No relief in sight from SA heatwave

South Australians will have to wait at least another week for relief from the record-breaking heatwave.

Adelaide endured its third consecutive day above 40 degrees on Thursday, with the
weather bureau predicting at least another three.
But even then, the mercury is expected to stay in the high 30s well into next week.
The extreme conditions continue to put pressure on emergency services, public
transport and power supplies.
Transport officials have warned commuters using train and tram services to expect
delays, with the heat buckling lines in various areas.
After several routes were closed on Wednesday, maintenance crews worked through the
night to ensure all services were running again for the morning peak hour.
Free bottled water was handed out to travellers using the Adelaide Railway station
to help them cope with the delays and heat.
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said the breakdowns, along with those in Melbourne,
underscored the need to upgrade the nation's ageing transport infrastructure.
"It's an ominous sign that federal and state governments are not adequately funding
transport infrastructure," Senator Ludlam said.
"Taxpayers deserve public transport infrastructure that's resilient and able to
withstand the changing climate."
SA opposition transport spokesman Duncan McFetridge said funds to upgrade the
troubled Noarlunga train line in Adelaide were in the state budget two years ago but
had not been spent.
"Buckling train lines have happened before and will continue to happen until the
government spends the money and upgrades the line," he said.
But Premier Mike Rann praised the efforts of maintenance workers to restore services
in what he said were unprecedented conditions.
As well as transport issues, Adelaide residents in about 50 suburbs faced rolling
blackouts during Thursday and into Friday after an electricity interconnector
between Victoria and Tasmania went down.
The National Energy Market Management Company (NEMMCO) confirmed the Basslink
interconnector had tripped, taking about 730 megawatts out of the system which
supplied both Victoria and South Australia.
Health officials also reaffirmed warnings for people to take care as the state
government issued an order allowing the public to shelter from the heat in foyers of
government buildings.
Concerns were also raised for the 30,000 people expected to flock to Adelaide's Big
Day Out concert on Friday.
Ambulance service executive director Hugh Grantham urged those attending to take
extra care.
"Large, crowded areas at the Big Day Out and fearless party goers could be a
dangerous combination if people don't look after themselves," he said.
The ambulance service said paramedics would be on site during the event to provide
immediate medical care while more than 50 St John Ambulance volunteers would also be
on duty.
By 3pm (CDST) on Thursday the mercury had climbed to 43.4 degrees in Adelaide after
a maximum on Wednesday of 45.7.
Thursday's top came after the city sweltered through its hottest night on record
with the temperature only dipping to 33.9 degrees.
The previous record was 33.5 recorded in January, 1982.