2009 southeastern Australia heat wave

• Average daily maximum 27 January – 7 February: 40.5 °C (104.9 °F) – (11.1 °C (20.0 °F) above average)[8]
• 13 Consecutive days over 33 °C (91 °F)
• 6 Consecutive days over 40 °C (104 °F)
• 4 Consecutive days over 43 °C (109 °F)

• Average daily maximum 27 January – 7 February: 35.9 °C (96.6 °F) – (10.1 °C (18.2 F) above average)[9]
• 12 Consecutive days over 28 °C (82 °F)
• 5 Consecutive days over 30 °C (86 °F)
• 3 Consecutive days over 43 °C (109 °F)

• 12 Consecutive days over 40 °C (104 °F)
• 5 Consecutive days over 42 °C (108 °F)

• 14 Consecutive days over 35 °C (95 °F)
• 13 Consecutive days over 37.8 °C (100.0 °F)
• 4 Consecutive days over 40 °C (104 °F)

January 2009

• 27th – 32.9 °C (91.2 °F)[10]
• 28th – 41.9 °C (107.4 °F)
• 29th – 45.8 °C (114.4 °F)
• 30th – 45.0 °C (113.0 °F)

February

• 7th – 47.9 °C (118.2 °F) (record high, 2.1 °C higher than previous record)

January 2009

• 27th – 44.8 °C (112.6 °F)[11]
• 28th – 47.5 °C (117.5 °F)
• 29th – 42.3 °C (108.1 °F)
• 30th – 39.3 °C (102.7 °F)
• 31st – 42.9 °C (109.2 °F)

February

• 1st – 41.1 °C (106.0 °F)
• 2nd – 34.1 °C (93.4 °F)
• 3rd – 32.1 °C (89.8 °F)
• 4th – 41.5 °C (106.7 °F)
• 5th – 31.7 °C (89.1 °F)
• 6th – 46.4 °C (115.5 °F)

A graph of the minimum and maximum temperatures recorded in Mildura, Victoria at the airport

January 2009

• 26th – 38.0 °C (100.4 °F)[12]
• 27th – 41.5 °C (106.7 °F)
• 28th – 43.7 °C (110.7 °F)
• 29th – 42.8 °C (109.0 °F)
• 30th – 43.3 °C (109.9 °F)
• 31st – 44.1 °C (111.4 °F)

February

• 1st – 42.9 °C (109.2 °F)
• 2nd – 42.6 °C (108.7 °F)
• 3rd – 40.1 °C (104.2 °F)
• 4th – 40.9 °C (105.6 °F)
• 5th – 41.1 °C (106.0 °F)
• 6th – 43.1 °C (109.6 °F)
• 7th – 46.7 °C (116.1 °F) – 12th consecutive day over 40 °C
• 8th – 34.6 °C (94.3 °F)

January 2009

• 26th – 37.8 °C (100.0 °F)[13]
• 27th – 39.5 °C (103.1 °F)
• 28th – 43.0 °C (109.4 °F)
• 29th – 42.7 °C (108.9 °F)
• 30th – 44.5 °C (112.1 °F)
• 31st – 44.2 °C (111.6 °F)

February

• 1st – 43.0 °C (109.4 °F)
• 2nd – 38.3 °C (100.9 °F)
• 3rd – 38.2 °C (100.8 °F)
• 4th – 39.2 °C (102.6 °F)
• 5th – 42.1 °C (107.8 °F)
• 6th – 41.5 °C (106.7 °F)
• 7th – 46.6 °C (115.9 °F)[13][14]

January 2009

• 26th – 37.7 °C (99.9 °F)[15]
• 27th – 40.8 °C (105.4 °F)
• 28th – 43.8 °C (110.8 °F)
• 29th – 43.4 °C (110.1 °F)
• 30th – 44.6 °C (112.3 °F)
• 31st – 44.5 °C (112.1 °F)

February

• 1st – 43.0 °C (109.4 °F)
• 2nd – 40.8 °C (105.4 °F)
• 3rd – 38.3 °C (100.9 °F)
• 4th – 40.0 °C (104.0 °F)
• 5th – 42.5 °C (108.5 °F)
• 6th – 42.6 °C (108.7 °F)
• 7th – 46.6 °C (115.9 °F)

Temperatures have been recorded since in 1855.

Temperature graph for Melbourne during the peak of the heatwave.

Detailed temperature graph for Melbourne during the peak of the heatwave.

January 2009

• 27th – 36.4 °C (97.5 °F)[16]
• 28th – 43.4 °C (110.1 °F)
• 29th – 44.3 °C (111.7 °F)
• 30th – 45.1 °C (113.2 °F) – Third-hottest day recorded in Melbourne.
• 31st – 30.5 °C (86.9 °F)

February

• 1st – 33.8 °C (92.8 °F)
• 2nd – 28.5 °C (83.3 °F)
• 3rd – 30.2 °C (86.4 °F)
• 4th – 30.2 °C (86.4 °F)
• 5th – 29.2 °C (84.6 °F)
• 6th – 33.1 °C (91.6 °F)
• 7th – 46.4 °C (115.5 °F) – Hottest day recorded in Melbourne[17] 0.8 °C hotter than previous record (Friday, 13 January 1939).

