Bushfires are tearing through Australia, with more than 50 fires burning in New South Wales. Nine of these fires are still out of control as they destroy homes and critical infrastructure. On Monday, temperatures peaked at a scorching 41C in Koolewong. Fierce, unpredictable winds spread the flames fast, making firefighting tough. Tragically, an Australian firefighter died Sunday night near Bulahdelah when a tree fell on him. Over the weekend, the blaze burned 3,500 hectares and destroyed four homes. NSW is very vulnerable to fires due to its hot, dry climate and vast eucalyptus forests that produce flammable oils. Meanwhile, Tasmania faced a fast-moving 700-hectare fire at Dolphin Sands, damaging at least 59 homes. Authorities warn that rising temperatures and a build-up of dry vegetation, fed by recent below-average rainfall after wet La Niña years, are fueling a high fire risk this season. Many fear it could be Australia's worst summer fire season since 2019-20's Black Summer. In the US, Washington state is bracing for dangerous flooding. An atmospheric river has dumped 120-205mm of rain in 24 hours, forcing evacuation orders for about 100,000 people. Rivers including the Skagit River are rising to historic flood levels. Separately, Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna borough experienced hurricane-force winds over 80mph this weekend. These winds caused power outages, closed schools and damaged homes. The extreme gusts formed when cold, dense air from the Copper River basin met warmer air from the Gulf of Alaska. This clash pushed strong katabatic winds through mountain valleys.