Australia's eastern state of New South Wales (NSW), including the city of Sydney, is experiencing extreme temperatures from a significant heatwave, which raised alarms about potential bushfires over the weekend. Over the weekend of March 15-16, 2025, temperatures soared, prompting the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) to issue urgent warnings. On March 16, the mercury reached 39.3 degrees Celsius at Sydney Airport, approximately 12 degrees above the average for this time of year, according to BOM.
Other areas within the state also recorded high temperatures, with Badgery’s Creek reaching 38.5 degrees Celsius and Richmond peaking at 37.9 degrees Celsius. Down south, Melbourne’s western suburbs experienced temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius on March 15, with Adelaide narrowly missing the 40-degree mark.
Further complications arose as bushfire conditions intensified. A home was destroyed near Melbourne during this period, with about 200 firefighters engaged to combat the blaze, as reported by Country Fire Authority official Bernard Barbetti on Sunday. Total fire bans were declared for extensive regions of NSW, including metropolitan Sydney, as hot conditions, gusty winds, and low relative humidity resulted in high fire danger.
“Hot conditions, gusty winds, and low relative humidity will result in extreme fire danger over the greater Sydney region,” forewarned the BOM. Weather conditions on the eastern coast were exacerbated by northerly and north-westerly winds flowing from inland NSW and central Australia.
Responding to these alarming conditions, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) enacted these total fire bans, urging residents to avoid outdoor activities likely to trigger fires. The precautions come just as New South Wales approaches the tail-end of its high-risk bushfire season, typically concluding at the end of March. Meteorologists have recently ramped up efforts to contain any fires to prevent another devastating season akin to 2019-2020, during which wildfires resulted in 33 fatalities and destroyed vast areas equivalent to the size of Turkey.
Fortunately, early Monday, March 17, greeted residents with relief as meteorologists predicted cooler weather. A southerly buster swept through the region around 12:30 am local time, significantly dropping temperatures from 30.2 degrees Celsius to 19.5 degrees Celsius within the span of just half an hour. “This morning, it is actually 20 degrees cooler than it was yesterday, so it’s going to be much more comfortable,” remarked BOM meteorologist Johnathan How.
Although this temperature drop offered temporary respite, Mr. How cautioned of returning heat. “We are expecting to see a cooler day today but then from tomorrow, we do see things warming up again,” he noted, signaling the need for continued vigilance.
Scientists have been raising alarms about the growing frequency of extreme heat and bushfire conditions, attributing this trend to global warming. The increasing intensity of weather phenomena is expected to alter the fire risk profile for the coming years.
Emergency services remain on high alert as conditions continue to shift. With temperatures set to rise once more and additional thunderstorms potentially complicate firefighting efforts, it remains imperative for individuals to heed warnings and avoid any activities posing fire risks.
