Experts warn Aussies to be aware of heatwave risk as summer commences

Climate experts Thursday warned Australians not to underestimate the threat of heatwaves, as the summer season begins.

Northern parts of the country are expected to swelter in temperatures of up 40 degrees Celsius on Thursday, and meteorologists and climate experts have appealed to Australians to be fully aware of the dangers associated with summer heatwaves.

Dr. Thomas Loridan, scientist from research company Risk Frontiers, told national radio that heatwaves are the deadliest natural disaster during the Australian summer.

"Heatwave is a natural disaster that is not as spectacular as tropical cyclones or bushfires," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday.

"Our perception is that it is not as dangerous. However, during (crippling bushfires) in 2009 in Melbourne we had probably twice as many deaths from the heatwave than from the bushfire that happened at the same time."

The Bureau of Meteorology came up with a new heatwave grading system for the summer, which has been designed so that all Australians can understand the associated risks that come with extreme weather events.

Loridan said the new method, which involves listing heatwaves in categories much like hurricanes and cyclones, would make it easier for experts to "communicate the risk" to citizens.

"We are trying to capture how intense the heatwave is, in terms of peak intensity of the event, but also how long it lasts. It may not be as intense, but it might last a week." he said.

"For every 100,000 people exposed to a category five heatwave, you would get at least three fatalities," he said.

During a category five heatwave, it would be expected that up to 150 people could die in major cities Sydney or Melbourne.

Loridan said northern Australia, where temperatures are currently in the 40s, is experiencing a category two event.

Australia's summer season begins on Dec.1 and concludes at the end of February. Endit