Late 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave
Encyclopedia
| Late 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave | |
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| Dates | Late October – mid November 2009 |
| Areas affected | South Australia South Australia South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland... , Victoria Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... , southern New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... , ACT Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory... , Tasmania Tasmania Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart... |
| Casualties | Suspected but unconfirmed |
The late 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave (also referred to as the November 2009 heat wave and the South Australian heat wave) was a heat wave
Heat wave
A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity. There is no universal definition of a heat wave; the term is relative to the usual weather in the area...
that occurred in the southeastern Australian states of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and southern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Daily maximum temperatures during the heat wave were roughly 10 °C (18 °F) above average in many locations. Capital cities Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
recorded temperatures over 35 °C (95 °F), and some regional towns recorded temperatures above 40 °C (104 °F). Above average temperatures in the region began in late October and persisted until mid-November 2009.
Many locations through the region broke temperature records for November. This heat wave was the second experienced in the region within a 10 month period, following the early 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave in January and February 2009, to which 374 deaths were attributed. Although the earlier heat wave was far more intense, the later heat wave was more extensive and long lasting.
The heat wave was caused by a combination of factors, including hot, dry winds caused by a slow-moving high-pressure system
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
that had settled over the Tasman Sea
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
, an El Niño
El Niño-Southern Oscillation
El Niño/La Niña-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, is a quasiperiodic climate pattern that occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean roughly every five years...
event occurring in the pacific ocean, and gradually rising temperatures across southern Australia, probably as a result of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
.
Overview
Although many locations in the region experienced above average temperatures at the end of October 2009, temperatures dropped in the beginning of November, thus the heat wave is generally cited to have begun on 6 or 7 November 2009. The heat wave was expected to last until the end of the week (13 November) with high temperatures forecast to last until such time.According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the high pressure system was expected to move on, enabling a trough of low pressure to bring cooler temperatures to the region by 15 or 16 November.
Consequences
Conditions involving higher than average temperatures over prolonged periods of time, coupled with a few days of gusty northerly winds, has led to an moderately increased risk of bushfires occurring in the region. On 10 November, three controlled burns in Victoria broke containment lines after being caught in high speed wind gusts. As a result, the Department of Sustainability and Environment and Country Fire AuthorityCountry Fire Authority
Country Fire Authority, or CFA, is the name of the fire service that provides firefighting and other emergency services to all of the country areas and regional townships within the state of Victoria, Australia, as well as large portions of the outer suburban areas and growth corridors of Melbourne...
suspended all controlled burning operations until the end of the week. A senior forecaster for the Bureau of Meteorology stated, "We've generally had winds in that 20 km/h range, and although fire dangers are in the very high range and today [11 November] they are getting into the severe range in the north west of the state, we're not getting the strong winds which give us extreme fire dangers."
Electricity usage during the heat wave increased significantly, due to increased demand from air conditioning.
Human health
It is suspected that some deaths attributable to the heat wave occurred. Residents living in north-facing rooms in Melbourne's public housing high-rise buildings wrapped neighbours in wet blankets during the peak of the heat wave. A number of deaths occurred on the northern sides of the high-rise public housing during the Jan–Feb heat wave. Housing for the Aged Action Group has been campaigning for air-conditioning in these rooms for over 20 years.Responses
Many sources have postulated that the occurrence of a heat wave outside of normal summer months for the region, may be attributable to climate changeClimate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
. A spokesperson from the Climate Emergency Action Network related, "Adelaide's unprecedented November heatwave is classic climate-change weather."
Mildura, Victoria
- 13 Consecutive days over 30 °C (86 °F)
- 8 Consecutive days over 35 °C (95 °F)
- 6 Consecutive days over 38 °C (100.4 °F)
- 2 Consecutive days over 40 °C (104 °F)
- Average daily maximum for the first 16 days of November: 35.2 °C (95.4 °F)
Melbourne, Victoria
- 13 Consecutive days over November daily maximum average
- 5 Consecutive days over 32 °C (89.6 °F) (most consecutive days over 30 °C (86 °F) in November since 1896)
- 7 Consecutive days over 27 °C (80.6 °F)
- Average daily maximum 29 October – 16 November: 28.1 °C (82.6 °F)
- Average daily maximum 7 – 14 November: 32.4 °C (90.3 °F)
During the hottest week of the heat wave the average maximum high was 10.5 °C (18.9 °F) higher than the normal November average maximum high of 21.9 °C (71.4 °F). Throughout the entire heat wave, the average maximum was 6.2 °C (11 °F) hotter than normal.
During the peak of the heat wave, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
experienced a total of five consecutive days over 32 °C (89.6 °F) according to the Bureau of Meteorology. This is its longest successive run of 30 °C (86 °F)+ days in November since 1896, when the city experienced a run of six 30 °C (86 °F) days in a row during November. Temperatures on 9 and 10 November of 35.5 °C (95.9 °F) and 36.3 °C (97.3 °F) respectively, were the hottest days since Black Saturday on 7 February 2009, when the maximum hit a record 46.4 °C (115.5 °F) in Melbourne, during the 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave
2009 southeastern Australia heat wave
The early 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave was a heat wave that commenced in late January and led to record-breaking prolonged high temperatures in the region. The heat wave is considered one of the, if not the, most extreme in the region's history. During the heat wave, fifty separate...
