Once-in-a-lifetime “extreme marine heatwave” gifts Sydney surfers likely highest water temperatures on record for January!

Hotter than hell water and arrival of Tiger and Bull sharks.

An  extended period of north swell spinning off the back of a tropical cyclone has combined with an “extreme marine heatwave” to bring Sydney surfers a sweet little summer of dreamy lil wedges and warm as hell water. 

If y’live in Sydney, you’ll shuffle between steamer, vest, trunks over the course of a normal summer, upwellings caused by the prevailing north-easter sending water temperatures plummeting, sometimes as low as fourteen (57 F) while an extended run of southerlies will gitcha, briefly, in trunks. 

Right now, water is hovering around twenty-three degrees Celsius or 73 F in the ol’ language.

According to Prof Moniya Roughan, an oceanographer at the University of New South Wales and an expert in marine heatwaves, there’s a 200 square km pool of ultra-warm water hitting Sydney and it’s warmer than anything since temperatures first started being record seventy years ago. 

“It appears now to be reaching those record levels and will likely be the hottest January on record. It’s an extreme marine heatwave,” Moniya told The Guardian, explaining the three factors pumping up the temps: global heating, a LA Nina weather system and atmospheric conditions. 

Of course, for every action there is a reaction. 

“Marine heatwaves are having severe consequences on ecosystems and they can kill habitats,” she said.

Bummer.

Also, the warm water is bringing in Tiger and Bull sharks.