Climate change made NSW’s hottest summer 50 times more likely

Heatwaves during January and
February pushed temperatures
beyond 45C in eastern Australia.

Sleepless nights and bushfire days; the hottest summer on record in the Australian state of New South Wales was made 50 times more likely due to climate change, researchers have found.

Repeated heatwaves broke maximum temperature records, culminating in the epic days of 11-12 February that pushed the mercury beyond 45C in many parts of the state. Devastating fires consumed whole villages and wildlife perished from exposure to the heat.

Analysis of the events by a team from World Weather Attribution and the University of New South Wales found the record average heat could “be linked directly to climate change”.

Read the ClimateHome story - “Climate change made NSW’s hottest summer 50 times more likely.”