A large bushfire burns in the Australian state of Tasmania. Brutal post-Christmas temperatures led to extreme or severe fire warnings across at least three states and intensified severe droughts across the country.
Photos: Extreme weather across the globe
A large bushfire burns in the Australian state of Tasmania. Brutal post-Christmas temperatures led to extreme or severe fire warnings across at least three states and intensified severe droughts across the country.
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service/AAP/Reuters

Updated 1553 GMT (2353 HKT) January 31, 2019

Parts of the United States are dealing with a brutal deep freeze that CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen described as "the coldest air in a generation."

It couldn't be more opposite Down Under, where Australia has been in the midst of a record-breaking heatwave.

In Europe, extreme winter weather has brought fatal avalanches and cut off Alpine ski resorts.

And a rare tornado hit the Cuban capital of Havana, damaging buildings and causing flooding in low-lying areas.

A man covers himself with a plastic sheet during snowfall in Srinagar in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Thursday, January 31.
A man covers himself with a plastic sheet during snowfall in Srinagar in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Thursday, January 31.
Mukhtar Khan/AP
Residents clean up following floods in Makassar, Indonesia, on Friday, January 25.
Residents clean up following floods in Makassar, Indonesia, on Friday, January 25.
Antara Foto/Sahrul Manda Tikupadang/Reuters
Drifting snow obscures a road near Mount Joy in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, January 30. Dangerous wind chills are stretching from the Upper Midwest to Maine.
Drifting snow obscures a road near Mount Joy in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, January 30. Dangerous wind chills are stretching from the Upper Midwest to Maine.
Jacqueline Larma/AP
Donna Miller endures frigid temperatures heading to the bank in Indianapolis on January 30.
Donna Miller endures frigid temperatures heading to the bank in Indianapolis on January 30.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar/USA Today Network
A tennis fan cools herself down while attending the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday, January 14.
A tennis fan cools herself down while attending the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday, January 14.
Andy Brownbill/AP
This tennis fan blocked the sun with an umbrella while watching the Australian Open from Garden Square on Friday, January 25.
This tennis fan blocked the sun with an umbrella while watching the Australian Open from Garden Square on Friday, January 25.
Aaron Favila/AP
Snow covers vehicles in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday, January 30.
Snow covers vehicles in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday, January 30.
Christophe Licoppe/Photonews/Getty Images
A man cools down in front of a mist fan at the Australian Open on Friday, January 25.
A man cools down in front of a mist fan at the Australian Open on Friday, January 25.
Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
A tourist removes snow from a vehicle in Filzmoos, Austria, on Saturday, January 5.
A tourist removes snow from a vehicle in Filzmoos, Austria, on Saturday, January 5.
Matthias Schrader/AP
Residents sit on furniture following floods in Makassar, Indonesia, on Friday, January 25.
Residents sit on furniture following floods in Makassar, Indonesia, on Friday, January 25.
Antara Foto/Sahrul Manda Tikupadang/Reuters
Search-and-rescue workers dig out a bus that had been caught by an avalanche in Hundwil, Switzerland, on Friday, January 11.
Search-and-rescue workers dig out a bus that had been caught by an avalanche in Hundwil, Switzerland, on Friday, January 11.
Gian Ehrenzeller/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Residents of Havana, Cuba, walk amid debris Monday, January 28, after a rare tornado hit the city.
Residents of Havana, Cuba, walk amid debris Monday, January 28, after a rare tornado hit the city.
Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images
A woman tosses hot water into the freezing cold air in Kars, Turkey, on Sunday, January 20.
A woman tosses hot water into the freezing cold air in Kars, Turkey, on Sunday, January 20.
Ismail Kaplan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A man dives into the water in Sydney on Friday, January 25.
A man dives into the water in Sydney on Friday, January 25.
Mark Evans/Getty Images
A pier on the river Tisza is surrounded by floating ice in Tiszacsege, Hungary, on Friday, January 25.
A pier on the river Tisza is surrounded by floating ice in Tiszacsege, Hungary, on Friday, January 25.
Zsolt Czegledi/AP