Andrew Watkins | Lightnews

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 11h

I’m uneasy about the Age headline. The 2005 briefing by Geoff Love was pretty blunt about the risks.
Why isn’t the headline ‘Howard government ignored scientists warnings’??
Headline implies the climate science was wrong - it wasn’t.
Link to the 2005 briefing
recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetri...

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 12h

Crikey!

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 13h

And then the sun turning bright red at about 7pm.
No filter used... thats raw colour

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 13h

This was my view from Ricketts Point (Beaumaris, 20km from Melb) as i was packing up my windsurfing gear, at about 6pm

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 13h

Wondering where that smoke in Melbourne suburbs yesterday afternoon/evening came from? So did I!
Satellites show it was smoke from several fires in the Otway Ranges, which started from lightning strikes overnight Friday/Saturday.
slider.cira.colostate.edu?sat=himawari...

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 1d

www.canberratimes.com.au/story/914740...

Extreme hot and cold driving inland health emergencies

As Australia swelters through a heatwave, research suggests inland populations can expect hot days to become a bigger...

www.canberratimes.com.au

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 1d

USA records a total of 23 billion dollar weather disasters in 2025. The long term average (in adjusted 2026 $) is 9. Only 2023 and 2024 had more BDWD than 2025. The LA fires alone cost $61b.
www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt...

2025 in Review: U.S. Billion-Dollar Disasters | Climate Central

The data’s in for 2025. It was yet another year of back-to-back billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the U.S.

www.climatecentral.org

Dylan McConnell @dylanjmcconnell.bsky.social · 2d

Unusual conditions for a La Nina..

And in case it needs to be said: “Global warming means all our heatwaves and associated fire weather are made at least 1–2C hotter than they would have been due to the higher background temperature”

www.afr.com/policy/energ...

The unusual climate pattern fuelling Victoria’s bushfire emergency

Bushfires are now a familiar scene of the Australian summer, but there are concerns about the broader climatic conditions that preceded this week’s heatwave.

www.afr.com

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 2d

Change through Geelong, Cerberus and Avalon at 4:30pm
www.baywx.com.au/melbtempnow....
www.baywx.com.au/melbregion.h...

Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick @sarahinscience.bsky.social · 2d

the @australia.theguardian.com published an oped by me today.
This heatwave is bad.
The bushfires it is enabling are also bad.
Climate scientists & meteorologists are incredibly concerned about the next 48 hours.
And this is just a taste of what's to come.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

As a climate scientist, I know heatwaves in Australia will only get worse. We need to start preparing now | Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick

During black summer, my daughters were too young to know what was happening. Now, amid another Australian heatwave, they deserve answers

www.theguardian.com

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 2d

Air above Melbourne is seriously warm - check out the jump up in temperatures in the night when storms mixed heat aloft down to the ground. Viewbank jumped from 23 to 33C betwen 4 and 4:30am, while Melb Airport hit 36C at 4am!
www.baywx.com.au/melbregion.h...

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 3d

Some serious heat in the northern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne tomorrow. Temperatures up to 45C as close to the CBD as Preston.
Not sure i have seen a forecast for 42C at Ferny Creek - ontop of the Dandenongs - ever before
You can check your location's forcast via www.bom.gov.au/australia/me...

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 3d

Some wise comments on Australia’s current heat, fire and flood extremes from a range of experts.
(Does include quotes from me)

www.scimex.org/newsfeed/exp...

EXPERT REACTION: Fires in the south, floods in the north. What's up wi

EXPERT REACTION: Fires in the south, floods in the north. What's up with the weather? While much of Southern Australia is having its worst heatwave in years and extreme to catastrophi

www.scimex.org

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 3d

Never seen this before - Ambulance service red alert. Ambos in high risk parts of Catastrophic fire regions (eg next to bush land) will withdraw to safer ground tomorrow.

www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/site-2177/re...

Red escalation of ambulance services across Victoria

Ambulance Victoria has declared a Red Escalation across Victoria from 7am on Friday 9 January 2026, in response to the catastrophic fire danger declaration for the South West, Wimmera, North Central a...

www.ambulance.vic.gov.au

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 3d

Quote from:
www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Withdraws the United States from International Organizations that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States

WITHDRAWING FROM INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the withdrawal of the United

www.whitehouse.gov

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 3d

Official list of organisations that the USA will withdraw from inc. IPCC, UNFCCC, UN Oceans & SPREP.
“Many of these bodies promote radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programs that conflict with U.S. sovereignty and economic strength.”
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United

www.whitehouse.gov

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 3d

Lots of National Parks closed in Victoria tomorrow due to heat and fire
www.parks.vic.gov.au/news/2026/01...

Major park closures Friday 9 January

Many parks across the state will be closed due to Catastrophic and Extreme Fire Danger Ratings. Stay home and stay safe.

www.parks.vic.gov.au

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 3d

Friday forecast for Melbourne generally in the 42-44°C range from the Australian, US and European models.
But worryingly winds forecast around the 70kmh mark.
This could be Victoria’s most extreme fire day since Black Summer.
meteologix.com/au/forecast/...

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 4d

My hottest commute (21km) was a smidge over 43°C. I know your pain.

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 4d

Front just hit Geelong... 43C to 29C.
www.baywx.com.au/melbregion.h...

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 4d

Parts of Victoria upgraded to Catastrophic fire danger for Friday. Time to head home if camping in these Vic regions...
www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecast...

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 4d

Wilsons Prom has been a bit dodgy since Sunday (according to the oracle) and now appears to be either shut down or is failing
www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV...

www.bom.gov.au

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 4d

Basically all suburbs over 40C now
www.baywx.com.au/melbregion.h...

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 4d

Not even solar noon and parts of Melbourne have hit 40+°C

www.baywx.com.au/melbtempmax....

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 5d

Highest fire danger in Victoria is on Friday, despite a lower Melbourne forecast temperature than Wednesday

www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecast...

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 5d

Official forecast now 42°C Wednesday and 40°C Friday.

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 6d

Official forecast 41°C for Wednesday in Melbourne, but check out Friday….
Some models going for 43.5°C (with ‘some models’ being the ECMWF - arguably worlds best).
All boils down to when the change arrives. Official forecast currently 35°C, hedging on an early change.
meteologix.com/au/forecast/...

David Wilson @eregnans.bsky.social · 5d

Community notice — be careful out there this week. Heatwaves kill more people in Australia each year than any other natural hazard.
Hot days & nights Wed, Thu, Fri especially inland. Check on your people & animals ❤️❤️

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 6d

The global temperature was above average every single day of 2025.
So what is average now?

Flavio Lehner @climateflavors.bsky.social · 6d

2025 goes down as the ~3rd-warmest year on record (based on ERA5).

Like in 2024, every single day this past year was warmer than the average of even the most recent reference period (1991-2020).

Daily global temperature anomalies from 1940 to present, grouped by year, showing gradual global warming

Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 6d

Official forecast 41°C for Wednesday in Melbourne, but check out Friday….
Some models going for 43.5°C (with ‘some models’ being the ECMWF - arguably worlds best).
All boils down to when the change arrives. Official forecast currently 35°C, hedging on an early change.
meteologix.com/au/forecast/...

Flavio Lehner @climateflavors.bsky.social · 6d

2025 goes down as the ~3rd-warmest year on record (based on ERA5).

Like in 2024, every single day this past year was warmer than the average of even the most recent reference period (1991-2020).

Add to Home Screen

Light up
your news

Add to Home Screen

Light upyour news

Sign in to Lightnews

Sign up to start reading

Connect Bluesky

Connect with Bluesky

Light up
your news