Scorching heatwaves continue to grip much of southeastern Australia, leaving authorities on high alert as fire conditions become increasingly unpredictable.
Temperatures are expected to rise in parts of Victoria and South Australia on Tuesday, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning the extreme heat could break records.
Melbourne is set to be sweltering on its hottest day since the devastating Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, with an expected high of 45 degrees Celsius.
Mildura, in the far north of the state, is expected to reach 49 degrees Celsius, while Broken Hill in NSW is expected to reach 47 degrees Celsius, with both locations set to break temperature records.
‘If Mildura reaches it [that high]It will be the hottest temperature ever recorded in Victoria,” senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said.
“Virtually all observation points near the South African and Victorian borders are approaching or likely to exceed January records, and a few locations could also break their all-time records.”
Ouyen, a rural community of about 1,100 people in northern Victoria, is also set to become one of the hottest cities in the world, with a high of 49 degrees Celsius before midday.
Although residents were familiar with extreme heat, Mildura Mayor Ali Cupper said the forecast was “unheard of”.
“When you’re in the heat, a few degrees can be the difference between life and death,” she said.
The region will swelter with heat of more than 40 degrees Celsius for several days until conditions moderate from Sunday.
Cupper urged locals to put out water for local wildlife, stay indoors if possible and keep an eye on the latest weather updates.
Total fire ban in effect
It comes as a total fire ban remains in place for both Victoria and South Africa as several fires spiral out of control under dynamic conditions.
Records were broken in Adelaide on Monday, where temperatures reached 44.7 degrees Celsius – more than the city’s previous Australia Day heat record set in 2006.
Ceduna, northwest of the capital, climbed to 49 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record temperature, while the western NSW town of Dubbo reached 46.1 degrees Celsius, recording the hottest day in January.
The weather conditions are causing concern for authorities in Victoria as several fires continue to burn out of control, including in the Otways, where a fire jumped through containment lines at Carlisle River on Saturday and threatened the small community of Gellibrand.
Authorities say there is unconfirmed property damage at the site of the fire.
The agency is warning of gusty south-westerly winds in Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon, with a risk of thunderstorms producing dry lightning.
Fires can spread ‘rapidly and unpredictably’
A cooler change will begin to move through Victoria on Wednesday, although parts of the inland south-east won’t see much of a reprieve.
Country Fire Authority deputy incident controller Alistair Drayton says the stormy change is worrying, with authorities urging residents in Gellibrand, Kawarren, Beech Forest, Forrest and Barongarook to evacuate.
“Tomorrow’s conditions mean the fire could spread quickly and unpredictably. We strongly encourage people in affected areas to implement their bushfire plan and leave early to protect themselves and their families,” he said.
The heatwave conditions have also prompted a warning from paramedics, who responded to 11 cases of children locked in cars this weekend as temperatures soared above 40 degrees in Victoria.
Ambulance Victoria urged the community never to leave children, pets or the elderly unattended in vehicles.
“The temperature inside a vehicle can double and become deadly in a matter of minutes,” said Dale Armstrong, director of emergency management.
“It is particularly dangerous for children to be left in vehicles because a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than that of an adult.”
Residents of both states are urged to drink plenty of water, check on family, friends and neighbors if they need help, and stay indoors.
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