Article by Eric Worrell
The “record-breaking” winter heatwave sweeping Australia could be saving households millions of dollars on home heating bills. But obviously we shouldn't view the sudden end of winter as a good thing.
Heatwave brings Australia's winter weather to abrupt end as climate change upends seasons
Climate reporter Jesse Davis reports
Australians across the country were basking in the bright winter sunshine on Sunday afternoon.
Flowers are blooming early, Melbourne's football matches are being played in 24-degree temperatures, heavy rain has dampened the remainder of another poor snow season and the ski slopes are in mourning.
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Although the start of winter feels cold to many people, part of that is because our memories are short.
Professor Perkins-Kirkpatrick said: “We do feel cold because many of our other winters have been warm over the past 20-plus years.”
“In terms of human experience, we typically only remember weather events or seasonal events from eight years ago.
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“To be honest, for most of us, it's quite pleasant and a really nice change from cooler conditions,” Dr. King said.
“But in the spring or summer, if we had a heat wave that was similar in intensity to what we've seen over the past week or so, or a similar level of abnormality, we would be very concerned about those heat events.”
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More than 1,000 people died during Saudi Arabia's annual hajj, when temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius.
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Find out more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-29/winter-ends-with-heatwave-as-climate-change-upends-seasons/104279250
The elderly and infirm do suffer during heat waves, just as they suffer during periods of extreme cold. But using affordable coal or natural gas energy to power air conditioners, or increasing winter fuel subsidies for retirees, would do more to help the frail and elderly with limited incomes than wasting billions on crazy schemes. Government funding to drive much greater temperatures in the future.
Home heating (and cooling) costs are a big issue in Australia, especially in the colder, more climate-sensitive southern states.
Nearly half of Australians are feeling cold this winter as they worry about power bills
By Emily McPherson • Senior Reporter August 12, 2024 at 8:56 am
Millions of Australians have been shivering this winter, avoiding heating due to concerns about the cost, a new survey shows.
New research from comparison website Finder found one in eight Australians “always” live without heating, while a further 36 per cent said they avoid using heaters where possible.
The findings, based on a survey of 1,049 respondents, mean nearly half of Australians – equivalent to 4.9 million households – live without adequate heating.
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Find out more: https://www.9news.com.au/national/almost-half-of-australians-have-gone-cold-this-winter-over-power-bill-fears/adbbac4e-301b-459f- 8f37-a20500b050d8
Extreme heat or cold snaps will only cause problems for the infirm if you are forced to endure them, for example if you cannot afford to turn on the air conditioner.
For those who are in good health, the high temperatures they say are not a challenge as long as they stay properly hydrated.
When I was young, I worked for a while in a poorly ventilated plastics factory in Melbourne, Australia. Chemical processes and a leaking hydraulic heat press released huge clouds of vapor, so the environment was dank. On the hottest days, the thermometer on the factory floor reached 55C/130F. Management patrols every 5 minutes to provide refills.
My grandfather told me that during World War II he worked in similar conditions in a metal foundry in Melbourne, making artillery pieces for the war effort, 18 hours a day. His factory had large lead furnaces that were kept at 660 degrees Fahrenheit continuously for heat treating steel, so I'm guessing his factory floors were probably hotter than what I experienced.
The human body is adaptable. When I finished my work day at 3pm and stepped outside in the 110 degree sun, I shivered involuntarily for 2 minutes as my body adjusted to the sudden drop in temperature. It was an unforgettable experience.
I'm sure people who work in bakeries and mines have similar experiences.
But you wouldn’t expect climate scientists who spend most of their time in the comfort of air-conditioned offices to know that.
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