The heatwave of 2009 killed hundreds and became Australia's deadliest natural disaster
6 days, 19 hours ago

The heatwave of 2009 killed hundreds and became Australia's deadliest natural disaster

ABC  

The streets are deserted. "So that's the worst possible scenario for a heatwave," Dr Nairn says. "It's a slow-burn realisation that the numbers are bigger than they would normally be," says Rebecca Owen, who was managing the morgue at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine during the heatwave. Instead, heat-related deaths are usually determined by how many extra deaths there were during a heatwave compared to a normal period, in what's known as "excess deaths". "When we get to an extreme event, you're actually seeing actions being taken to protect utilities such as power, water, traffic systems, transport," Dr Nairn says.

Disaster Heatwave Temperature Heat South Going Think Melbourne Victoria Extreme Extreme Heat Temperatures South Australia Jay Victorian 2009 Nairn Professor Jay Killed Hundreds Dr Nairn Rebecca Owen  natural  deadliest  really  2009  disaster  temperatures  heatwave  killed  hundreds  heat  nairn  temperature  think  south  australias  extreme  going

History of this topic

Heatwave hotspots that should not exist are popping up across the world
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Heatwave hotspots that should not exist are popping up across the world

India Today  

The year 2023 has officially been recorded as the hottest year in history, with global temperatures averaging 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average, surpassing the previous record set in 2016. Amid this unprecedented rise in temperatures, a new study reveals a concerning phenomenon: certain regions across the globe are experiencing extreme heat waves that exceed predictions made by climate …

As national heat deaths rise, California girds for worsening bouts of extreme temperature
3 months, 3 weeks ago

As national heat deaths rise, California girds for worsening bouts of extreme temperature

LA Times  

Heat-related mortality is on the rise in the United States, where high temperatures have caused or contributed to the deaths of more than 21,500 people since 1999, new research has found. “There’s probably a little bit of both going on,” he said, adding that “the numbers are probably undercounted.” Still, the findings underscore heat’s role as the deadliest of all …

More than 75m in US under heat alerts
6 months ago

More than 75m in US under heat alerts

China Daily  

Children cool off at Crown Fountain in Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois, as temperatures reached a record high of 36.1 C on Monday. SCOTT OLSON/AFP PHOENIX — More than 75 million people in the United States were under extreme heat alerts on Monday as a heat wave moved eastward, and the mid-Atlantic and New England were likely to see highs …

Cities have long made plans for extreme heat. Are they enough in a warming world?
1 year, 5 months ago

Cities have long made plans for extreme heat. Are they enough in a warming world?

The Independent  

Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I don’t know a single city that is truly prepared for the …

Cities have long made plans for extreme heat. Are they enough in a warming world?
1 year, 5 months ago

Cities have long made plans for extreme heat. Are they enough in a warming world?

Associated Press  

CHICAGO — Natural disasters can be dramatic — barreling hurricanes, building-toppling tornadoes — but heat is more deadly. “I don’t know a single city that is truly prepared for the worst-case scenario that some climate scientists fear,” said Eric Klinenberg, a professor of social sciences at New York University who wrote a book about the Chicago heat wave. “We just …

Editorial: Climate change fuels deadly heat waves. Ranking them like hurricanes could save lives
2 years, 10 months ago

Editorial: Climate change fuels deadly heat waves. Ranking them like hurricanes could save lives

LA Times  

The sun sets over wind turbines on a day when temperatures reached 110 degrees in the Coachella Valley in July 2021. State Assemblymembers Luz Rivas and Eduardo Garcia have introduced legislation that would make California the first state in the nation to establish a ranking system for heat waves and provide early warnings. In 2020, California experienced severe, back-to-back heat …

Heat is the 'silent killer' of Australia's bushfire season and experts say climate change is the root cause
4 years ago

Heat is the 'silent killer' of Australia's bushfire season and experts say climate change is the root cause

ABC  

At the height of last summer's bushfires, Alan Nichols vividly remembers racing out of his holiday unit, loaded up with essentials. "We know a lot about air pollution, we don't know as much about bushfire smoke," she said. Dr Hunter said the health impacts of smoke shouldn't be looked at in isolation, given smoke usually occurs in combination with what …

Discover Related