Record Heatwave In Australia, death toll down to 173

[Sanibel]

Australians are blaming global warming:


http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1876299,00.html

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

From record cold to record heat in a few weeks- this is a perfect example
of the severe amplitude of jet stream exacerbations- and global warming
is likely a big factor...I wouldn't be surprised if parts of Florida
saw temperatures in the mid 100s (95-105*F) with heat index values
of 110-125*F by this August- it has happened in 2007 and 2008
when Pinellas Park had a heat index of 126*F under 105*F air
temperature heat (link and Proof posted in climate change irreversible
thread)--- EDIT: Station Is Inaccurate
A more tell-tale sign is water temps

Now it was cooler right on the water- a hot mid 90s
near the beaches that day with heat index values
hot 105-115*F

Also, if the average lay-person learns that the head index in Canada was
127*F in August of 2007--> That is very alarming excessive heat with global
warming...when I told someone that they flipped out of their seat...in shock...
I can't blame them...

[Sanibel]

Hey, where did everyone go?


What speaks the loudest is a record heat situation in Australia on the warm side of the world in February at a time when a cooling dip is appearing in the northern hemisphere. The article says Melbourne might see a one day event over 40 celsius occasionally, but three days of mid-40'sc is previously unrecorded. Which debunks more? A cold dip where snows and pack ice are above normal, or a cold dip accompanied by record heat in the antipode?

Also, California appears to be lining-up for a record low snow pack and possible record drought this summer. I don't want to remind you what that is a symptom of.

[tropicana]

MELBOURNE HAS HOTTEST DAY EVER
CITY SWELTERS, RECORDS TUMBLE IN HEAT

Sat Feb 7 2009

Melbourne's all-time weather record has been broken and the city is sweltering under the twin effects of high temperatures and hot north-west winds. The city hit 46.4C ( 116F) at 3:04pm -- the hottest day since the Bureau of Meteorology started keeping records 150 years ago.
The previous record was 45.6C (114F) set on Jan 13, 1949--a day otherwise known as Black Thursday.

A senior forecaster at the BOM said that he had a massive spreadsheet of previous record maximum temperatures that don't mean anything anymore, the whole thing will have to be re-written.
Most places around the state have broken all time records.

The town of Avalon, 50km SW of Melbourne also broke its hottest day record, reaching 47.9C (118F) at 2:50pm. Wind gusts of up to 82km/h have also been reported at Melbourne Airport, where it was a sweltering 46.8C ( 116F) at 3:03pm.

Melbourne's peak also broke the previous February record of 43.2C (110F), set on February 8, 1983-- remembered by many as the day of a massive dust storm. Today's record is also hotter than Ash Wednesday, on February 16, 1983.

Relief hit late in the day. Here is how the day panned out, the trouble started once the sun rose"

6am 23C 73F
7am 25C 77F
8am 33C 91F
9am 34C 93F
10am 38C 100F
11am 40C 104F
noon 43C 109F
1pm 45C 113F
2pm 45C 113F
3pm 46C 116F
4pm 46C 114F
5pm 34C 93F
6pm 32C 90F
7pm 32C 90F
8pm 30C 86F
9pm 29C 84F
10pm 22C 72F
11pm 20C 68F

-justin-

[JonathanBelles]

From record cold to record heat in a few weeks- this is a perfect example
of the severe amplitude of jet stream exacerbations- and global warming
is likely a big factor...I wouldn't be surprised if parts of Florida
saw temperatures in the mid 100s (95-105*F) with heat index values
of 110-125*F by this August- it has happened in 2007 and 2008
when Pinellas Park had a heat index of 126*F under 105*F air
temperature heat (link and Proof posted in climate change irreversible
thread).

Now it was cooler right on the water- a hot mid 90s
near the beaches that day with heat index values
hot 105-115*F

Also, if the average lay-person learns that the head index in Canada was
127*F in August of 2007--> That is very alarming excessive heat with global
warming...when I told someone that they flipped out of their seat...in shock...
I can't blame them...

That fact is absolutely incorrect. Anyone in pinellas county can tell you that it is nearly impossible to get over 100. The heat index is a little more credible however.

[Extremeweatherguy]

From record cold to record heat in a few weeks- this is a perfect example
of the severe amplitude of jet stream exacerbations- and global warming
is likely a big factor...I wouldn't be surprised if parts of Florida
saw temperatures in the mid 100s (95-105*F) with heat index values
of 110-125*F by this August- it has happened in 2007 and 2008
when Pinellas Park had a heat index of 126*F under 105*F air
temperature heat (link and Proof posted in climate change irreversible
thread).

Now it was cooler right on the water- a hot mid 90s
near the beaches that day with heat index values
hot 105-115*F

Also, if the average lay-person learns that the head index in Canada was
127*F in August of 2007--> That is very alarming excessive heat with global
warming...when I told someone that they flipped out of their seat...in shock...
I can't blame them...

That fact is absolutely incorrect. Anyone in pinellas county can tell you that it is nearly impossible to get over 100. The heat index is a little more credible however.

Yeah I agree, that statement is completely incorrect.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Sorry- that station is INACCURATE....
I meant another station in Pinellas Park/Kenneth City...

