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Scorching conditions and raging bushfires have swept through the dry landscape of Western Australia. With mercury levels forecast to continue climbing above 40C (104F) over the coming days, a severe alert for extreme heat has been declared across a large portion of the south-west.

Broad Extreme Heat Alerts Throughout Multiple States

These conditions come after recent fires in another state, which caused the destruction of homes and fatalities. Intense heat alerts have also been activated for later this week in parts of SA and New South Wales, as a system of high pressure shifts eastward, bringing intense heat to much of the region.

The combination of extremely dry land and relentless heat creates a volatile situation for emergency crews.

Worldwide Weather Extremes Cause Disruption

In another part of the world, a major city was left in darkness last week after powerful gusts damaged the urban power grid, with falling trees bringing down power lines. The weather conditions also led to major travel disruption at a key airport, where hundreds of air services were grounded. Severe impact on electrical infrastructure is expected to cause further problems as utility companies scramble to restore power to over 1 million residents.

Unusual Mist Blankets Sunny Region

At the same time, a valley known for its sunny weather and plentiful sunlight has experienced one of its grayest and most overcast periods on record. A specific type of fog, which usually lasts for only a few days, has been unusually extensive and long-lasting this year, keeping the mercury at a major airport under 8C for more than a week – the longest such streak in over three decades. The extended haze has been fuelled by exceptional fall precipitation that left soils waterlogged.

• Key Factor: Exceptional fall rains saturated the soil.
• Result: Prolonged and dense mist development.
• Impact: Temperatures stayed unseasonably low for an extended period.

Storm Brings Snow to Tourist Islands

Turning to Spain, a powerful storm has brought heavy rain, strong winds and even snowfall to a set of islands – weather many would not connect with this popular tourist spot. While snow is not unheard of at higher ground, the system delivered some of the deepest snow depths since 2016 to a national park, forcing its closure.

Alongside the snow, fierce winds from the north swept across the archipelago, with gusts exceeding 50mph recorded on multiple islands. The influence of the weather event is expected to ease this week with more typical conditions returning.