10 months earlier.
7.5?
Adelaide, South Australia
- 10 Consecutive days over 30 °C (86 °F)
- 8 Consecutive days over 35 °C (95 °F) – New record set on 12 November 2009 and broken again on 13 November after breaking the previous 4 consecutive days over 35 °C (95 °F) record which was set in 1894.
- 6 Consecutive days over 38 °C (100.4 °F) – New record set after breaking the previous 3 consecutive days over 38 °C (100.4 °F) record which was set in 1888, 1922 and 1984.
- Average daily maximum 1 November – 20 November: 34 °C (93.2 °F)
- Average daily maximum 8 – 15 November: 38.6 °C (101.5 °F)
- Highest November temperature ever recorded – 43 °C (109.4 °F) 19 November 2009 at 4:32pm ACDT. Previous record was 42 °C (107.6 °F) recorded on 13 November 1993.
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
- 22 Consecutive days over November daily maximum average.
- 16 Consecutive days over 30 °C (86 °F)
- 3 Consecutive days over 35 °C (95 °F)
- 2 Consecutive days over 40 °C (104 °F)
- November 2009 maximum average: 32.8 °C (91 °F) which was 7.2 °C (12.9 °F) above the long-term average of 25.6 °C (78.1 °F).
- November 2009 minimum average: 15.8 °C (60.4 °F) which was 5.1°C (9.1°F) above the long-term average of 10.7 °C (51.3 °F).
On 16 November, Wagga Wagga broke the record of seven days over 35 °C (95 °F) set in 1981 with thirteen days over 35 °C (95 °F) so far recorded in November 2009.
30 November, Wagga Wagga broke the record mean maximum, recording 32.8 with the previous record 30.2 °C (86.4 °F) set in 1982 and the mean minimum of 15.8 °C (60.4 °F) with the previous record was 14.7 °C (58.5 °F) which was set in 2007.
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
- November 2009 maximum average: 29 °C (84.2 °F) which was 6.3°C (11.3°F) above the long-term average of 22.7 °C (72.9 °F).
- November 2009 minimum average: 12.7 °C (54.9 °F) which was 4.0°C (7.2°F) above the long-term average of 8.7 °C (47.7 °F).
AdelaideAdelaideAdelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
October 2009
- 27th – 26.3 °C (79.3 °F)
- 28th – 30.1 °C (86.2 °F)
- 29th – 33.7 °C (92.7 °F)
- 30th – 33.1 °C (91.6 °F)
- 31st – 32.5 °C (90.5 °F)
November
- 1st – 34.9 °C (94.8 °F)
- 2nd – 37.9 °C (100.2 °F)
- 3rd – 20 °C (68 °F)
- 4th – 19.3 °C (66.7 °F)
- 5th – 20.4 °C (68.7 °F)
- 6th – 28.2 °C (82.8 °F)
- 7th – 34.4 °C (93.9 °F)
- 8th – 36.7 °C (98.1 °F)
- 9th – 37 °C (98.6 °F)
- 10th – 38.6 °C (101.5 °F)
- 11th – 39.2 °C (102.6 °F)
- 12th – 39 °C (102.2 °F)
- 13th – 38.7 °C (101.7 °F)
- 14th – 39.5 °C (103.1 °F)
- 15th – 39.4 °C (102.9 °F)
- 16th – 31.9 °C (89.4 °F)
- 17th – 29 °C (84.2 °F)
- 18th – 38.9 °C (102 °F)
- 19th – 43 °C (109.4 °F) – New November record breaking the previous record of 42 °C (107.6 °F) set on 30 November 1993)
- 20th – 34.4 °C (93.9 °F)
MilduraMildura, VictoriaMildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
, VictoriaVictoria (Australia)Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
October 2009
- 26th – 25.5 °C (77.9 °F)
- 27th – 28.4 °C (83.1 °F)
- 28th – 32 °C (89.6 °F)
- 29th – 33.6 °C (92.5 °F)
- 30th – 35.8 °C (96.4 °F)
- 31st – 38.2 °C (100.8 °F)
November
- 1st – 39.3 °C (102.7 °F)
- 2nd – 40.3 °C (104.5 °F)
- 3rd – 23.8 °C (74.8 °F)
- 4th – 24.2 °C (75.6 °F)
- 5th – 23.4 °C (74.1 °F)
- 6th – 30 °C (86 °F)
- 7th – 35.3 °C (95.5 °F)
- 8th – 34.7 °C (94.5 °F)
- 9th – 36.3 °C (97.3 °F)
- 10th – 38.5 °C (101.3 °F)
- 11th – 41 °C (105.8 °F)
- 12th – 41.1 °C (106 °F)
- 13th – 38.2 °C (100.8 °F)
- 14th – 40.3 °C (104.5 °F)
- 15th – 41.6 °C (106.9 °F)
- 16th – 35.3 °C (95.5 °F)
- 17th – 31.6 °C (88.9 °F)
- 18th – 42.1 °C (107.8 °F)
- 19th – 41.7 °C (107.1 °F)
- 20th – 35.3 °C (95.5 °F)
Forecast
- 19th – 43 °C (109.4 °F)
- 20th – 38 °C (100.4 °F)
- 21st – 26 °C (78.8 °F) (rain)
Wagga WaggaWagga Wagga, New South WalesWagga Wagga is a city in New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, and with an urban population of 46,735 people, Wagga Wagga is the state's largest inland city, as well as an important agricultural, military, and transport hub of Australia...
