WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Parts of Australia endured a record-breaking heat wave on Tuesday, with temperatures soaring close to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) amid the country’s prolonged heatwave.
Rural towns Hopetoun and Walpeup in Victoria recorded preliminary highs of 48.9°C (120°F). If confirmed, these would surpass records set in 2009—the day of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires that killed 173 people.
No casualties were reported from Tuesday’s heat wave, but Victoria authorities warned residents to exercise caution as three forest fires remained out of control in the state.
In Melbourne, the heat approached record highs. At Melbourne Park, the Australian Open tennis tournament saw a drastic drop in crowds outside the venue as the scorching temperatures forced people to seek shade or stay home.
Inside the stadium, organizers implemented extreme heat protocols, closing retractable roofs over the main courts and postponing matches on the uncovered outer courts. During the quarterfinal match between Aryna Sabalenka and Iva Jovic the last match played under the blazing sun, players used ice packs and portable fans during breaks to cope with the heat.
Photographers were provided with cushions to prevent heat-related injuries while seated and covered their cameras with towels to avoid overheating or burns. Fans sought relief in front of giant misting fans or in air-conditioned areas.
Attendance at the event, which had seen record-breaking crowds in previous days, fell from about 50,000 on Monday to 21,000 on Tuesday as the public heeded health warnings.
Temperatures are expected to drop on Wednesday, though the heat wave is forecast to continue through the weekend. This heat surge follows an earlier wave earlier this month during one of Australia’s hottest summers on record.
On Monday, parts of New South Wales and South Australia also hit record temperatures, with some locations surpassing levels recorded during the destructive 2019 forest fire season.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
