Portland, Oregon in the USA has just experienced 44'C, by far its hottest temperature on record and following on from 42'C yesterday during a widespread heat wave. Yet Portland's latitude is 45'N - considerably closer to the North Pole than Hobart is to the South Pole.
" US cities set up 'cooling centres' as historic heatwave bakes Pacific north-west " "... Cities across the United States Pacific Northwest are setting up "cooling centres" where people can escape a record heatwave baking the region. Daytime temperatures have been breaking records in places where many residents do not have air conditioning.Shops have sold out of portable air conditioners, fans, water and sports drinks. ..." https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-28/us-pacific-north-west-heatwave-temperature-records/100248576
So what about Australia?
Well Morrison's government is still dog-whistling that climate change is a hoax, that damage to the GBR is minor, that the Murray-Darling Basin is fine and that recent bushfires and drought are just normal.
Under Morrison Australia is like a rabbit caught in headlights as the realities of Covid19 and global warming bear down on us.
