Omari Gates
Australia has experienced heatwaves that have claimed more lives than any other natural hazard in the country. In January 2013, Australia was in the middle of a record-breaking two-week-long heatwave, with temperatures regularly surpassing 45 degrees Celsius across the continent. The average temperature across the whole nation on 7 January 2013 was 40.3°C, and the overnight minimum temperature for 7–8 January also set a new record of 32.36°C, contributing to the hottest two-day period in Australia's recorded history. This unprecedented heatwave in 2013 was not an isolated event; it was part of a series of heatwaves that have been breaking temperature records across the nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | January 2013 |
| Duration | Two weeks |
| Average temperature | 40.3°C on 7 January |
| Highest temperature | 50°C |
| Highest average temperature across the nation | 40.33°C (104.59°F) on 7 January |
| National average on 8 January 2013 | 40.11°C (104.20°F) |
| Overnight minimum temperature for 7-8 January | 32.36°C (90.25°F) |
| Position in historical records | Hottest two-day period in Australia's recorded history |
| Position in recent records | Each of the first eight days of 2013 was among the 20 hottest days on record |
| Previous heatwaves | A two-week-long heatwave in 1972-1973; a heatwave in 1939; heatwaves in 2009 in Victoria and South Australia |
| Heatwave definition | Three or more days of high maximum and minimum temperatures that are unusual for that location |
| Heatwave severity | Low intensity, severe, extreme |
| Impact | Health stress on vulnerable people, adverse effects on infrastructure |
| Relation to climate change | The intensity and frequency of heatwaves are related to climate change |
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What You'll Learn
The 2013 heatwave broke temperature records
The 2012-2013 Australian summer, also known as the Angry Summer or Extreme Summer, broke temperature records across the country. The heatwave was a significant event that attracted widespread media attention, with over 800 articles written about it. Notably, the summer of 2012-2013 resulted in 123 weather records being broken over a 90-day period.
During this period, Australia experienced its hottest day ever recorded for January, with temperatures regularly surpassing 45°C (113°F) in multiple locations. The country also broke its record for the hottest summer average, with seven consecutive days where the entire country averaged above 39°C (102°F). The heatwave was characterised by its widespread nature and persistence, with extreme temperatures lasting for an extended duration.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology reported that the heatwave set a new record for the highest temperature averaged across the nation. On January 7, 2013, the maximum average temperature across Australia was 40.3°C (104.59°F), breaking the previous record. The following day, the national average temperature remained exceptionally high at 40.11°C (104.20°F). The overnight minimum temperature for January 7-8 also set a new record, contributing to the hottest two-day period in Australia's recorded history.
The heatwave had far-reaching impacts, causing severe bushfires and affecting various aspects of the country's economy and environment. The adverse effects of the hot weather were felt across Australia, with reports of mass deaths of bats in Queensland and ranchers being forced to slaughter more cattle due to the extreme conditions. The heatwave also impacted Australia's agriculture, with concerns about wilted crops and increased fire danger due to the high temperatures.
The 2013 heatwave in Australia was an unprecedented event that highlighted the country's vulnerability to extreme weather conditions. The breaking of numerous temperature records underscored the severity and impact of this natural phenomenon on the nation.
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The heatwave's intensity and duration were unusual
Australia has experienced heatwaves before, but the one that occurred in January 2013 was unusual in terms of both its intensity and duration. The heatwave brought record-setting temperatures not just for days but for weeks, with temperatures regularly surpassing 45°C in multiple locations across the continent.
The average temperature across the whole continent on 7 January 2013 was 40.3°C, and the overnight minimum temperature for 7–8 January also set a new record of 32.36°C. This contributed to the hottest two-day period in Australia's recorded history. Each of the first eight days of 2013 was among the 20 hottest days ever recorded.
The heatwave's persistence was also notable. It lasted for two weeks, surpassing the previous longest hot spell in the historical record (since 1910), which occurred during the summer of 1972-1973.
The intensity and duration of heatwaves in Australia are related to climate change. According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Australia's annually averaged temperature has warmed by around one degree since 1910. The country has experienced fewer cold days, shifting rainfall patterns, and more frequent hot weather.
If global temperatures continue to rise, heatwaves will become even more frequent, intense, and prolonged. This poses a significant risk to Australia, as heatwaves have historically caused more deaths than any other natural hazard, including bushfires, cyclones, earthquakes, floods, and severe storms.
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Heatwaves are Australia's deadliest natural hazard
Australia has a long history of deadly heatwaves, and they are the country's deadliest natural hazard. Between 1900 and 2011, extreme heat was responsible for more than half of all deaths from natural hazards, excluding disease epidemics. Since 1900, heatwaves have killed more people in Australia than floods, fires, and all other natural disasters combined.
Heatwaves are a typical part of Australian summers, but they are likely to worsen due to climate change. The country has experienced a series of heatwaves that have broken temperature records. In January 2013, Australia experienced a record-setting two-week-long heatwave, with the average temperature across the continent reaching 40.3°C on 7 January. The overnight minimum temperature for 7–8 January also set a new record, contributing to the hottest two-day period in Australia's recorded history.
