What is a Heat Wave?
When the temperature rises to really high temperatures over period of time in a certain place, we call this a heat wave. Heat waves can be very dangerous because they pose health risks to those who are most vulnerable like the elderly and very young children.Heat waves can also be dangerous because they can lead to wild fires in dry areas. In February 2009 Australia suffered from large forest fires in the state of Victoria. 173 people lost their lives in the fires and 414 people were injured.
These bush fires are now known as the ‘Black Saturday Bushfires’ due to most of the destruction occurring on Saturday 7th February. The fires began as the weather conditions were extreme, with temperatures reach 46.4°C and wind speeds reaching up to 78mph. These conditions meant the fires spread quickly causing huge amounts of devastation.
[taken from http://www.oddizzi.com/teachers/explore-the-world/weather/weather-types/temperature/heat-waves/]
These bush fires are now known as the ‘Black Saturday Bushfires’ due to most of the destruction occurring on Saturday 7th February. The fires began as the weather conditions were extreme, with temperatures reach 46.4°C and wind speeds reaching up to 78mph. These conditions meant the fires spread quickly causing huge amounts of devastation.
[taken from http://www.oddizzi.com/teachers/explore-the-world/weather/weather-types/temperature/heat-waves/]
Was it a heat wave in Belarus in 2010?
Belarus people cool off in the water-jets of a waterfall in Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, July 15, 2010. A heat wave hit the city with temperatures going higher than 30C (86 F).
"On Saturday, August 14, at night in certain areas of the country there will be showers with thunderstorms. Mostly without precipitations in the afternoon. The wind is southeastern moderate, sometimes gusty. Air temperature at night is +18 .. +24 ° C, from +33 ° C on the north-west up to +39 ° C on the south-east of the country at daytime", informed in Belhydrometcenter.
On Sunday and Monday, August15-16, showers and thunderstorms expected in some areas. "The wind is south-eastern moderate, gusty when thunderstorms. Air temperature at night is +19 .. +25 ° C, it is expected from +33 to +39 ° C in Sunday's afternoon. On August 16, in western regions of the country the heat to weaken by 2-4 degrees due to the coming of atmospheric front", reads the report of specialists.
Moreover, in eastern districts of Gomel and Mogilev regions there expected extreme fire danger (of the highest - 5th level), told in Belhydromet.
(taken from http://telegraf.by/2010/08/the_fourth_heat_wave_overwhelms_belarus_weather_forecasters )
"On Saturday, August 14, at night in certain areas of the country there will be showers with thunderstorms. Mostly without precipitations in the afternoon. The wind is southeastern moderate, sometimes gusty. Air temperature at night is +18 .. +24 ° C, from +33 ° C on the north-west up to +39 ° C on the south-east of the country at daytime", informed in Belhydrometcenter.
On Sunday and Monday, August15-16, showers and thunderstorms expected in some areas. "The wind is south-eastern moderate, gusty when thunderstorms. Air temperature at night is +19 .. +25 ° C, it is expected from +33 to +39 ° C in Sunday's afternoon. On August 16, in western regions of the country the heat to weaken by 2-4 degrees due to the coming of atmospheric front", reads the report of specialists.
Moreover, in eastern districts of Gomel and Mogilev regions there expected extreme fire danger (of the highest - 5th level), told in Belhydromet.
(taken from http://telegraf.by/2010/08/the_fourth_heat_wave_overwhelms_belarus_weather_forecasters )