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Southern Australia swelters through third day of heatwave as fire risk increases Southern Australia swelters through third day of heatwave as fire risk increases
(about 1 hour later)
BoM issues heatwave warning for SA, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, with temperatures set to reach the 40s in some parts of the country on SundayBoM issues heatwave warning for SA, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, with temperatures set to reach the 40s in some parts of the country on Sunday
All eyes are on a bushfire in Victoria that has been raging for weeks as southern Australia swelters through a three-day heatwave.All eyes are on a bushfire in Victoria that has been raging for weeks as southern Australia swelters through a three-day heatwave.
Hot conditions are expected to continue on Sunday from central Australia to the south-east, with pockets in Victoria’s east and New South Wales’s south-east to experience severe conditions until late Sunday.Hot conditions are expected to continue on Sunday from central Australia to the south-east, with pockets in Victoria’s east and New South Wales’s south-east to experience severe conditions until late Sunday.
Firefighters are on high alert in Victoria as a fire in the Grampians, which began in mid-December, continues to burn.Firefighters are on high alert in Victoria as a fire in the Grampians, which began in mid-December, continues to burn.
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It has been declared an extreme fire danger day in the Mallee, Central and North Central regions with a warning of high fire danger in all other parts of Victoria.It has been declared an extreme fire danger day in the Mallee, Central and North Central regions with a warning of high fire danger in all other parts of Victoria.
Total fire bans have been declared in the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, North Central and Central (which includes Melbourne and Geelong) districts.Total fire bans have been declared in the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, North Central and Central (which includes Melbourne and Geelong) districts.
The Country Fire Authority chief officer, Jason Heffernan, said the total fire ban had been declared because of the potential for gusty conditions.The Country Fire Authority chief officer, Jason Heffernan, said the total fire ban had been declared because of the potential for gusty conditions.
“This weekend’s hot and windy conditions pose a big risk for the state with significant fires already in the landscape,” he said.“This weekend’s hot and windy conditions pose a big risk for the state with significant fires already in the landscape,” he said.
“Heatwaves can be incredibly dangerous, and they kill more Australians than any other natural event.”“Heatwaves can be incredibly dangerous, and they kill more Australians than any other natural event.”
He said it was important for travellers to remain alert and up to date with fire danger warnings throughout the summer season.He said it was important for travellers to remain alert and up to date with fire danger warnings throughout the summer season.
Authorities are monitoring fire threats in two of Victoria’s most popular national parks on opposite sides of the state, with tourists and locals in the Grampians and Wilsons Promontory urged to monitor alerts.Authorities are monitoring fire threats in two of Victoria’s most popular national parks on opposite sides of the state, with tourists and locals in the Grampians and Wilsons Promontory urged to monitor alerts.
The Grampians national park bushfire has eased but continues to burn, with four houses and several other buildings lost in recent weeks.The Grampians national park bushfire has eased but continues to burn, with four houses and several other buildings lost in recent weeks.
More than 76,000 hectares of the Grampians – equivalent to the size of Singapore – have been burnt.More than 76,000 hectares of the Grampians – equivalent to the size of Singapore – have been burnt.
A heatwave warning for South Australia, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, with temperatures expected to reach the 40s in some parts of the country on Sunday.A heatwave warning for South Australia, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, with temperatures expected to reach the 40s in some parts of the country on Sunday.
Meteorologist Jonathon How said conditions should start to ease on Monday for South Australia and Victoria, but NSW won’t get any relief until the middle of the week. Conditions should start to ease on Monday for South Australia and Victoria, but NSW won’t get any relief until the middle of the week.
“Low intensity heatwaves are common at this time of year, but once we get into the severe category, especially with a run of hot days and warm nights, some people can find it challenging,” he said. “We may see some moderate winds picking up through this afternoon just ahead of the front we’re expecting as it moves through western Victoria,” Miriam Bradbury, a senior meteorologist at BoM, told the Guardian.
“We’re looking at the potential for patchy showers today, but these are unlikely to dampen things on the fireground. Hopefully there will be rain overnight.
“Once the cool change moves through as we go into Tuesday, that sort of time period, we’ll see much lighter winds going into a cooler period. We may still see some gusty winds on Monday, but they’ll be coming from the south and they’ll be cooler.
“Hopefully that will be better conditions for the fire agencies on the ground.”
In NSW, fire crews fought 40 fires across the state on Saturday with the help of waterbombing aircraft.In NSW, fire crews fought 40 fires across the state on Saturday with the help of waterbombing aircraft.
A number of those fires were burning in or around the Yengo and Wollemi national parks and near the Attunga State Forest.A number of those fires were burning in or around the Yengo and Wollemi national parks and near the Attunga State Forest.