Heatwave Hits, Fire Danger at Catastrophic Levels

But for today, hot and dry conditions are combining with gusty winds to elevate fire dangers, reaching catastrophic across parts of southern South Australia. But let's start off by taking a look at the maximum temperatures for today, where I've overlayed a colour showing where we were forecasting 40 °C or above.

So we can see that heat extends all the way from WA through the interior, down into the south-east, with the peak of the heat in the mid forties, through these orange and pink areas. Today we're forecasting a maximum of 43 °C for Adelaide, 40 °C for Melbourne and even a warm one down in Hobart with 29 °C.

Now I just want you to notice this dashed blue line here. Now this is significant because it is a trough or a wind change, with gusty north-westerly winds ahead of it, shifting cooler south-westerly behind it. And it's this trough and associated winds that's combining with the extreme temperatures to elevate the fire dangers.

So today, extreme fire danger is expected throughout South Australia and western Victoria, but peaking through the eastern Eyre Peninsula and the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia at the Catastrophic Fire Danger level. Now, anywhere within these areas, if a fire does get ignited, it's likely that it will be impossible to control or contain.

Now, as we move into tomorrow, much milder conditions about the exposed coast of Victoria, a top 24 °C for Melbourne. However, that heat really lingering north of the divider Victoria and extending into South Australia.

Now the gusty winds associated with the trough will move into north-eastern parts of Victoria, elevating the fire dangers there, reaching extreme, which is significant as there continues to be a number of ongoing fires. And communities within this area are advised to make sure they stay up to date with the latest information from their local emergency services.

The fire danger is also reaching extreme level, about elevated parts of south-eastern New South Wales as well. But as we move into Monday, Australia Day, the peak heat will occur across south-eastern parts of South Australia, with a maximum temperature of 45 °C for Adelaide.

While those gusty winds with the trough will move into the Central Ranges of New South Wales, elevating the fire dangers, reaching extreme, with Fire Weather Warnings likely to be issued.

Now it's on Tuesday that the heat again still lingering across the area in the mid forties. In fact, a number of records may be broken across northern Victoria and western New South Wales, and as well eastern parts of South Australia. Melbourne, we're forecasting a maximum of 43 °C, but significantly we have another trough moving through.

So some gusty winds will elevate fire dangers across the region. At this stage, our Fire Danger Ratings will reach extreme across southern parts of South Australia and western parts of Victoria. But this is an evolving weather situation and these Fire Danger Ratings will be assessed each day.

Now Heatwave Warnings are current across multiple states at the moment, with a broad area of severe to locally extreme heatwave conditions expected. Now as we move through towards the end of the week, they're expected to continue and there's a number of community impacts that can result, including, of course, the increased risk of bushfire in a dry landscape.

As well, there's a risk to health and decision making with regards to those minimum temperatures staying very high and not allowing the body to recover from the heat of the day. As well, we can have stress on power and infrastructure.

So with so much going on in the weather at the moment, if you live across south-eastern parts of the country, now's a good time to stay up to date with our forecasts and warnings via the Bureau's app, social media and website. And as always, listen to all advice from your local emergency services. Bye for now.