Media Release
Northern Territory Government
NT Health Helping Territorians keep their cool – new heatwave service launches
4 October 2022
The Bureau of Meteorology and NT Health have launched new warning systems to inform the community about heatwaves and extreme heat conditions.
The Bureau's Heatwave Warning Service issues alerts when a heat hazard is forecast within the next four days and will inform Territorians of a heatwave event.
Heatwave warnings are provided through the Bureau's website and the BOM Weather app.
The new warning service will be used by NT Health and the Chief Health Officer to issue Extreme Heat Warnings and inform the community to take action to protect themselves and their family against the impacts of heat stress.
Extreme heat warnings form part of a new Australian Warning System that aims to provide a more consistent approach to emergency warnings for hazards including bushfires, floods, storms and cyclones.
Extreme heat conditions can occur across the NT between the months of October and March. Extreme heat warnings have been developed specifically for the Territory with indicators informed by local weather conditions.
Extreme heat warnings are likely to be issued when maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast to be unusually hot over a three day period. Forecast minimum and maximum temperatures are also compared to the long-term history of a location as well as temperatures over the last 30 days.
While the NT has naturally warm to hot weather, extreme heat warnings indicate that conditions have exceeded normal levels and the community needs to take personal action to protect themselves and others.
In response to an extreme heat warning, the community should:
· Stay cool in air-conditioning where possible or seek out shady areas with a breeze
· Drink cold or iced water
· Decrease physical activity
· Get into cold water or apply cold substances to the body
· Look after those most at risk including children and older people
Symptoms of heat stress include:
· tiredness and lethargy
· headache
· dizziness or fainting
· confusion leading to poor decision making
· muscle cramps
· feeling thirsty
· urinating less often
People who feel they may be suffering from heat stress should take immediate action to bring their temperature down. If symptoms persist, they should seek medical advice. If they are worried, they should call triple zero (000) immediately.
For more information on heatwaves visit the Bureau's heatwave knowledge centre [file:///C:/Users/Lpike1/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/NH6FSPV2/bom.gov.au]. For more information on extreme heat visit health.nt.gov.au [https://health.nt.gov.au/]
Quotes attributed to Dr Charles Pain, Chief Health Officer, NT Health:
“In Australia, extreme heat results in more community deaths than bushfires, floods, cyclones and severe storms combined.
“Even the most acclimatised NT residents can be affected by heat stress, with an increased body temperature having potentially serious or even fatal effects.
“It’s important Territorians are prepared and take action to stay cool and safe in response to an extreme heat warning. Ensure you and your family have access to cool water and make sure you take care of your pets and animals as they can also be affected by heat stress.
“The groups at most risk in extreme heat conditions include children, people aged over 65 years, people living alone, people who are socially isolated and people who are taking medications that affect the body’s ability to cope with heat.”
Quotes attributed to Shenagh Gamble, the Bureau of Meteorology:
"The Bureau has worked closely with Australian health and emergency services partners and with NT Health to develop this nationally consistent approach to heatwave warnings.
"The Bureau's Heatwave Warning Service will support better decision making for health and emergency services, and for local communities.
"A heatwave occurs when the maximum and the minimum temperatures are unusually hot over a three-day period at a location. This is considered in relation to the local climate and past weather at the location. If a heatwave is headed your way, consider its severity level and listen to messages from your local emergency services and health authorities.
"You can now use the BOM Weather app to receive notifications of heatwaves and other warnings directly to your phone. To receive notifications through the app, visit the notifications setting menu to get the warning information you need when it matters most."
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