The heatwave of 2009 was Australia's deadliest natural disaster, killing hundreds of people. It was followed by catastrophic bushfires that destroyed several towns in Victoria. The heatwave lasted for two weeks, with endless days and nights of soaring temperatures. It was caused by a large high-pressure system over the Tasman Sea and an intense tropical low and cyclone off the northwest coast of Western Australia, which funnelled hot tropical air to the country's southeast.
Heatwaves can cause deaths through heart attacks, strokes, and heat exhaustion or heatstroke. They also result in significant crop losses and endanger livestock, pets, and wildlife. Heatwaves put pressure on hospitals and emergency services as the number of people suffering from heat-related illnesses surges. Additionally, high winds during heatwaves can drive bushfires, and sudden peaks in air-conditioning use can overload electricity grids, causing blackouts.
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The heatwave affected human health and infrastructure
Australia has experienced heatwaves for as long as records have existed, but the heatwave of January 2013 was unusual in its coverage across the continent and its persistence. The heatwave saw temperatures regularly surpass 45°C in multiple locations across the country. On 7 January, the average temperature across the whole continent was 40.3°C, and the overnight minimum temperature for 7–8 January also set a new record of 32.36°C, contributing to the hottest two-day period in Australia's recorded history.
Heatwaves are defined as unusually high temperature events that occur for at least three consecutive days, with major impacts on human health, the economy, agriculture, and ecosystems. They can be classified as low intensity, severe, or extreme. Low-intensity heatwaves are manageable for most people, but severe heatwaves can result in significant health stress for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses. Extreme heatwaves are dangerous for everyone and can also adversely affect infrastructure such as power and transport.
The 2013 heatwave in Australia caused serious health issues, particularly for vulnerable groups. Hospitals, such as the Perth Children's Hospital, struggled to cope with the influx of patients, and authorities had to construct sleeping apartments inside hessian walls saturated with water to try and keep patients cool. Heatwaves have taken more lives and caused more adverse health outcomes than any other natural hazard in Australia. Major heatwaves have caused more deaths since 1890 than bushfires, cyclones, earthquakes, floods, and severe storms combined.
The 2013 heatwave also impacted infrastructure. The Australian government's State of Australian Cities report for that year noted that heatwaves are the country's deadliest natural hazard, especially for cities. The report also highlighted that Australia's annually averaged temperature has warmed by around one degree since 1910, with fewer cold days, shifting rainfall patterns, and more frequent hot weather. This trend of increasing temperatures and more frequent and intense heatwaves is expected to continue, posing an ongoing challenge to human health and critical infrastructure in Australia.
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Australia's temperature has risen since 1910
Australia has been experiencing a heatwave, with record-breaking temperatures across the continent in January 2013. The country set a new record for the highest temperature averaged nationally: 40.33°C on 7 January, with the overnight minimum temperature for 7–8 January also setting a new record of 32.36°C. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology noted that the heatwave was unusual in its coverage across the continent and its persistence.
This heatwave is part of a broader trend of rising temperatures in Australia since national records began in 1910. Australia's mean surface air temperature has increased by more than 1.4°C since the early 20th century, with most of the warming occurring since 1950. Every decade since 1950 has been warmer than the previous one. The warming trend in Australia aligns with global patterns, and the degree of warming is similar to the overall average across the world's land areas.
The warming trend has resulted in an increase in extreme heat events, with very high monthly maximum temperatures occurring more frequently. In the 1960s and 1980s, such high temperatures occurred about 2% of the time, rising to 4% in the 1990s and 2000s, and now taking place over 12% of the time between 2005 and 2019. This shift has significant implications for human health, ecosystems, and infrastructure.
The risk of bushfires has also increased due to the combination of low humidity, high temperatures, and high winds, creating what is known as 'fire weather'. The number and duration of these dangerous fire weather conditions have risen, especially in southern Australia since the 1950s. The warming trend in Australia is consistent with the broader global context, highlighting the urgency of addressing climate change and mitigating its impacts.
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Frequently asked questions
The heatwave of January 2013 was record-setting, with temperatures regularly surpassing 45 degrees Celsius across the continent. The average temperature across the whole of Australia on 7 January was 40.3°C, and the overnight minimum temperature for 7–8 January was a record-breaking 32.36°C. The heatwave lasted for two weeks, with each of the first eight days of 2013 being among the 20 hottest days on record.
Heatwaves have increased in intensity, frequency and duration across Australia over the past 67 years. Since 1910, Australia's annually-averaged temperature has warmed by around one degree. The Bureau of Meteorology defines a heatwave as three or more days of high maximum and minimum temperatures that are unusual for a particular location.
Heatwaves are Australia's deadliest natural hazard, causing more fatalities than any other natural hazard. They can result in significant health issues, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses. Extreme heatwaves can also affect infrastructure such as power and transport.
