Victoria has been placed under a total fire ban as a severe heatwave pushes temperatures past 42C in Melbourne, with authorities warning of 'catastrophic' fire danger and urging residents to remain indoors. The central district, including Melbourne and Geelong, approached catastrophic conditions, with a fire danger rating of 99, just below the threshold of 100. Fires were expected to be 'unpredictable, uncontrollable and fast-moving', according to Victoria's emergency management commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, as extreme heat combined with damaging winds and the risk of dry lightning.
Premier Jacinta Allan described the day as 'the most dangerous day we have had in years', with fire crews battling blazes in some of the 'toughest conditions imaginable'. Out-of-control bushfires were already burning at Longwood and Walwa in Victoria. The chief officer of the CFA, Jason Heffernan, warned conditions on Friday would be 'dire', with potential wind gusts of up to 100km/h. Wind gusts of 112km/h were recorded at Mount Gellibrand, north-east of Colac, shortly after 1pm.
Melbourne's maximum temperature was forecast to reach 43C, with 44C recorded in suburbs including Laverton and Viewbank. In north-west Victoria, Hopetoun airport hit 46C and Walpeup reached 46.5C, while Renmark and Coober Pedy airports in South Australia recorded 47C. Heatwave warnings remained in place for all states and territories except Queensland, where a tropical low heading towards Cairns was forecast to intensify into tropical cyclone Koji by landfall.
Sydney is bracing for the worst of the weather on Saturday, with temperatures forecast to reach 42C. Extreme fire danger is expected across south-east New South Wales, including greater Sydney, as well as Canberra, according to the NSW Rural Fire Service. Total fire bans were in place for those districts and several others. The Bureau of Meteorology said daytime temperatures were 12-16C above average across much of south-eastern Australia, with little overnight relief; Renmark's minimum temperature was 30.9C.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, after receiving a briefing in Canberra on the extreme conditions, said these were 'difficult times' for the country and urged people to follow official advice. 'We hope for the best but we prepare for the worst,' he said. In Victoria, a section of the Hume Highway remained closed, public land and parks were shut, and numerous regional train and coach services were cancelled. Around 35,000 customers were without power across the state, with crews working to restore supplies safely.
