**** BITS IN BOLD ARE FOR DOUBLE-CHECKING REl LATEST FORECASTS WED MORNING ******
Firefighters in Victoria and South Australia are bracing for challenging conditions as a heatwave threatens to bring temperatures of above 45 degrees Celsius to some parts of the country.
Large areas of Australia, from Western Australia’s north-west to Tasmania’s north-east, have been issued with severe to extreme heatwave warnings from Wednesday to Saturday.
Port Augusta in South Australia could see three days in a row near 45C, including a forecast top of 46C on Thursday, while towns along the Murray River including Mildura and Echuca are also tipped to see multiple days of 44 or 45C temperatures.
Meanwhile Melbourne and Adelaide are set to reach 42C.
Swimmers cool off at the George Chaffey Bridge Boat Ramp in Mildura in northern Victoria on Tuesday. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
The scorching forecast has led to extreme fire danger warnings, with wind and dry lightning tipped to add to the risk by Friday for parts of South Australia and Victoria.
This heat is also likely to spread eastwards towards the weekend, with temperatures in Sydney and Canberra expected to hit the high 30s.
Fire risk to peak on Friday in Victoria
Victoria’s Emergency Services Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said the state was likely to see extreme and severe intensity heat over the next several days — the hottest conditions since 2019.
Victoria’s Country Fire Authority (CFA) has also declared today a total fire ban day for the Central region, which encompasses Melbourne and Geelong, along with the Wimmera and South West.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Michael Efron said temperatures would rise into the low to mid 40s across much of the state today, likely cooling in southern areas on Thursday.
But those high temperatures were expected to continue in the northern parts of the state, along with thunderstorm activity on Friday posing an additional fire risk, Mr Efron said.
A total fire ban is in place for Central, Wimmera and South West regions on Wednesday. (Supplied: CFA)
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said the next few days would be challenging and leaving early was the safest option for communities in bushfire risk areas.
“I do really anticipate from [Wednesday] onwards further extreme ratings and total fire bans are likely to come into effect across the state, peaking on Friday,” he said.
Mr Heffernan said communities should have their bushfire survival plans ready to go, and drivers should have the VicEmergency app downloaded with their “watch zones” set.
The conditions will likely make it more difficult for firefighters battling a bushfire north-east of Victoria in Mt Lawson State Park, with warnings in place for towns including Bungil, Thologolong, Burrowye and Granya.
Towong Shire councillor and CFA member David Wortmann, who lives in Granya, said he was concerned about the dry grass and predicted wind.
David Wortmann says the community should stay prepared. (ABC News)
“People have got to be prepared and keep informed because we don’t know what’s going to happen over the next few days,” he said.
Additional fire aircraft to be deployed in South Australia
The South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) has also declared total fire bans with an extreme rating for most of the state on Wednesday, except for the North East Pastoral and North West Pastoral regions, and the Adelaide metropolitan area.
CFS deputy state controller Brenton Hastie said four additional aircraft would support ground crews to respond to any fires, but also asked the community to play their part in minimising any risk.
Most fire regions in South Australia are under a total fire ban for Wednesday. (Supplied: CFS)
“We’re asking people to act now, activate your Bushfire Survival Plan. We’re asking everyone to stay alert, be aware of any new fire starts should they occur, and to not undertake risky activity,” he said.
Bureau of Meteorology emergency services meteorologist Jonathan Fischer said Wednesday would be the hottest day this week in South Australia before temperatures drop around Friday, when thunderstorms were also expected.
“Along with that change, we’re also expecting dry and gusty thunderstorms, so that dry lightning risk potentially starting fires across many districts — so really a day of concern there.”
Authorities warn of heatwave risks
Authorities have also warned about the risk of heatwaves, with SA State Emergency Service chief of staff Ben Birbeck saying the next few days would see “the most widespread, severe heatwave conditions across South Australia since 2021”.
Read more about heatwaves in Australia:
“Heat-related issues cause more loss of life in Australia than any other natural hazard and those most at risk are the elderly and the very young,” he said.
Victoria’s deputy chief health officer Evelyn Wong encouraged people to check in with their neighbours, family and friends, particularly if they lived alone, and to watch out for signs of dehydration, which included feeling thirsty, light-headed, having a dry mouth or urinating less than usual.
Dr Wong said people should try to stay cool at home with an air conditioner or fan, with a spray bottle or wet cloth, or at a shopping centre, public library or a public pool.
Victorian authorities also warned about the dangers of leaving children in cars on hot days, and encouraged people to keep their devices charged amid a heightened risk of power outages.
Swimmers looking to cool off at beaches should also swim between the flags, authorities said.
