Heatwave kicks off as heat threatens hospitals
Updated ,first published
Temperatures are rising across Sydney as the heatwave searing south-east Australia worsens towards the weekend, with some parts of the city facing temperatures in the 40s for the first time after days of 40 degrees on Thursday.
Temperatures above 30 degrees were recorded as of 11am in all areas of the city observed by the Bureau of Meteorology, except Sydney Harbor and Observatory Hill.
The highest temperature (35.1 degrees) was recorded at Holsworthy Barracks in the southwest.
The temperature is expected to exceed 40 degrees in Penrith, 37 degrees in Parramatta and 33 degrees in the city.
Temperatures will reach the mid-40s in southern and central parts of NSW, including the southern Riverina region where a total fire ban is in place.
The heatwave will push temperatures above 40 degrees in Penrith for three consecutive days, with temperatures in the city also expected to reach 43 degrees on Saturday, with temperatures expected to reach 42 degrees.
Warm days will include warmer-than-normal nights.
“These heat wave conditions can create uncomfortable sleeping conditions and prevent the body from recovering from the heat stress of the day,” said bureau meteorologist Sarah Scully.
At midnight the temperature in most parts of Sydney was still around 23 degrees, but the apparent temperature made it feel like it was 3 to 4 degrees warmer.
Nighttime minimum temperatures in Sydney are expected to remain above 24 degrees as the heatwave progresses, threatening many people’s chances of a good night’s sleep.
NSW Ambulance deputy emergency management manager Steve Vaughan warned some groups, including the very old and very young, were more susceptible to sustained extreme heat and could need assistance in the coming days.
“These are not individual hot days,” Vaughan said.
“These are simultaneous above-average temperatures both day and night and have a compounding effect on the health of the individual.
“If you don’t need to be outside in the heat, stay home, relax and enjoy a cooler environment.”
Extreme fire danger expected in Sydney, ACT, Southern Slopes and Ranges and Monaro Alpine regions on Saturday; The Rural Fire Service is urging people to prepare their properties and ensure they have a plan if a fire approaches.
In the south of the state, which was subject to Thursday’s fire ban, police are investigating two suspicious grass fires in the area northeast of Mulwala in the past two weeks.
“This is a senseless act. Fires can have a devastating impact and lead to loss of life and there is no place for this type of behavior in our society,” said NSW Police Inspector Paul Smith of the Murray River Police District.
While much of the country is sweltering, including Canberra, which is expected to experience three 38-degree days, newly published research has warned that extreme heat is driving more people to the emergency room.
One in 15 emergency room visits were linked to extreme weather between 2000 and 2021, according to analysis published in ACT. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health It was found on Thursday. About 2.5 per cent of all visits in the ACT were heat-related and 4 per cent were extreme cold-related.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Michael Tong said heat-related emergency department visits were 5 to 10 per cent higher in Sydney and Perth.
Heat waves can worsen heart stress, kidney disease and mental health conditions.
“When the daily maximum temperature is above 30 degrees, we can see a significant increase in hospital emergency department visits,” said Tong, of the Australian National University.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park warned of heat-related illness on Wednesday, urging Sydneysiders to stay out of the heat of the day.
Ambulances and hospitals will be stocked with water and additional staff to cope with the expected increase in medical treatments, Park said.
In addition to exacerbating underlying health conditions, extreme heat also causes 78 percent of direct injuries requiring hospitalization from weather events. government data. Injuries can include acute dehydration and severe sunburn.
Tong said all age groups are at risk, but “young people under 20 are significantly more likely to go to a hospital emergency room on hot days” because smaller bodies are more vulnerable to extreme temperatures and children often spend more time outside.
Tong urged people of all ages to stay home during the heatwave and asked them to be aware that a scorching day can have a delayed effect on health for two or three days after exposure to extreme heat.
Tong’s said heat-related health expenses in Sydney could exceed half a billion dollars by 2050 as climate change increases temperatures and days extend above 30 degrees. Previous research has warned.
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Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
