Australians are being urged to exercise caution at beaches as a severe heatwave grip much of the country. Lifeguards warn of increased risks in the surf amid a surge in beachgoers seeking relief from the sweltering temperatures expected in the coming days.
Five states and territories, including New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, and the ACT, are under a heatwave advisory. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has alerted residents to brace for conditions that could bring maximum temperatures ranging from the low thirties to the mid-forties, with minimums remaining high in the late teens to twenties.
Queensland and the NT are predicted to be among the world’s hottest regions this week, with temperatures expected to exceed 40°C across much of the northern landscape. In Queensland’s Birdsville, for example, temperatures hit 45.2°C on Tuesday, only cooling to 31.7°C overnight.
The prolonged heat is being driven by a low-pressure trough across the continent, creating a pool of intense spring heat from the eastern interior to northern WA. BOM forecasts indicate these severe conditions will persist into next week, impacting regions including Queensland’s northern districts, NSW’s border towns, and northern territories like the NT’s Daly, Tiwi, and Arnhem regions.
Surf Life Saving Australia CEO Adam Weir has urged beachgoers to prioritize safety, especially as lifeguards anticipate a significant rise in visitors to beaches. “Listen to our surf lifesavers, know your limits, and swim between the flags,” he advised. For Northern Territory residents, he emphasized the importance of “stinger safety” due to marine stinger risks in coastal waters.
With extreme heat intensifying across the nation, authorities are reminding the public to heed warnings and take precautions in both water and on land.
+ There are no comments
Add yours