January 2009

• 26th – 36.6 °C (97.9 °F)[18]
• 27th – 43.2 °C (109.8 °F)
• 28th – 45.7 °C (114.3 °F)
• 29th – 43.4 °C (110.1 °F)
• 30th – 43.1 °C (109.6 °F)
• 31st – 41.1 °C (106.0 °F)

February

• 1st – 40.6 °C (105.1 °F)
• 2nd – 38.8 °C (101.8 °F)
• 3rd – 36.3 °C (97.3 °F)
• 4th – 33.0 °C (91.4 °F)
• 5th – 35.6 °C (96.1 °F)
• 6th – 43.9 °C (111.0 °F)
• 7th – 41.5 °C (106.7 °F)

A record-high minimum temperature was recorded at around midnight on 29 January, when the temperature dropped to only 33.9 °C (93.0 °F) at the Bureau of Meteorology weather station in Kent Town, near the Adelaide city centre. Temperatures recorded in other parts of the city and other towns throughout South Australia were even higher.[19]

January 2009

• 25th – 37.9 °C (100.2 °F)
• 26th – 39.9 °C (103.8 °F)
• 27th – 43.8 °C (110.8 °F)
• 28th – 44.6 °C (112.3 °F)
• 29th – 42.3 °C (108.1 °F)
• 30th – 42.4 °C (108.3 °F)
• 31st – 41.9 °C (107.4 °F)

February

• 1st – 41.7 °C (107.1 °F)
• 2nd – 43.5 °C (110.3 °F)
• 3rd – 43.7 °C (110.7 °F)
• 4th – 42.5 °C (108.5 °F)
• 5th – 42.8 °C (109.0 °F)
• 6th – 45.6 °C (114.1 °F)
• 7th – 46.2

Graph of minimum and maximum temperatures recorded at the Wagga Wagga Airport.

January 2009

• 26th – 37.7 °C (99.9 °F)[20]
• 27th – 37.9 °C (100.2 °F)
• 28th – 39.2 °C (102.6 °F)
• 29th – 40.7 °C (105.3 °F)
• 30th – 41.2 °C (106.2 °F)
• 31st – 41.6 °C (106.9 °F)

February

• 1st – 41.6 °C (106.9 °F)
• 2nd – 39.0 °C (102.2 °F)
• 3rd – 39.4 °C (102.9 °F)
• 4th – 38.1 °C (100.6 °F)
• 5th – 41.7 °C (107.1 °F)
• 6th – 42.8 °C (109.0 °F)
• 7th – 45.2 °C (113.4 °F) – Hottest day recorded in Wagga Wagga since records began in 1941.[21]
• 8th – 42.7 °C (108.9 °F)

On 31 January 2009 Wagga Wagga broke the all-time January record for the most days above 40.0 °C (104.0 °F) with six days recorded (the record previously being five days, which was set in 1952 and equalled in 1979 and 2001). The January record set in 1979 was equalled for number of days above 35.0 °C (95.0 °F) or more which is 19 days.[22]

Wagga Wagga broke the all-time record and the February record for the highest recorded maximum on 7 February 2009, 2:50pm AEDT the city recorded 45.2 °C (113.4 °F) with the previous February record being 44.6 °C (112.3 °F) set on 1 February 1968 and the all time previously being 44.8 °C (112.6 °F) set on 23 January 2001.[21][23]

On 8 February 2009 the record for the consecutive days over 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) was to be broken with thirteen consecutive days recorded (the previous record being six days, which was set in 1946 and equalled in 1979, 1980 and 2004). Wagga Wagga also recorded fourteen consecutive days of over 35.0 °C (95.0 °F).[24][25]

January 2009

• 26th – 38.4 °C (101.1 °F)[26]
• 27th – 38.2 °C (100.8 °F)
• 28th – 40.7 °C (105.3 °F)
• 29th – 41.5 °C (106.7 °F)
• 30th – 42.9 °C (109.2 °F)
• 31st – 42.7 °C (108.9 °F)

February

• 1st – 43.1 °C (109.6 °F)
• 2nd – 38.3 °C (100.9 °F)
• 3rd – 37.7 °C (99.9 °F)
• 4th – 36.9 °C (98.4 °F)
• 5th – 41.2 °C (106.2 °F)
• 6th – 42.2 °C (108.0 °F)
• 7th – 44.8 °C (112.6 °F) – Hottest day recorded in Albury–Wodonga since records began in 1973.[27]
• 8th – 40.2 °C (104.4 °F)

January 2009

• 28th – 40.0 °C (104.0 °F)
• 29th – 41.4 °C (106.5 °F)
• 30th – 41.1 °C (106.0 °F)

February

• 7th – 44.1 °C (111.4 °F) (record-high, 2.1 °C higher than previous record)

January 2009

• 28th – 34.8 °C (94.6 °F)[28]
• 29th – 37.0 °C (98.6 °F)
• 30th – 37.2 °C (99.0 °F)
• 31st – 38.2 °C (100.8 °F)

