Abnormally Hot Days Could Grip Southeast Australia After Rare Warming Over Antarctica

In a development that has climate scientists on alert, a rare sudden stratospheric warming over Antarctica is underway, potentially setting the stage for unusually hot and dry conditions in southeast Australia heading into summer. This phenomenon, known as sudden stratospheric warming (SSW), disrupts the polar vortex and can ripple effects across the southern hemisphere's weather patterns.

SSW events are far less common south of the equator compared to the north, with the last notable occurrence in 2019 coinciding with the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires. Those fires ravaged millions of hectares and claimed lives, exacerbated by the extreme heat and drought that followed the atmospheric shift. Now, as temperatures in the Antarctic stratosphere rise sharply—up to 50 degrees Celsius in some layers—experts fear a similar chain reaction could unfold.

"This is a big deal for Australia because it can weaken the usual blocking highs that keep weather stable," explained Dr. Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, a climate scientist at the Australian National University. She notes that past SSWs have led to prolonged heatwaves and reduced rainfall in regions like New South Wales and Victoria, straining water resources and increasing fire risks.

The current event was first detected in late September, with satellite data showing the vortex over the South Pole breaking down unusually early in the season. While not every SSW guarantees severe impacts, the 2019 parallel raises concerns, especially amid broader climate change trends amplifying extremes.

For residents in southeast Australia, this could mean preparing for more "abnormally hot days"—temperatures exceeding seasonal norms by several degrees. Fire authorities are already urging vigilance, echoing lessons from recent years where such weather caught communities off guard.

As research into southern hemisphere SSWs advances, events like this underscore the interconnectedness of global weather systems. Australians might see this as a stark reminder of how distant polar changes can hit close to home.

This article is a summary based on reporting by The Guardian. For the full story, read the original here.