Weather tracker: Australia bakes in spring heatwave while US hit by 14 storms

People try to cool off at the Jelly Bean Pools near Glenbrook, west Sydney, as temperatures across the country rise. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

The spring heatwave in Australia is set to continue this week, with record temperatures expected for inland areas of South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. In Sydney, temperatures have already reached 34.2C, which is more than 12C higher than the September average. The Bureau of Meteorology anticipates that temperatures will continue to rise significantly on Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures possibly reaching as high as 16C above the seasonal average.

Forecasters are warning of drier and warmer conditions than average for much of Australia over the summer, linked to the strengthening of an El Niño weather event. This will bring an increased risk of extreme weather phenomena over the summer such as wildfires and extreme droughts.