The heatwave sweeping Australia caused blackouts in Adelaide on Wednesday afternoon, forcing 40,000 people to swelter through 42 degree heat without air conditioning. Overwhelming demand for electricity forced South Australian Power Networks to plunge parts of the state into darkness in order to conserve power. The blackout sent the city into chaos, forcing drivers to navigate the roads without traffic lights. Extreme weather conditions have been felt right across the nation, as flood and bushfire warnings (top right) are issued for Western Australia. New South Wales is also warned to brace for the hottest three February days on record, with temperatures expected to soar to 39 in Sydney on Saturday and 46 in Sydney's west (heat map on Saturday pictured centre). Despite torrential rain affecting Sydney over Tuesday and Wednesday, locals and tourists have been hitting the beach to beat Australia-wide (top left and bottom right) to beat the heat that scorches into the night (bottom left).
The heatwave Australia is NOT ready for: 40,000 homes blacked out in Adelaide as air-con use pushes grid to breaking point - and Sydney is next with 40C-plus days and the hottest February EVER
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