Catastrophic Conditions In Australia

Hot, dry and dangerous....many parts of Australia are suffering through record November heat and an extreme fire danger.
For the first time in New South Wales a "Catastrophic" category has been used to warn for unpredictable and uncontrollable fires.
The heat has exceeded 46 degrees Celsius or 115 Fahrenheit and at night the temperature has remained above 84 F.
Farmers were asked to leave their lands and school bus service was cancelled while schools closed.
All of this may seem extreme unless you recall the Black Friday Fires of February 2009. Hundreds of people were killed in fires with 60-70 foot flames. It was considered Australia's worst natural disaster in over a century.
Having seen the destruction of wildfires first hand while growing in in the back country of San Diego, California I witnessed family homes burning, family members fleeing for their lives as they lost everything but the clothes on their backs. The destruction is indescribable. The speed and unpredictability of fires also make them one of natures worst disasters.
My heart goes out to everyone living through these dangerous conditions down under.