As large parts of the Northern Hemisphere grapple with intense cold waves and winter storms, southeastern Australia is facing an unusually severe heatwave, with temperatures climbing close to record levels. Scientists say the stark contrast highlights how seasonal patterns, combined with climate change, are driving more extreme and uneven weather events across the globe.
In late January, parts of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia recorded temperatures above 49°C, with several inland regions enduring consecutive days of extreme heat. The prolonged heat spell has strained power infrastructure, triggered bushfires, and left thousands without electricity.
Heatwave Tightens Grip on Southeastern Australia
Meteorologists say the ongoing heatwave has lasted longer than similar events seen in recent decades. In some areas, temperatures have remained above 40°C for up to a week, marking the longest such stretch since the 1930s.
The extreme conditions are being driven by a persistent heat dome trapping hot air over the region. Climate scientists note that human-induced warming has made such early-season heat events several times more likely, adding more than 1.5°C to average temperatures, even as weak La Niña conditions would normally have a cooling influence.
Earth Tilt Explains Seasonal Contrast, Not the Extremes
The opposing weather conditions between Australia and the rest of the world stem from Earth’s axial tilt of about 23.5 degrees. In January, the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun, leading to winter, while the Southern Hemisphere tilts toward it, bringing summer.
Experts stress that Earth’s distance from the Sun plays little role in seasons. Instead, the tilt determines how directly sunlight reaches each hemisphere. However, scientists warn that while this explains the seasonal difference, it does not account for the increasing intensity of heatwaves and cold spells now being observed.
Climate change, they say, is disrupting atmospheric circulation, weakening jet streams, and intensifying weather systems, leading to more pronounced extremes than previously recorded.
Severe Winters Grip Northern Hemisphere
While Australia battles extreme heat, large parts of the United States and northern Asia are experiencing prolonged cold spells. In late January, a major winter storm swept across the US, bringing heavy snow, ice, and record-low temperatures. Some regions reported wind chills dropping below minus 40 degrees, causing power outages and fatalities linked to hypothermia.
India’s northern states, including Delhi-NCR, have also faced severe cold wave conditions. Temperatures dipped close to 3°C in parts of the capital region, prompting weather alerts for dense fog and biting cold across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Climate experts warn that such simultaneous extremes scorching heat in one part of the world and freezing conditions in another are becoming more frequent as global temperatures rise. They underline the urgent need for stronger climate adaptation strategies and sustained efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.