Forecaster says heatwave a class act

ADELAIDE'S heatwave is a "class act" as it challenges records dating back more than 70 years, a senior forecaster says.

Adelaide sweltered through 45C on Tuesday, just one degree short of its all time high of 46.1C set on January 12, 1939.

The heatwave was also forecast to give the city five consecutive days above 40C, making it the city's third longest hot spell.

In 1908 and 2009, Adelaide recorded six days above 40C, but Bureau of Meteorology acting regional director John Nairn said they both came at a time when Australia was gripped by drought.

"It's a class act in terms of a heatwave, so it does deserve our attention," Mr Nairn said.

While Adelaide sizzled, the hottest spot in SA on Tuesday was Keith, in the southeast, where the mercury hit 47.2C while at Pallamana, east of Adelaide, it reached 46.3C and at Lameroo and Port Augusta 46.2C.

The conditions prompted Premier Jay Weatherill to convene a special Emergency Management Council meeting to allow the government and emergency services to discuss the threats posed by the high temperatures.

"People need to closely monitor the weather in their area and ensure they are prepared for extreme circumstances," Mr Weatherill said.

The premier said forecast thunderstorms in some districts were also increasing the risk of major bushfires.

On Tuesday the Country Fire Service battled a string of incidents, including fires in the Adelaide Hills, on Kangaroo Island, on Eyre Peninsula, at Cape Jervis and in the mid-north.

In the Barossa Valley about 1000 homes and businesses lost power while almost 4000 suffered a cut to services across Adelaide's inner-northern suburbs.

The state's ambulance service reported a 12 per cent rise in demand for its services with about 20 heat-related admissions to local hospitals in the 24 hours to 8am (CDST) on Tuesday.

An ambulance service spokesman said Wednesday and Thursday were likely to be the worst days for heat-related calls.

Temperatures are expected to hit 45C on Wednesday and 46C on Thursday before a cool changes sweeps across the state on Friday.

After the Emergency Management Council meeting, Mr Weatherill said he was confident the situation remained under control.

"But there are great concerns about the very extreme weather conditions which are quite changeable," the premier told Network 10.

He said emergency services still had plenty of spare capacity and were liaising with interstate authorities to supplement resources if necessary.

"We're well placed at the moment and everybody understands the nature of the threat and is well prepared to respond to it," Mr Weatherill said.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Forecaster says heatwave a class act

Dengan url

http://mesinjahitan.blogspot.com/2014/01/forecaster-says-heatwave-class-act.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Forecaster says heatwave a class act

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Forecaster says heatwave a class act

sebagai sumbernya