Extreme Weather
Raging bushfires aren't the country's only problem.
With countries around the world continually beating their own records for both heat and rainfall year on year, extreme weather is becoming more common. Now, as the planet heats up, natural disasters are on the rise. We have seen events from wildfires to hurricanes increasing in frequency and intensity, but how exactly can our changing climate have an effect on natural disasters?
Jeremy Corbyn visited a flood-hit community in South Yorkshire and warned the UK could expect more extreme weather due to climate change.
Six people have died and more than 190 were injured after a strong tornado hit Liaoning Province in northeast China. The tornado brought strong showers and hail, wreaking havoc on apartments, factory buildings and power lines. It touched down in Jingouzi township, ripped through an industrial park and moved south. It lasted around 15 minutes. Power supply to the region has been cut off and rescue efforts are ongoing.
Snow fights and sledding were all the rage across Eastern Australia with wild weather conditions creating a winter wonderland. Damaging winds and large swells caused travel delays across Sydney and dumped snow on the northern state of Queensland, which is a rare occasion for the usually sunshine drenched region.
High winds and dust created a thick storm that passed over the Australian state of Victoria on 7 May 2018. The town was plunged into darkness as the mass moved over houses and roads. Residents reported that clear skies returned after about an hour.
A dust storm hit the town of New South Wales, Australia, on Tuesday, turning the sky a dark red and causing power outages for 5000 homes. Sally Lees filmed from her family farm in the town of Barellan.
Sydney was absolutely battered by golf ball-sized hail on Thursday evening. Pedestrians ran and ducked for cover as the city was hit by the hailstorm. According to local media, the storm was the worst in two decades.
Around the world, 2018 has seen a number of extreme weather events, from wildfires and floods to record-breaking temperatures.
It wasn't always a giant sand pit.