Penrith hits record temperature of 48.9C as heatwave strikes NSW
Penrith was officially the hottest location on earth today as temperatures rose to 48.9C in the western Sydney suburb, setting a new record. A heatwave is spreading across NSW, as sweltering conditions and high winds flare up bushfires.
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Penrith is currently the hottest place on earth and is sweltering through the hottest ever day recorded in Greater Sydney.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) recorded a reading of 48.9C at 3pm, smashing the previous record of 47.3C set in January 2018.
BoM recorded a high of `7C in the city at 2pm. It surpasses the previous high of 47.3C which was set on January 7, 2018.
The sweltering heat, which is forecast to last several hours, comes as the western Sydney community at the foot of the Blue Mountains is on high alert over the potential fire risk in today’s state of emergency.
A NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman said the threat of the fire’s burning in the Blue Mountains and weather conditions on Saturday “places high risk of ember attacks and spot fires on homes surrounding Winmalee, Hawkesbury Heights, Castlereagh and the Penrith region”.
South of Penrith, an emergency warning has been put in place at the Green Wattle Creek fire surrounding the Lake Burragorang area, south of Warragamba Dam.
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The spokesman said dangerous fire conditions are expected within the area today.
“These fires pose a serious threat to life,” he said.
“Do not be in the path of these fires.”
The spokesman said fire activity is increasing on some parts of the fireground with strong north westerly winds expected to impact the fire today.
“A gusty southerly change is due to affect this fire later this evening,” he said.
“This will push the fire in a northerly direction.”
Conditions beginning to deteriorate quickly on #NSW southern firegrounds. #Heat & #Wind are building which is increasing fire activity. People in southern regions & #ACT should urgently check latest update & continue to monitor https://t.co/UfWhZ6xbK3 @NSWRFS @nswpolice @ACT_ESA pic.twitter.com/cq4fr7jfsK
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) January 4, 2020
Residents in the line of forecasted line of fire stretching from Winmalee to Hawkesbury Heights were advised to evacuate to Penrith of Richmond as increased fire activity worsened.
On Friday, the NSW RFS advised residents sweltering conditions and high winds could potentially make fire behaviour “erratic and very dangerous”.
Penrith resident Liam Hoogenboom, 17, was among the crowd that flocked to the Nepean River in Jamisontown on Saturday.
“The river was packed – everybody was in the water swimming and doing anything they could to cool off,” he said.
“I brought down an Esky full of ice and swam – that’s about all you could do in this heat.
“It’s been muggy in Penrith before but I’ve never seen it this hot – it was unreal.”
The RFS spokesman said new fires could also threaten lives and properties “without warning” and advised residents to move to larger urbanised areas.
The mercury also reached 47C in northwest Sydney suburbs including Riverstone and Kellyville about 2pm, with the nearest fires, including the monstrous Gospers Mountain and Three Mile fires remaining under control at advice level.