 19
@JudyEv I guess the best thing to do to help the cause is just be vigilant. Report any suspicious activity. Report any sight of smoke you see. Keep debris to a minimum in areas you can control. Things like that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Dec 19
@moffittjc That's true. We have a generator if the power goes out so our pump would still work. And we try to keep the area around the house clear of any rubbish.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Dec 19
Thanks for the good wishes. We're fine at the moment but it only takes one imbecile to drop a match and the whole outlook changes. I don't know how you stop the arsonists but of course lightning causes some fires as does machinery or carelessness.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
20 Dec 19
How terrible that some sick person is actually setting fires! This is awful, to imagine someone being so evil:(
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
20 Dec 19
@JudyEv What a dangerous and wicked way to prove a point, that might not be true!
1 person likes this
