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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/23/australias-east-coast-sweats-under-unusual-spring-heat-wave
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Australia's east coast sweats under unusual spring heat wave | Australia's east coast sweats under unusual spring heat wave |
| (4 months later) | |
| Grass fire forces closure of Hume Highway in NSW in both directions, as temperatures reach 40 degrees | |
| Michael McGowan | |
| Sat 23 Sep 2017 07.01 BST | |
| Last modified on Sat 23 Sep 2017 07.02 BST | |
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| The east coast of Australia is sweltering through a spring heat wave, with parts of New South Wales reaching 40 degrees and more than 75 bushfires burning across the state and Queensland. | The east coast of Australia is sweltering through a spring heat wave, with parts of New South Wales reaching 40 degrees and more than 75 bushfires burning across the state and Queensland. |
| The Bureau of Meteorology said Wilcannia in the far west of NSW reached 40.5 degrees about 3pm, a September record for the state. | The Bureau of Meteorology said Wilcannia in the far west of NSW reached 40.5 degrees about 3pm, a September record for the state. |
| And an out of control grass fire east of Goulburn has forced authorities to close the Hume Highway in both directions. | And an out of control grass fire east of Goulburn has forced authorities to close the Hume Highway in both directions. |
| The fire is at “emergency” level, according to the Rural Fire Service, and is moving in an easterly direction towards the town of Hanging Rock. | The fire is at “emergency” level, according to the Rural Fire Service, and is moving in an easterly direction towards the town of Hanging Rock. |
| Firefighters and aircraft including the Large Air Tanker are working to slow the spread of the fire. | Firefighters and aircraft including the Large Air Tanker are working to slow the spread of the fire. |
| A grass fire is burning on the Hume Highway north of the Marulan turn off @HuffPostAU pic.twitter.com/FGwnJ7UReY | A grass fire is burning on the Hume Highway north of the Marulan turn off @HuffPostAU pic.twitter.com/FGwnJ7UReY |
| Emergency alert telephone warnings are being issued to residents in the area. | Emergency alert telephone warnings are being issued to residents in the area. |
| The RFS said: “if you are in the area of Hanging Rock Road and your plan is to leave, leave now in a northerly direction towards Sydney if the path is clear”. | The RFS said: “if you are in the area of Hanging Rock Road and your plan is to leave, leave now in a northerly direction towards Sydney if the path is clear”. |
| There are 55 fires currently burning across NSW, including 10 that were out of control by 2pm on Saturday. | There are 55 fires currently burning across NSW, including 10 that were out of control by 2pm on Saturday. |
| Total fire bans are in place throughout much of the state, and authorities are warning of severe fire danger in places across NSW throughout the day. | Total fire bans are in place throughout much of the state, and authorities are warning of severe fire danger in places across NSW throughout the day. |
| There are also extreme fire danger warnings in place in parts of southeastern Queensland. | There are also extreme fire danger warnings in place in parts of southeastern Queensland. |
| Very hot conditions & strong gusty winds will cause severe to extreme fire weather danger in #NSW & southern #QLD.https://t.co/wdUcA3jLa8 pic.twitter.com/AD1rIlPgYO | Very hot conditions & strong gusty winds will cause severe to extreme fire weather danger in #NSW & southern #QLD.https://t.co/wdUcA3jLa8 pic.twitter.com/AD1rIlPgYO |
| September records were expected to tumble across large parts of NSW, with White Cliffs, Ivanhoe and Bourke all reaching 40 degrees by 3pm. | September records were expected to tumble across large parts of NSW, with White Cliffs, Ivanhoe and Bourke all reaching 40 degrees by 3pm. |
| The previous September record in NSW was 39.6 degrees. | The previous September record in NSW was 39.6 degrees. |
| In Queensland, Birdsville reached 41.6 degrees and Ballera reached 40.7 by 3pm. | In Queensland, Birdsville reached 41.6 degrees and Ballera reached 40.7 by 3pm. |
| Dean Sgarbossa, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology’s extreme weather desk, said heat had been building above inland northern Australia over the last week, thanks to a ridge of high pressure. | Dean Sgarbossa, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology’s extreme weather desk, said heat had been building above inland northern Australia over the last week, thanks to a ridge of high pressure. |
| An approaching cold front directed it over NSW and southern Queensland on Saturday. | An approaching cold front directed it over NSW and southern Queensland on Saturday. |
| That will bring some relief for southern NSW and Victoria, but it will also bring strong winds. | That will bring some relief for southern NSW and Victoria, but it will also bring strong winds. |
| Severe weather warnings are in place for parts of South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and NSW. | Severe weather warnings are in place for parts of South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and NSW. |
| Below average temperatures in Western Australia | Below average temperatures in Western Australia |
| While the east coast sweats, the western half of Western Australia is experiencing below average temperatures all the way up to Pilbara. | While the east coast sweats, the western half of Western Australia is experiencing below average temperatures all the way up to Pilbara. |
| Sgarbossa said parts of the state were experiencing “well and truly below average temperatures” because of a series of cold fronts. | Sgarbossa said parts of the state were experiencing “well and truly below average temperatures” because of a series of cold fronts. |
| “And there is more cold air to come,” he said. | “And there is more cold air to come,” he said. |
| “Unlike the east coast the south western half of Western Australia are seeing temperatures four to six degrees below average.” | “Unlike the east coast the south western half of Western Australia are seeing temperatures four to six degrees below average.” |
| Australia weather | |
| New South Wales | |
| Victoria | |
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