Australia has experienced its hottest summer on record, according to the nation's Bureau of Meteorology.
Hundreds of individual heat records were shattered across the country over the past three months.
The 2018-19 summer, which produced near 50°C days and topped temperature highs across the country, has officially exceeded the previous record set in 2012-13, which was 1.28°C above what is considered normal, reports Guardian.
Climate analysts say it falls into a pattern of human-induced global warming.
The warm weather, 2.14°C above the long-term average, caused bushfires, blackouts, and a rise in hospital admissions, according to a BBC report Friday.
Wildlife also suffered, with reports of mass deaths of wild horses, native bats and fish.
"The real standout was just how widespread and prolonged each heatwave was - almost everywhere was affected," climatologist Blair Trewin told the BBC.
Temperatures had exceeded the previous hottest summer in 2012-13 by nearly 1°C, he added - "a very large margin for a national record".
Australia experienced at least five of its warmest days on record in January - the nation's hottest month ever.
Every state and territory was affected, but South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales bore the brunt of the extreme temperatures.
Even if global temperatures are contained to the Paris accord limit of a 2°C rise above pre-industrial levels, scientists believe the country is facing a dangerous new normal.
