The "most significant" heatwave south-eastern Australia has seen in six years is likely to trigger an extreme fire danger alongside searing hot temperatures.
The fire burning in north-east Victoria near Walwa was so fierce it generated its own weather this afternoon, including a substantial pyrocumulonimbus cloud with lightning and thunder.
When it comes to extreme rainfall, it's hard for climate scientists to say what's natural and what's caused by climate change, but they do know the most extreme events are dropping more rain, more often. This is why.
A study by World Weather Attribution has analysed temperatures during the intense early January heatwave. It found that what was once a rare event is now happening far more often.
Yet another major heatwave is sweeping across south-eastern Australia. But what actually triggers the warning? Spoiler alert: hitting 40C is not enough.
The Australian Open is off to a cooler start today after parts of Melbourne buckled under 45-degree heat yesterday, in a heatwave setting historic temperature records across the country's south-east.
