The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe heatwave warning for Dubbo, New South Wales, ahead of a December week with five days over 40°C. Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell. The heat also contributed to an ‘extreme’ fire danger rating and a total fire ban.

Dubbo has a historic baseline averaging 32 days over 35°C per year (based on 1981-2010 data). More recently, the town experienced over 72 days of 35°C+ heat in 2019.

According to CSIRO-BoM projections, under a high emissions scenario, Dubbo can expect averages of up to 116 days per year over 35°C, and up to 83 annual days over 40°C, by 2090. Yet, if emissions are drastically limited, Dubbo could keep the average number of days over 35°C to just 52 in 2090, similar to the historic baseline.