February

• 1st – 31.9 °C (89.4 °F)
• 2nd – 34.7 °C (94.5 °F)
• 3rd – 31.0 °C (87.8 °F)
• 4th – 33.8 °C (92.8 °F)
• 5th – 37.4 °C (99.3 °F)
• 6th – 39.6 °C (103.3 °F)
• 7th – 40.0 °C (104.0 °F)
• 8th – 40.0 °C (104.0 °F)

January 2009

• 28th – 33.8 °C (92.8 °F)[29]
• 29th – 36.9 °C (98.4 °F)
• 30th – 39.0 °C (102.2 °F) – Hottest day recorded in Launceston since records began in 1980.[30]
• 31st – 38.2 °C (100.8 °F)

Localised power outages occurred throughout both cities during the week at varying times for various lengths. It is estimated that over 500,000 residents in Melbourne were without power for the evening of 30 January 2009.[35] The outage affected much of central Melbourne with train and tram services cancelled, the evacuation of Crown Casino, traffic light failures, people being rescued from lifts and patrons of the Victorian Arts Centre evacuated and shows cancelled. The outage occurred only an hour after the National Electricity Market Management Company (NEMMCO) issued a statement saying load shedding was ending and power had been restored.

Blackouts also occurred in the city's west, caused by the three-day heat wave. It is believed an explosion at South Morang contributed to the power problems along three transmission lines supplying Victoria's west and Victorian power supplier SP AusNet shed 1,000 megawatts.[35] On the 30th, Energy Minister Peter Batchelor announced consumers who lose power for more than 20 hours would be eligible for compensation.[2][36][37][38][39][40][41]

Areas that didn't experience blackouts still had problems with abnormally low voltage (probably due to increased air-conditioner usage).

As of 1 February, the heat wave is estimated to have cost the Victorian economy $100m during the week.[42]

Over the course of the week, thousands of train and tram services were cancelled in both cities, with more than 1,300[42] individual train services cancelled in metropolitan Melbourne alone. The cancellations were due to buckling rail lines, air conditioner failures and power outages.[37] On the 30th, all public transport in the city was free as the government admitted responsibility for failing to provide adequate infrastructure elements to cope with the heat, as well as long-standing issues with underfunding.[43] On the 30th, 730 (40%) of rail services were cancelled, the worst day of operation since Connex took control in 2004.[42]

Several outdoor matches during the 2009 Australian Open on the 29th and the 30th were cancelled due to the heat. A number of players, including number 3 seed Novak Djokovic, cited the temperature as reason for withdrawing from matches.[44] Serena Williams was quoted as saying it was so hot on court she felt like she was having an "out-of-body experience".[45] After these retirements and an intensification in the heat, the organisers responded by closing the roof and allowing players longer breaks and icepacks.

There is dispute between sources as to how many people were affected by the heat wave. Hundreds were treated for heat-related illness and 6 fatalities were confirmed, and a number of "sudden deaths" were suspected to be caused by the heat. Authorities worked through each case to determine exactly how many fatalities were directly attributable to the heat wave.[46]

Commercial news sources vary widely at the number of fatalities, some report only 2 deaths, while others speculate that the toll may ultimately be higher. Fifty-seven deaths were suspected to have occurred in South Australia and 33 in Victoria,[46] however authorities preferred to wait for coronial reports before confirming how many were directly attributable to the heat wave.[47]

The Victorian state coroner announced a tripling of dead bodies being placed in the state mortuary during the heat wave, filling the morgue to capacity. Hospitals and funeral homes were relied upon to provide temporary storage of corpses, even before the deaths associated with the Black Saturday bushfires created additional demand for mortuary space.[48]

Throughout the heat wave, thousands of people, many of them elderly, were confirmed to have been treated by ambulance officers and placed in hospitals for heat-related illnesses in Victoria and South Australia. Ambulance Victoria reported a 70% increase in emergency calls during the week.[42] It is estimated that around 2,000 people across Victoria and South Australia were treated for heat stroke and other effects of the heat wave.

According to a Monash University study of funeral notices, more than 200 people died as a result of the heat wave. A 45% increase in the death rate was noted during the time.[49] A subsequent report by Victoria's chief health officer, Dr John Carnie, put the final figure at 374.[1]

Baby birds, possums and bats were among the wildlife not coping in the extreme heat. The RSPCA received five times the usual number of admissions to its shelters in Melbourne, with 50 possums admitted to the Burwood East shelter alone.[2]

There were many reports of koalas wandering into urban yards and houses to drink water offered by residents. This behaviour is highly unusual as the animals do not normally drink water and are naturally shy of people.[50]

In Melbourne, a city where most trees are non-native, notably the plane trees that line many inner and middle suburban streets, deciduous trees began shedding their leaves by early February, creating the appearance of an early autumn.[51] Water restrictions meant many trees and plants were already stressed, and some street trees and trees in parks where councils had not arranged special watering, died, or suffered die back, as did trees and plants in private gardens.