"Even In The Shade, I Felt I Was Standing Next To A Furnace" - 48C In Bourke, Australia

[hatrack]

EDIT

Australia is in the grip of its worst heatwave on record, with a vast chunk of the continent baked by a “dome” of hot air that shows no sign of moving. The scorching heat, along with high winds, has fuelled bushfires which were still burning across five states and territories yesterday, including Tasmania, where they have already destroyed more than 200 properties.

The country’s all-time high of 50.7C – recorded in the South Australian township of Oodnadatta in 1960 – has yet to be surpassed, but a clutch of Outback towns have come within a whisker. Bourke, which has been roasting since November, reached 48.5C yesterday. Residents are accustomed to hot weather – after all, the desert is on their doorstep – but the ferocity of the current spell has blindsided them.

Yesterday Bourke’s dusty, broad streets – wide enough for the camel trains which used to transport bales of wool into town to turn around – were practically deserted. The heat was overpowering: so dense that you could almost cut it, so intense you could feel your skin burning as soon as you stepped outside. Even in the shade I felt as if I was standing next to an open furnace.

The town’s public swimming pool was full to bursting, and a few brave souls plunged into the muddy Darling to cool off. Nearly everyone else stayed home, curtains drawn, emerging only to hurry between air-conditioned houses, shops and cars. Some petrol stations had to switch off their pumps because the heat was vaporising the fuel in underground tanks. On the roads, the tarmac bubbled and lifted.

EDIT

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/australia-heatwave-even-in-the-shade-i-felt-as-if-i-wasstanding-next-to-an-open-furnace-8449268.html

[kestrel91316]

1. Sounds like my neighborhood. We've seen 119F.

And in the fall when it's 115F and the Santa Anas kick in, it's like a freakin' blast furnace.

[mindwalker_i]

2. This is evil, but Bring It On!

I look forward to the day when climate change denial is met with a punch to the face. When that happens, we can work out things to do about it in earnest, and I see that as a good thing. Unfortunately, it seems likely that a lot of people will die (most likely, me and those important to me included), but at least there's a chance. The Earth is probably well above it's carrying capacity.

It sucks, but it's also kind of cool.

[NYC_SKP]

3. K/R (nt)