Heatwaves are causing more deaths in Australia than all other natural disasters combined, so authorities should consider a cyclone-type rating system to help people prepare for the heat. This was reported by scientists after a recent study.
The Bureau of Meteorology has developed its own system to rank heatwaves, but it needs to be supplemented to warn of cyclone intensity, said Thomas Loridan, lead author of the study. This is to ensure that the public understands the relative threat from Category 1 tropical cyclones versus Category 4 or 5 storms, and the different levels of fire hazard.
“When you hear warnings about tropical cyclones or wildfires, it's scary. But when you hear a weekend heat warning, you think there is nothing dangerous. Only with a clear understanding of what a heat wave is, can one realize the degree of risk. We are ready to educate people so that they understand the threat,”said the author of the study.
Loridan said historical records show a clear link between the intensity of hot spells and the rise in deaths. Heat can be divided into three categories (low intensity, severe, and extreme) that will help residents navigate the degree of danger. “The easier it is for residents to get warnings about heat, the faster they react and understand the level of danger,” Loridan said. - Often, Australians deliberately expose themselves to unjustified risks, many are not frightened by the statistics on the number of deaths from the heat and the fact that such people are much longer than people who have died from cyclones, forest fires or other natural disasters. Many people think that you can get used to the heat, but this is not so. Low intensity heatwaves, which account for 85 percent of hot spells, have a stronger impact on the younger population. Severe heatwaves have a greater impact on the health of the elderly, while extreme heatwaves affect everyone. Our job is to protect Australians from abnormal temperatures. Extreme heat waves occur approximately every 40 to 50 years, but recently this period has begun to decline."
Inna Solntseva