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Extreme heat and raging bushfires have swept through the dry landscape of Western Australia. As mercury levels expected to persist climbing above 40C (104F) over the next few days, a severe alert for extreme heat has been declared across much of the southwestern region.

Widespread Extreme Heat Alerts Throughout the Region

These conditions follow this month's bushfires in another state, which caused the loss of homes and fatalities. Intense heat alerts have additionally been issued for later this week in parts of SA and New South Wales, as a ridge of high pressure shifts to the east, delivering intense sunshine to a broad swath of the area.

The mix of tinder-dry land and relentless high temperatures creates a volatile scenario for firefighters.

Global Weather Extremes Trigger Chaos

In another part of the world, a metropolis was plunged into blackout recently after powerful gusts compromised the city’s power grid, with toppled trees bringing down electricity cables. The stormy weather also caused major transport delays at a major airport, where hundreds of flights were cancelled. Substantial impact on power systems is expected to cause further issues as service providers scramble to restore power to more than 1 million residents.

Unusual Mist Covers Sunny Region

At the same time, a valley famed for its clear skies and plentiful sunshine has endured one of its grayest and most overcast periods on recorded history. A particular form of fog, which typically lingers for only a few days, has been remarkably extensive and long-lasting this year, keeping temperatures at a major airport under 8C for over a week – the longest such streak in more than three decades. The extended fog has been driven by exceptional fall precipitation that left soils waterlogged.

• Key Factor: Exceptional fall rains saturated the ground.
• Outcome: Extended and thick fog formation.
• Impact: Temperatures stayed below average for an extended period.

Severe Weather Brings Wintry Weather to Holiday Islands

Turning to Spain, a powerful storm has ushered in heavy rain, strong gales and even snow to a set of islands – weather many would not connect with this popular holiday destination. While snow is not unheard of at elevated areas, the system delivered some of the heaviest snow depths since 2016 to a protected area, forcing its temporary shutdown.

Alongside the snow, fierce winds from the north swept across the island chain, with gusts reaching 50mph observed on several locations. The effect of the weather event is forecast to diminish this week with more seasonal weather returning.