, New South Wales
October 2009
- 27th – 24.4 °C (75.9 °F)
- 28th – 29.3 °C (84.7 °F)
- 29th – 25.7 °C (78.3 °F)
- 30th – 31.1 °C (88 °F)
- 31st – 34.1 °C (93.4 °F)
November
- 1st – 36.5 °C (97.7 °F)
- 2nd – 38.5 °C (101.3 °F)
- 3rd – 30.6 °C (87.1 °F)
- 4th – 25.7 °C (78.3 °F)
- 5th – 27.8 °C (82 °F)
- 6th – 28.8 °C (83.8 °F)
- 7th – 30.5 °C (86.9 °F)
- 8th – 32.3 °C (90.1 °F)
- 9th – 34.9 °C (94.8 °F)
- 10th – 35.7 °C (96.3 °F)
- 11th – 37.9 °C (100.2 °F)
- 12th – 40.2 °C (104.4 °F)
- 13th – 33.5 °C (92.3 °F)
- 14th – 35.7 °C (96.3 °F)
- 15th – 37.9 °C (100.2 °F)
- 16th – 38.5 °C (101.3 °F)
- 17th – 32.5 °C (90.5 °F)
- 18th – 35.2 °C (95.4 °F)
- 19th – 40.8 °C (105.4 °F)
- 20th – 41.8 °C (107.2 °F) - 1.0°C (1.8°F) off equalling the 1997 November record of 42.8 °C (109 °F).
- 21st – 30.3 °C (86.5 °F)
- 22nd – 31.6 °C (88.9 °F)
- 23rd – 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) – First average November day
- 24th – 23.6 °C (74.5 °F)
- 25th – 36.3 °C (97.3 °F)
Forecast
- 26th – 37 °C (98.6 °F)
- 27th – 31 °C (87.8 °F)
- 28th – 27 °C (80.6 °F)
- 29th – 23 °C (73.4 °F)
CanberraCanberraCanberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, ACT
November
- 1st – 31.7 °C (89.1 °F)
- 2nd – 33.3 °C (91.9 °F)
- 3rd – 31.3 °C (88.3 °F)
- 4th – 24.4 °C (75.9 °F)
- 5th – 18.3 °C (64.9 °F)
- 6th – 20.3 °C (68.5 °F)
- 7th – 24.5 °C (76.1 °F)
- 8th – 28.9 °C (84 °F)
- 9th – 31.6 °C (88.9 °F)
- 10th – 33 °C (91.4 °F)
- 11th – 33.2 °C (91.8 °F)
- 12th – 35.2 °C (95.4 °F)
- 13th – 26.6 °C (79.9 °F)
- 14th – 33 °C (91.4 °F)
- 15th – 33.9 °C (93 °F)
- 16th – 34.3 °C (93.7 °F)
- 17th – 28.1 °C (82.6 °F)
- 18th – 31.5 °C (88.7 °F)
- 19th – 38.2 °C (100.8 °F)
- 20th – 38.9 °C (102 °F) – equalling the 1997 November record.
- 21st – 29.8 °C (85.6 °F)
- 22nd – 29.6 °C (85.3 °F)
MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
October 2009
- 29th – 30.6 °C (87.1 °F)
- 30th – 26.5 °C (79.7 °F)
- 31st – 33.1 °C (91.6 °F)
November
- 1st – 20.1 °C (68.2 °F)
- 2nd – 29.4 °C (84.9 °F)
- 3rd – 21.9 °C (71.4 °F)
- 4th – 18.1 °C (64.6 °F)
- 5th – 19.3 °C (66.7 °F)
- 6th – 25.4 °C (77.7 °F)
- 7th – 32.2 °C (90 °F)
- 8th – 34.2 °C (93.6 °F)
- 9th – 35.5 °C (95.9 °F)
- 10th – 36.3 °C (97.3 °F)
- 11th – 34.4 °C (93.9 °F)
- 12th – 29.8 °C (85.6 °F)
- 13th – 27.1 °C (80.8 °F)
- 14th – 30.3 °C (86.5 °F)
- 15th – 25.8 °C (78.4 °F)
- 16th – 22.7 °C (72.9 °F)
- 17th – 22.6 °C (72.7 °F)
- 18th – 33.4 °C (92.1 °F)
- 19th – 34.6 °C (94.3 °F) – Hottest November overnight minimum: 22.9 °C (73.2 °F)
- 20th – 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) – Hottest day in Melbourne since Black Saturday
HobartHobartHobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, TasmaniaTasmaniaTasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
November
- 19th – 31.3 °C (88.3 °F)
- 20th – 32.6 °C (90.7 °F)