Fierce winds stoke fires, bring extreme heat to Australia and New Zealand

WELLINGTON – Wild, hot winds swept across Australia and New Zealand on Oct 22, fuelling wildfires and sending spring temperatures soaring, breaking October heat records in parts of Sydney.

Australia’s weather bureau said a powerful mass of hot air that built up over the country’s outback on Oct 21 was now moving across the south-east of the country and bringing a spring heatwave.

Wind gusts of up to 100kmh raised bushfire threats and forced authorities to issue several total fire bans across New South Wales, the most populous state.

A total of 36 fires are burning, with nine yet to be contained, authorities said.

Almost 2,000 properties also lost power.

Temperatures in Sydney’s central business district soared past 37 deg C by the afternoon, while the western suburbs of Penrith and Bankstown nearly reached 40 deg C, breaking October heat records.

“It is still spring and we are seeing these incredibly warm temperatures,” said Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Angus Hines.

On Sydney’s popular Bondi Beach, Mr Tony Evans, a retiree visiting from England, said he was surprised by the wind’s heat.

“It’s really hot and what surprised me is the temperature of the wind, it’s just no cooling effect and actually it seems like it’s a heating effect and it’s too warm to be comfortable,” he said.

The fire season usually runs from November through February, the late southern hemisphere spring through summer.

Across the Tasman Sea in New Zealand, authorities issued rare “red” level wind warnings - reserved for only the most extreme weather events - for central and southern parts of the country.

Firefighters battled to contain wildfires near Kaikoura on the South Island and in Hawke’s Bay on the North Island, fanned by the winds.

The fires have so far destroyed several properties, including five homes.

Ingka, the parent company of the Swedish furniture giant Ikea, confirmed that fire had burnt some pine trees that were intended for furniture but that it would not impact the company’s global supply chain.

The government also declared a state of emergency in the Canterbury region on the afternoon of Oct 22 to assist in the response to the severe weather conditions.

Forecaster MetService said it expects gusts could reach 150kmh along the South Island’s east coast and up to 140kmh around Wellington, the capital, on Oct 23.

Heavy rain is also forecast for parts of the country.

Authorities said people should stay indoors, avoid travel and prepare for possible power and communications outages.

The warnings follow strong winds and heavy rain on Oct 21 that left thousands without power and killed a man in a Wellington park when a tree branch fell on him. REUTERS