Heat waves

As hot weather sweeps Europe, we speak to heat training experts about how to cope in scorching temperatures

A brutal US winter storm has closed highways, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people and prompted the first blizzard warning in Southern California in decades.

While one fire has been downgraded from emergency level, the heightened risk is expected to remain this evening for a fire that has burnt through 635ha near Bathurst.

The most severe heatwave of summer will descend on south-eastern states later this week, bringing a three- to four-day spell of uncomfortably high temperatures and bushfire threat.

The Greater Hunter including Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and the Upper Hunter has been placed under an extreme fire rating.

Social services and charities fear those with air conditioners will be tempted to leave them switched off to save on power risking their health — and even their life.

A low-severity heatwave, with temperatures peaking in the mid-30s in south-east Queensland and northern NSW, will sweep across the region from Monday.

South Australia's Country Fire Service has called in additional water bombers as the state prepares for a perfect storm of bushfire conditions, with temperatures above 40C and strong winds elevating the risk.

South Australia faces severe heatwave conditions for the first time in three years, prompting health warnings and frozen treats for pandas.

Extreme conditions in the north of the state with Victoria, NSW and Queensland also experiencing high temperatures