Sydney sweats in spring hot spell, faces 'extreme' bushfire risk
Sydney is experiencing an unseasonably hot spring heatwave with temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius, significantly above the September average. Authorities have issued a total fire ban due to extreme bushfire risks exacerbated by El Nino conditions.
Why it matters
The event highlights the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in Australia, raising concerns about climate change and public safety.
Temperatures in Sydney are expected to hit 33 degrees Celsius on Saturday (Sep 5), nearly 13 degrees above average.
People shelter under an umbrella as they walk along the Sydney Harbour near the Sydney Opera House on the first day of spring in Sydney, Australia, Sep 1, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Hollie Adams)
SYDNEY: Australia's most populous city Sydney baked in a burst of sweltering spring heat on Saturday (Sep 5), raising the risk of bushfires and prompting authorities to issue a ban on lighting fires.
The heat comes as a powerful El Nino weather pattern in the Pacific, expected to be among the strongest in decades, drives hotter and drier conditions across southern Australia during the September-November spring season.
On Saturday, the nation's weather forecaster said temperatures in the New South Wales capital, home to 5.6 million people, were set to hit 33 degrees Celsius, nearly 13 degrees above average.
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