NSW Heatwave: fears of spike in hospitalisations as Sydney’s west, regional towns swelter
A Western Sydney suburb is set to reach record-breaking temperatures this weekend as researchers predict massive hospitalisation rates.
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Sydney’s western suburbs are expected to reach “record-breaking temperatures” this weekend, as climate researchers fear major increases in hospitalisations.
Monash University Climate Change Researcher, Dr James Goldie, said parts of the state were expected to bare the brunt of “severe heatwaves” with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting Greater Western Sydney, and in particular Penrith, to experience extreme heat.
“What we are seeing is a big band of heat build up stretching from Broome to Canberra,” Dr Goldie said. “Current projections expect this heat will hit on Friday and last until Sunday.”
Western Sydney will see temperatures in the mid-40s, while regional areas will see heatwave temperatures in Albury Wodonga (40), Wagga Wagga (41), Dubbo (39), Newcastle (36), Wollongong (32), Gosford (36) and Manly (30).
Mr Goldie said Albury Wodonga could reach record temperatures of 42 on Sunday, with the record being 41.8 degrees set in 1997.
While Dubbo could be set to break a 2014 record of 44.3 on Sunday.
“People need to check in on friends and family, grandparents and pets and these sorts of heatwaves catch people,” he said. “There is a classic story and a tale of two cities when it comes to heatwaves in eastern and western Sydney, so residents really need to be on alert.”
Dr Goldie blamed the extreme weather event on a “Madden-Julian Oscillation” which will see a pulse of hot air move from the Indian Ocean across most of Australia over the next month.
It will cause “a different kind of heatwave than what we saw last year during fires and drought”.
The climate researcher said the Western Sydney Suburb of Penrith could exceed record temperatures for spring on Sunday.
In January, Penrith was recorded as the “hottest place on earth” when temperatures hit 48.9C, setting a new summer record.
“My research found that in our most extreme heatwaves we see an increase of 5 per cent of hospital admissions,” he said. “I surveyed heart, lung, and kidney admissions, which increase to as much as 10 or 15 per cent during heatwaves.”
Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman, Helen Reid, said large areas of NSW and the ACT is forecast to move into Heatwave conditions later this week, for the first time this season.
“Heatwave conditions are expected to reach the ‘severe’ category in many location,” she said on Wednesday.
“Both daytime and overnight temperatures are expected to be 10 to 16 degrees above average for this time of the year, reaching into the high-30s or mid-40s during the day for many locations, from Thursday.”
The BOM also warned of conditions resulting in the fire risk increasing significantly over the weekend.
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