Sudden stratospheric warming is the unusual climate variation affecting ozone, heat and wind

The smallest ozone hole in decades is one
impact of this year's unusual warming event.

We just had the smallest ozone hole since 1982, the drought is dragging on and the fire danger is forecast to be up. What connects all these events? Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW).

South Australia has been sizzling today, but relief is coming as a cold front makes its way across the country. 

Victoria is expected to have a hot night before the front arrives, then it will be New South Wales's turn in the hot seat on Friday. 

Pinning one event on a single climate driver is fraught, but this bout of warm weather fits with what would be expected as one of the strongest SSWs in 40 years starts impacting Earth's surface.

The official outlook is for warm dry conditions in the months ahead. 

Read the story from ABC News by Kate Doyle and Ben Deacon - “Sudden stratospheric warming is the unusual climate variation affecting ozone, heat and wind.”