Temperatures rose as much as 34 degrees above average in Victoria, Australia, where wildfires have already destroyed 750,000 acres and more 100 homes and buildings. It is the worst heat wave for the country since the catastrophic wildfires of 2020.

After a weekend of extreme heat and windy conditions, more than 30 blazes were still burning in Victoria and New South Wales as of Sunday evening, including major fires in the Otways, near the town of Alexandra in central Victoria,

Southeast Australia is enduring a record-breaking heat wave, with temperatures rising above 40ºC in many areas.

A heatwave is expected to bring sweltering conditions to millions of Australians over the coming week. Maximum temperatures in excess of 40C have been tipped by the Bureau of Meteorology for regions of every mainland state and territory by Thursday.

Australia is baking through another extreme heat wave, with temperatures forecast to reach above 45°C for multiple days in a row across large swaths of the country.

A record-setting heat wave is sweeping across large swaths of Australia, sending residents to the water for relief. In several parts of the country, forecasters have warned that the severe heat could stoke dangerous fire conditions.

If a heat wave hit Melbourne and the power blacked out, most apartment buildings would bake, with indoor temperatures exceeding international health standards, according to a new analysis that calls for Australia to adopt standards to protect occupants against heat stress.

Australian authorities declared a state of disaster on Saturday after bushfires destroyed houses and razed vast belts of forest in the country's southeast.

Narramore said the culprit for the long-lasting heat could be found to the east of Australia, where a strong high-pressure system was causing a jam in the flow of weather. This was preventing the heat from moving swiftly from west to east, instead leading to days upon days of warmth.

"The fires we are seeing are uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast-moving." Officials warn of catastrophic conditions as millions suffer from sweltering heat wave: 'There's very little rainfall expected' first appeared on The Cool Down.