This archive report was first published on 18 December 2019.
On Tuesday, Australia witnessed its hottest day on record, with temperatures reaching a scorching 40.9 degrees Celsius (105.6 degrees Fahrenheit) nationwide, surpassing the previous record of 40.3 degrees Celsius in January 2013, as reported by the Bureau of Meteorology.
"This heat will only intensify further today," warned meteorologist Diana Eadie.
The extreme heatwave is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of global warming in Australia, where this year's early and intense start to regular summer bushfires has put immense pressure on the Australian government to take decisive action to combat climate change.
As hundreds of bushfires continue to rage across the country, including a massive "mega-blaze" burning north of Sydney, the nation's largest city, smoke from the fires has engulfed Sydney, causing hazardous air pollution levels and prompting doctors to label the situation a "public health emergency".
At least three million hectares (7.4 million acres) of land have been torched across Australia, resulting in the loss of six lives and approximately 700 homes.
Scientists attribute the blazes to global warming and a prolonged drought, which has left the land tinder dry and many towns struggling with water shortages.
The fires have sparked widespread climate protests, targeting the conservative government's reluctance to address the root causes of global warming in order to protect the country's lucrative coal export industry.
Record spot temperatures were also recorded in Western Australia, where firefighters are battling blazes across thousands of hectares of land.
As the hot weather drifts across the country's arid centre towards the east, parts of New South Wales are forecast to reach mid-40s Celsius (around 110 Fahrenheit) on Thursday, with west Sydney expected to tip over 46 degrees Celsius (115 Fahrenheit) on Saturday.
Turbulent winds of up to 100 kilometres (60 miles) an hour are forecast to hit the east coast, exacerbating the blazes.
"Over the next few days, we will see firefighters, emergency services, and communities close to fires challenged with a new threat," warned New South Wales fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
Embers carried by the winds can travel up to 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) from a blaze, authorities cautioned.
"We will have multiple fronts fueling or escalating the fires, as well as the potential for spot fires and embers to travel long distances," warned NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently acknowledged climate change as one of the "factors" behind the fires but failed to announce further measures to address the issue.
Climate protesters plan to march on Morrison's official residence in Sydney this week to demand change and highlight his absence as large parts of the country burn.
