Australia is grappling with a heat wave that will see the thermometer rise as much as 16 degrees above average.
The high temperature warning was issued in various areas of the country: western and southern Australia, the state of Victoria and Tasmania.
Temperatures are expected to be between 8 and 16 degrees higher than the average
for the period.
In several cities, overnight lows were the highest recorded in the past four years.
In Adelaide at 11 in the morning the mercury was already
38 degrees
.
In Melbourne, the beaches have been stormed.
