Temperature hits all-time record in Sydney amid searing heatwave
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Mr Ian Freckleton carts ice and drinks for sale to refresh people gathered on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on Friday, Jan 18, 2013, as temperatures soar to over 45 deg C. High temperatures are contributing to severe conditions for wildfires burning in Australia's eastern states. Temperatures in Sydney on Friday hit their highest levels since records began 150 years ago, after an Australian government agency warned of more frequent and intense heatwaves in the future. -- PHOTO: AP
SYDNEY (AFP) - Temperatures in Sydney on Friday hit their highest levels since records began 150 years ago, after an Australian government agency warned of more frequent and intense heatwaves in the future.
While a vicious cold snap has recently hit Russia and eastern Europe and the Middle East has suffered its worst winter storm in a decade, Australian firefighters were battling scores of wildfires in stifling summer heat.
In Sydney, Australia's biggest city, the temperature smashed the previous hottest recorded temperature peaking at 45.8 degrees Celsius. The old record, of 45.3 C, was set in January 1939.
"It's a historic day for Sydney," Weather Channel meteorologist Dick Whitaker said.