There was a station near kenneth city or pinellas park that hit 100 or 101 that summer,
and it was that day that the heat index soared....105 is incorrect...but I am trying to find
the station that had 100/101 in kenneth city/pinellas park...that was what I was referring
to but when searching for the proof found a station that was too hot


Edit: here it is....about 100-101:

Pinellas Park, FL
Temperature Dew Point Humidity Wind Pressure Hourly Precipitation Heat Index Updated Mode
100.7 °F / 38 °C 80 °F / 27 °C 52% WNW at 0.0 mph / 0 km/h
29.78 in / 1008.4 hPa 0.00 in / 0 mm 124 °F / 51 °C 1 sec ago Rapid Fire
Historical Data & Charts — Set as Default Current Conditions
RAD Weather, St. Petersburg, FL
Temperature Dew Point Humidity Wind Pressure Hourly Precipitation Heat Index Updated Mode
97.1 °F / 36 °C 81 °F / 27 °C 59% SSW at 0.0 mph / 0.0 km/h / 0.0 m/s
29.91 in / 1012.8 hPa 0.00 in / 0 mm 120 °F / 49 °C
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=95455&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=220
Storm2k link

August 9, 2007

Edit: Found the Station:
http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstat ... &year=2007

[HURAKAN]

Accuweather

[HURAKAN]

Australia fires rage with 35 dead

Australian emergency crews are stepping up their efforts to tackle wildfires that have ripped through the state of Victoria, killing 35 people.

About 30,000 firefighters are battling several major fires, and the number of confirmed dead is continuing to rise.

Victoria Premier John Brumby said he had accepted an offer from the federal government to send in the army.

Entire towns have been destroyed in the fires, fanned by soaring temperatures and unpredictable winds.

Forecasters are predicting more extremely hot weather in the region - which has seen record temperatures of 47C (117F) in recent days.

'Absolutely horrific'

Officials say they are battling against the worst fire conditions in the state's history.

Witnesses described seeing walls of flames, trees exploding and the skies raining ash, as fires tore across 30,000 hectares (115 sq miles) of forests, farmland and towns.

At least 100 homes have been destroyed in Victoria and about 14,000 homes are without power.

Most of the people who died came from a cluster of small towns to the north of Melbourne.

At least 12 people died in the town of Kinglake, four at Wandong, four at St Andrews and three at Strathewen.

One Strathewen resident told ABC local radio how people had witnessed "absolutely horrific" scenes as they had helped battle the flames.

"The school's gone, the hall's gone... some people left it too late. We've lost friends, and we're just waiting for more - children, loved ones," she said.

The town of Marysville, with about 500 residents, was said to have been burned to the ground.

Local fire officer Greg Esnouf said: "We're starting to get some reports in now that are very saddening. This latest report says Marysville possibly one building left standing - that's just shocking."

One person was reported dead in Marysville, but most residents managed to shelter from the blaze in a local park.

'Tragic day'

Tens of thousands of firefighters have been trying to contain blazes in two other states - New South Wales and South Australia - but the fires there were largely contained or burning away from residential areas.

The fire service is using water-bombing aircraft to contain fires and thousands of volunteers are using water hoses.

"It's obviously a tragic day and a tragic week in our history," Mr Brumby said.

Late on Sunday, he said he had accepted an offer from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to send in troops to relieve overstretched emergency crews.

"This is a terrible and devastating tragedy," Mr Rudd said.

Bushfires are common in Australia, but the current blazes are the most deadly since 1983, when 75 people died on a day that became known as Ash Wednesday.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/w ... 877178.stm

[HURAKAN]

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7876660.stm

[HurricaneBill]

Oh my god.....

I hope our Australian members are safe.

[Ed Mahmoud]

Death toll over 80 in Victoria.

Meanwhile, far side of Australia

Heavy floods.

[HURAKAN]

Accuweather.

[HurricaneBill]

128 killed in Australia's worst fire disaster

Bushfire toll 'may top 200'

[Sanibel]

I suspect that guy doesn't want to hear global warming is a hoax at the moment...

[HURAKAN]

131 people dead.

http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.as ... t_ID=19190

[Ed Mahmoud]

Arson likely to blame. Murder.

[Ed Mahmoud]

I suspect that guy doesn't want to hear global warming is a hoax at the moment...

Well, if a record heatwave is all it takes to prove global warming, the -50ºF in Maine a couple of weeks ago is all it takes to prove global cooling.


Something to think about- if the Pacific were warmer, it would probably rain more in SoCal, even into the deep deserts, and SoCal would be cooler.

[HURAKAN]

Well, if a record heatwave is all it takes to prove global warming, the -50ºF in Maine a couple of weeks ago is all it takes to prove global cooling.

Actually, not to deviate from the main topic, both extremes would tend to occur in a warmer planet where you would have much higher swings in temperatures. A stronger jetstream due to the higher temperature differences would tend to help bring down cold temperatures from the polar regions. People are wrong in thinking that a warmer world means always warmer temps for everyone.

Jeff Masters talks about this in his latest blog. Is the globe cooling?

[HURAKAN]

135 dead. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p ... 878106.stm